Sealing/finishing Marine Plywood

[SEC]

I've got an open 15 foot aluminum boat that has a covered (in aluminum) bow,
about the first 3 feet. I'm planning to build some storage
shelves/compartments under the bow using marine grade plywood. It will also
have a dash/faceplate that will be more directly exposed to the elements.
This boat will be exposed to both fresh and salt water but not stored on the
water (covered on a trailer). What products do you recommend to preserve
the wood and enhance it's beauty? I'm thinking about both a stain and a
finish like a marine varnish. I'm inherently lazy so would like both ease
of application, durability and ease of future maintenance. On a related
note I'll be epoxying a piece of the plywood to the transom of my boat to
mount a transducer for a depthfinder. I'm doing this to avoid putting holes
in my hull below the waterline to mount the transducer. What products
should I use on plywood that will be used below the waterline?
Thanks foe your help.
Steve
OlyWA
secal...@attbi.com

[Brian]

For bright finished wood, encapsulate it in epoxy, e.g. coat all sides prior
to installation, including inside of holes drilled _for_ installation. Roll
on 3 coats of epoxy with a black foam roller (or extra low nap adhesive
roller) and tip each layer out with a black foam brush. Lightly sand
between coats. Each coat of epoxy is equivalent to about 3 coats of varnish
for thickness, but is much more durable. Finish by putting 3 or 4 coats of
varnish on top of the epoxy to provide UV protection. Z-Spar Captain's
Varnish is my favorite. I've had boats out in the sun, rain, and water for
years with the treatment I just described and they still looked new after
all that.

For underwater use, use any marine paint you want as long as the boat won't
be left in the water more than a couple of weeks at most. If you leave it
in longer than that, use a marine paint rated for use below the waterline
(most are not ... read the label.) I recommend System Three paint for
topsides, Interlux paints for the bottom (System Three primer, then Interlux
hi-build primer, then Interlux below-the-waterline bottom paints.) I'm
assuming 3 coats of boat building epoxy on any wood kept below the waterline
prior to the paint, in case that wasn't clear.

Brian

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