Plywoods floors in jonboats

[RIVERBOTTOMS]

I just bought a G3-all welded 1756 jonboat. I was wondering what thickness of plywood I should install to achieve a nice flat floor. Common sense tells me i should go with 3/4. Can I get away with something thinner and alittle more light weight and not have to worry about a springy,mushy floor? Any suggestions?

[Fuzzy_IL]

One thing you might want to think about is putting floatation under the plywood for support. You could get away with thinner plywood.
Hope this helps,
Fuzzy_IL

[Matt]

Riverbottoms, I make high-end custom furniture and cabinets and I would use nothing less than 3/4" for any suface you will be standing on. I've redone my brothers Crestliner. Even 3/4" exterior or marine grade will give you some flex when you walk. I realize that jon's have quite a bit of ribbing on the floor but I, personally, wouldn't use anything less. You can use old garden hose, PVC etc. to make electrical runs and then foam all the spaces between the ribs. This will give the floor more rigidity and will make it much quieter.

[reel fisher]

i have two jon boats and on one i put 3/4 in ply wood and i gave a little with heavier guys in it so i took a 2by4 and cut little pieces off it to the height i wanted the floor to beunder as braces andit worked great no nothin not even hardly any weight

[Juls_WI]

I've got 1/2" plywood with foam underneath on the floor of my jon boat. Very sturdy. No problems with it.

Juls

[Backwater Eddy]

I use john boat all the time guiding and I would recomend you not use wood at all! See if you can use metal instead and put skid strips on the floor after painting, unless you use aluminum then skip the paint. Wood in a john will soak up water and add too much weight in my opinion. I use a john with a metal floor right up to late November and it has a metal floor. Ice is no more a problem with metal then wood in late fall so keep the wt down and cleaning will be a snap too. You can hold another person in the boat for all the wt. wood!

[pool 11]

If you use wood first make sure it is treated and look it over good as that treated plywood is sometimes not too good.Pick out the lightest sheets-dryest.Mine is 1/2 and is ok just make sureto support under seams.If you carpet put thin strips of alum.over seams.Aluminum is probably better floor but mine has been there since 79 recarpeted many times getting a little saggy-me too.

[Riverbottoms]

Just wanted thank everyone for the input on plywood floor for my jonboat. It was much appreciated.
Backwater Eddy, after hearing your idea on sheet aluminun and why, I think that is the smartest way to go. Do it one time only, no rot, no water weight from wet plywood. Alitte more expense, but it only cost alittle more to do it right and go first class! Thanks, a great bunch of fishermen at this site with excellent ideas and many years of experience!!

[Don]

I used 1/2" in my duck/bass combo. I used fiberglass resin to "paint" the wood before I carpeted it. The glue sticks to it well. The plywood shows no sign of aging from water and is as strong as day one. I use it in extremely cold and wet conditions. It regularly gets water on it from decoys being loaded and unloaded. It carries the weight well with just a bit of reinforcement. I also made a trolling motor pad on the bow out of it. Solid as a rock. 1/2" was plenty for me. The resin was a tip from a buddy. I'd do both again. Mine is on its 8th year.

[IAPorkchop]

Why not use a 4x8 sheet of recycled composit materal.It seems ridged enoff for the floor yet will never absorb water.The plastic material is color fixed all the way threw.I would think the nonskid stickers would be great and also easy to hose off.These sheets are tough,they hold 250lb hogs, no problem.