Cabin sole material

[Steve Rust]

Looking for ideas on material for the sole in the stern dinette of my trimaran. The original floor was just epoxy/painted ply and since I am doing adjustments to the layout I would like to address the floor. The rest of the boat has oak parque over ply but I would not mind having something differant in the dinette. Anyne had any experience with cork as a flooring material? How about those composite floors generically called "Pergo". Most of that type I see at the "Depot" are not meant for wet enviroments but maybe some are better than others. The area is raised above the normal cabin sole by several inches and in the stern of a centercockpit boat so normally the only water exposure is what you drag in on your feet.

[knottybuoyz]

Have a look at bamboo flooring. It's hard as nails and used in kitchens.

BAMBOO DIRECT FLOORING - suppliers of bamboo flooring and bamboo floors in Vancouver, Canada

[delmarrey]

I second the Bamboo flooring! Just give it a white vingar swabbing once in a while. That stops any mildew or mold from starting in the seams.

PS The family back in P.I. likes it too.

[SkiprJohn]

A dissenting opinion!! Beware of bamboo flooring in a wet environment. It expands. I have a friend who has to make adjustments to his trim every 6 months because his bamboo flooring expanded here in constant high humidity. He's done it 3 times and hopes now it has absorbed as much moisture as it will.

It is pretty though, and might not be too bad for a very small area.

I prefer 1/2 inch teak 2" wide but that's just me.

Kind Regards,

JohnL

[Steve Rust]

My plan was to use 3/8-1/2 inch ply as a subfloor and glue flooring material onto this. There is good supporting substructure and no large unsupported areas so the total thickness need not be greater than 5/8-3/4 inch.

[Alan Wheeler]

You do have to be careful with attaching timber to ply. they expand at different rates when wet and will warp something terrible. It's not impossible, it depends on the type of ply, and the lay of the grain. Ensure all the solid timber is across the Ply Grain as if it is another layer on the ply.
Becareful with thos snap together flooring systems. Many of them are a composite material and turns to soggy Granola if it gets wet. There are one or two that a real timber on a ply backing and these are much better at copping with moisture. It is good to coat the rear side with Epoxy. This seals it all and makes it much harder and stronger. A top coat of either oil or Polyurathane helps to seal all the joins and will keep water out.
I can't comment of Bamboo, I have never used it.

[cal40john]

Our experience with glue together Pergo in our house is when the kids spill something and don't tell us about it, the laminate bows up at the seams where the water has gotten into the composite wood through the seam. Never had any problems with spills that are cleaned up in a reasonable amount of time though. Pretty much figure if we ever get a plumbing leak and water gets under the flooring it will be tear it out and throw away.

John