Dinghy Floor Repair

[sailcapt340]

What filler would you use to repair cracks in the wooden floor boards of a dinghy? 2 of my marine plywood floor boards need to be filled.
I've sanded down and removed any loose material around the areas. They are always going to be in water after it rains, as they are in the back of the boat.
So i need suggestions as to what has worked for others with this problem and how they repaired it.
Thank you.

 

[Hunter216]

What filler would you use to repair cracks in the wooden floor boards of a dinghy? 2 of my marine plywood floor boards need to be filled.
I've sanded down and removed any loose material around the areas. They are always going to be in water after it rains, as they are in the back of the boat.
So i need suggestions as to what has worked for others with this problem and how they repaired it.
Thank you.

It sort of depends on the level of durability, cosmetics and foot traction you require.

You could use epoxy, thickened to fill/level the void (cosmetic) and then a sealer coat of epoxy with a non skid texture. That would waterproof the section you have sanded off but what about the rest of the board. How solid and waterproof is the remaining?

You could just use a good quality marine paint over the complete board and call it a day.

You could get new marine ply, penetrate epoxy the whole thing and finish to whatever cosmetic level you want.

Lots of choices.

 

[capta]

Whenever I've had the wooden floorboards deteriorate in an inflatable (I never use RIBs) I replace the aft two or three boards with a solid piece of 3/4" marine ply, bevel the edges to fit nicely under the tubes or cut to fit into the side rails if the boat comes with them, and epoxy coat the whole thing. If you have a small forward piece, as my boats did, It would also be replaced, but with the same thinner ply. It still could be broken down for storage, you just have one big pieces, rather than 2 or 3 smaller ones, to stow or store.

 

[sailcapt340]

Sorry hunter216 and capta, for the late response, its been hectic.
I made new floors boards for a dinghy I had a while back. I didn’t think this floor need that just yet.
So I went with a product called Thixo Wood. (from TotalBoat) It gives a long enough cure time to work it into the knot and cracks.
And sets up as hard, good for above and below waterline, which is basically what happens after a good rain.
I‘ve have yet to sand it flush but at first look and it has leveled and sealed the areas.
I hope to get a few more years out of these boards and then I‘ll make a new floor.