best material for a toilet base/floor..

[groundhog]

What is the best material to use for the floor/base of my new head?

I want something really strong and impervious to water.

There was painted plywood in there, but it has delaminated due to the older head leaks.

Thanks,
gh

[Valiente]

HDPE, the stuff they make cutting boards out of.

[sailingdog]

Solid fiberglass would be the best solution. HDPE isn't really suitable for construction purposes IMHO. Lacking a sheet of solid laminate thick enough and large enough for the task at hand, I would look at making a fiberglass and epoxy coated piece of plywood for the base of the head. It will be fairly simple to make and almost as impervious to liquids and stains as a solid piece of fiberglass... but a bit lighter.

[poopdeckpappy]

Mine has a 1'' teak base, varnished and sealed

[h16Sailor]

I can't think of the name ?? its a white 'ploymer' plastic
its expensice but its 'really strong and impervious to water'

[USCGRET1990]

The glassed plywood would be the easiest and cheapest method. I have found that if you drill several holes (appx. 1/4" ,2" apart) into the plywood, the resin will impregnate and saturate the wood to the point of never absorbing water. Of course, glass both sides.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by h16Sailor

I can't think of the name ?? its a white 'ploymer' plastic
its expensice but its 'really strong and impervious to water'

You're probably thinking of StarBoard, but it really isn't recommended for structural use, and something supporting a head is probably structural in nature.

[toddrtownsend]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

You're probably thinking of StarBoard, but it really isn't recommended for structural use, and something supporting a head is probably structural in nature.

Ooh! I can use some of my long neglected education! HDPE and other similar plastics [polyolefins] exhibit 'creep.' What a cool word. Under load, dimensions, shapes, etc will gradually change. Therefore, no structural application.

It is great for steps and cutting boards, etc. Where it is used now.


TrT

[Valiente]

Interesting. I've just had HDPE recommended to me as "shims" to put under my new traveller to compensate for the camber of the deck. So you're saying if I cut steep little triangles of the stuff for either end and bolt through to the steel deck below, the HDPE will eventually be crushed or otherwise warp?

The current Harken track follows the curve of the deck. The as-yet-uninstalled Garhauer track is a girder and considering heavier with 5/16" bolt holes every four inches. I'll bolt it through directly in the middle (well-bedded, of course), but either end will require a triangular "spacer".

(Sorry if this is hijacking the thread....)

[shantijwk]

A glassed resin impregnated box would be cheap and do the trick. That said on Shanti I needed to build up the head height. The Lavac I installed is 12" high. Since I had some on hand I built the base out of Corian. It meets all criteria Except cheap. I had my sketch quoted by a fabricator $250 almost more than the Head.