Treated Wood

Can anybody tell me if it's alright to use treated wood on the transom on a jon boat? I thought I had read that you shouldn't use treated wood on a aluminum boat because of the chemicals in the wood? That you should stick to marine grade. I have a little 12' jon boat in the pond and that wood is shot. Thanks for your help.

I have always heard to NOT use treated lumber on an aluminum boat. There's Probally something to it because I have never tore any old treated plywood out,it's always been the marine grade plywood. The bunks on the trailer I have came from the factory with white pine boards,,,4 1/2" wide. That marine grade stuff is high. I've got a project boat that I'm re doing the floor and I'm going with aluminum instead of wood.

Thanks guys

the treated wood today has a copper based compound that has a chemical reaction with aluminum
Don

Thanks Don. I've got some regular plywood as well so I'm going to use that and fiberglass I guess.

If you use pressure treated bare next to bare aluminum in will set up a bit of corrosion. If you seal it good before installing I have never seen a problem. I use use marine grade Spar Varnish. Big thing is let it dry real good before you seal it. That stuff off the floor will have a lot of moisture in it. If you don't mind the expense then a coat of resin and hard er will work also.

Regular plywood and some good paint will last for years. Mine has been on since 2008 and there's no sign of weakness. It sets under a shed when not in use. If you decide to fiberglass it, it still needs some good paint on it. The sun will eat the resin up pretty quick.

Thanks Cray and Shadboy. So I guess if I paint the treated as well I should be fine?

Ive used pressure treated 2 X 4's for my bunks and they worked fine without any visible problems. Trailer wasnt aluminum though but the boat was. The bunks were carpeted.

I've got a piece of treated 2x12 on the transom of a 14 ft. alumni craft (spelling) for bout 20 yrs or more with no problem == still solid as a rock but most of that time its been in a shed covered up with junk. got started on fixing her up but still like a ways to go == may get Ray to put some pics of her on board soon.

Thanks Gabowman and Uncle Remus.

Has anyone tried the synthetic wood like they have for decking as bunks on the trailer? Looks like a couple of 2X4s in that would last forever. I was not sure if it was rigid enough to hold a boat. I've always used treated boards with carpet and up until I got my current boat I always had trailer slicks over the carpet.

I never thought about that Ray but it makes sense.

yup I did it worked fine for me used it 4==5= yrs till trailer rusted down from salt water
wood didn't seem to have any affect on aluminum toons or whatever metal was on trailer
toon went on and off trailer easy didn't use any thing like carpet on it just plain wood or
whatever that stuff is. used the 1 x 6 size