Protecting Softwood Framing

[Rich P]

I intend to use softwood as framing for some of the interior when i rebuild, does anyone know a good durable protection for this?
Mainly because it will be a pig to refinish once the surfaces are built around it!

Thanks!

[bcooke]

Good old boiled Linseed oil will protect wood quite a while.

Taking measures to keep it dry will keep it alive longer than you or me.

Epoxy coating will make it last for a thousand years but that might be overkill.

Which softwood? I decided to use fir for most of my interior support structure. In wet prone areas (e.g. against the hull) I epoxy coated, everywhere else I gave it a heavy douse of linseed oil.

[Rich P]

Yes, fir is what i plan to use as well.
I know that some people make all of the structures from unsupported ply, but that just isn't how i like to do things.
I know that theres no problem at with building using just ply, but thats just personal choice!

[David]

I would epoxy glue and screw. I think painting would be all you need for protection. Epoxy would be nice if you care to spend the money, but not necessary.

[Quetzalsailor]

Take a look at the rest of the original wood in your boat. It's probably not even painted and the only failures might be in the bilge or at leaks.

My own rules: Where the stuff might occasionally be wet and can readily dry again, ordinary oil-based paints are fine (boiled linseed oil is traditional oil-based paint without the pigment). Where the stuff might be chronically wet, coat out in epoxy; wash and finish like the adjoining work where you care about appearance. Where I've cheated and used non-marine plywood, coat out in epoxy. Coat out any plywood end grain with epoxy; it cuts down on delamination and splinters. Coat out any wood end grain with epoxy if there's some chance of it getting wet.