Need ideas on planking Old Wharf Dory skiff

[wallacethegreenmonster]

So I am getting close to finishing up a 16 foot lumberyard skiff following the old wharf dory plans but want to have a slightly raised deck so that I am not always standing in water. Also i want to do this so you can't see the chine logs as I don't like the way i did them. The boat has 4x4 beams running transversely across the seams that join the two chines and all of the bottom pieces of 3/4 inch plywood.

Does anyone have a suggestion how to plank the bottom- i.e. what wood to use that is not going to cost me a fortune but will be somewhat rotproof, whether to lay the planks lengthwise or widthwise, how wide the planks should be and why, and how planking may affect cleaning the bottom underneath the planks where stuff may collect? I would love to do this with nice 1x4 fir but that would be damn expensive and would involve cutting and placing lots of pieces(maybe a 1x12 or bigger would be better?). Thanks for any help

[JBreeze]

1st - I'm not too familiar with the LYS, so take the following with a large grain of salt....

A friend wanted to make a removable floor he could stand on while fishing, but remove for cleaning. He used red cedar decking...5/4" x 6"....it was readily available, relatively light, and reasonably durable.

One place that had clear, 5/4 x 6 RC decking for $.95/linear foot was:
http://www.builders-surplus.com/location.htm

They DO NOT stock it! Call first for availability before you drive to West Warwick, RI....there also might be some other surplus stores closer to MA.

Maybe this will give you some ideas.....

Congrats on getting close to launching:)