Sub Boxes - MDF ok for marine?

[Speedling]

So, with a new amp going in for the tower speakers, I'm looking at my whole under the seat setup and it's all very... congested. Really leaves no room for stuff because the subwoofer box I have now is too large to tuck all the way back into the recess towards the back of the boat under the seat.
So, I'm looking for some smaller boxes that will fit all the way back, but it looks like to make sure I don't interfere with anything, it needs to be 12"x12"x?? where ?? can be any depth really under the seat. My subs are 10" that require about .8 cu ft of air so I figure a 1 foot cube would work with the sub taking up some of the space inside. One on either side of the boat makes it so I have a LOT of the room back that I had lost.

But I can't find that prebuilt anywhere!
I found some close that are ported, but have never been too fond of ported enclosures. They just sound less "clean" to me.
I looked at some of the tubes, which would work in my situation, but otherwise, a lot of it leads me to believe I would need to build my own. No problem, I've done it dozens of times, but I don't have the time to do it some much anymore so was hopeing to buy, not build.
But why are they all MDF?
Have you ever seen MDF get wet? Not pretty...
So for marine use where the boxes may sit next to some life jackets etc. from time to time, what do you guys think would work?
Or is this something that perhaps I want to fiberglass over to encapsulate the wood and protect it?

2 pioneer 10" subs running off of a Rockford Fosgate 500x1 D class amp.
Currently one large double box taking up all the space under port seating area.

 

[GTBRMC]

@David Analog addressed this a while back:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/subw...s-or-similar-2012-2014.4943/page-2#post-84535

 

[viggen]

Depending on subs and where they will be mounted possibly a IB setup would work?

I don't see why you can't use a epoxy paint to seal the wood enclosure, Plywood is preferred. People make plywood aquariums 500 plus gallons with wood covered with epoxy marine safe paint and it lasts a very long time.

MDF is used because it's cheap. These pre boot boxes are generic 1 size fits all thus price is king.

A improperly sized sealed box will typically sound better vs a improperly designed ported box. I prefer a ported box to sealed however the boxes need to be so large I stick with sealed. No way would I buy a generic ported box, pretty much guaranteed to sound like complete crap.

Often times the ported enclosure needs to be around twice the size vs the sealed box.

 

[Speedling]

Thanks for that link there @GTBRMC helped a good bit. It seems they all went for the IB setup there and cut holes in the boat. I already have the subs and just plan on tucking them away. Perhaps I"ll just build my own after all. The MDF definatly is scary. I wouldn't mind getting a little epoxy over anything I use anyways.

@viggen thanks for that insight as well. I think space is the issue here so I will probably go sealed. I think it would be easier to design than a ported anyways.