Zodiac FC-470 Floor Template Wanted

F470 · 17 May 2013, 02:20

I am looking to see if anyone has a floor template for the Zodiac FC-470 as I am looking to build my own. Also, for those of you who have already built your own I would love to hear from you.

F470 · 26 May 2013, 22:22

Has anyone on here built a floor for the FC470? If so feedback is appreciated. Is there any reason why it couldn't be made as one piece?

capntroy · 27 May 2013, 05:24

We built floorboards for half a dozen F470's about 15 years ago, I seem to remember that we used 3/4" marine ply and it was a 2-piece floor; an 8' long main piece and 3' long triangular piece for the bow, the edges need to be properly chamfered to conform where they meet the tubes. This system worked great and lasted for years.

If I did it today, I'd fiberglass or maybe even Rhino line the pieces.

SIBRider · 17 June 2013, 15:32

Howdy F470. I'm in a same boat literally and figuratively. Just got surplus F470, live in Portland, and looking for floor. Right now I'm finishing building my house need to be done with inspections by July so quite busy but after that I'm ready to tackle this problem. Can join forces if you want. Marine plywood is the plan so far. Hopefully I'll manage after doing all the custom finish carpentry in my house. Or maybe we will just cross our wakes somewhere on the river. Stopped by inflatable boats dealer. They don't have squat for our boat. Wanted $8k for new floor. Couldn't get inflation valves till end of July. (found some on east coast) pricey bastards.

F470 · 17 June 2013, 16:38

I hear the Plywood floors tend to get a bit heavy so I am considering going to a surfboard maker and have them make a floor by design out of fiberglass instead. A fiberglass floor would probably be lighter than the $8K solid aluminum floor. The crown jewel would be to have a built in gas tank but thats not in the cards, at least in the short term.

SIBRider · 17 June 2013, 16:50

3/4 inch 4x8 sheet weighs about 75-80 lb. That's about same area as F470 floor. Not sure what Al floor weight is I doubt less than 50%. Not significant difference IMHO.

captnjack · 19 June 2013, 18:48

Aluminum will very close or even lighter than fiberglass. The fiberglass wouldn't be solid anyway, you'd need a core, either foam, plywood or balsa. And cores eventually get water in them leading to rot and delamination. I'd go aluminum, as long as you rinse it with fresh water it'll outlast the hypalon.

F470 · 22 June 2013, 00:18

Damn, you're probably right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

Aluminum will very close or even lighter than fiberglass. The fiberglass wouldn't be solid anyway, you'd need a core, either foam, plywood or balsa. And cores eventually get water in them leading to rot and delamination. I'd go aluminum, as long as you rinse it with fresh water it'll outlast the hypalon.

Squid Boat · 22 June 2013, 00:54

Here is the floor your are looking for. The boat is on local C.list at $2400.00
The ad says San Clemente.
Cheers, Squid

F470 · 22 June 2013, 01:45

Thanks! When you say local what is the nearest city/county? San Clemente does not show up on C.list.

Squid Boat · 22 June 2013, 01:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by F470

Thanks! When you say local what is the nearest city/county? San Clemente does not show up on C.list.

Try Orange County, I'll try to PM you the link.

Cheers

SIBRider · 22 June 2013, 06:12

Those are EVOL boats with air floor and no thrust plate but pieces aft of bow piece should be same.

SIBRider · 25 June 2013, 14:23

Pretty sure this floor

Is not original FC470 but rather something adopted from likes of MK3 or Futura boat. You can see tail piece is not aluminum but rather plywood or something. Pretty sure what FC470 has is 102"x40" or conviniently 2.6x1meter. I'm working on this right now.
Then of course original F470 al floor is black anodized just like one on the left. That one I believe is from F530 though. I've seen this pic before.

prairie tuber · 27 June 2013, 03:44

I've got a 4.7m SIB with 3/4" Marine Plywood floors, and find them very practical. Every so often you"ll be able to snag a great deal from the local lumber yard. I bought a couple of sheets of 3/4" marine ply for my trailer about a year and a half ago on sale for just under $100 per sheet.

In all likelihood you are trailering the F470, so the extra few pounds of 3/4" plywood over the aluminum floor, probably won't have any real practical implications.

If you apply a few coats of a good marine epoxy sealant such as the WestSystem the floorboards should be fined for decades.

Rhino Liner was mentioned earlier and it (or other similar bed liners) do a great job of provide a grippy surface while protectin against abrasion.

I found an excellent quality roll on liner that is every bit as tough and durable as the spray on liners, which is an easy & dirt cheap DIY. The liner is called Pro Form 2.6 VOC Protective Bed Coating.

http://www.proformproducts.com/en/products/detail/?id=278

The trick with this is to use this particular texture roller which has thick nylon hoops that really create texture.
Pintar | Texture Stipple Roller 240MM | Home Depot Canada

I have used this on my truck and it is amazingly durable. Definitely not something that you would want to get on your skin, as it will stay on you for a few weeks. As a general rule with paints and coatings, the more environmentally friendly, the more useless the product. This stuff causes Al Gore to curl up in the fetal position, and that, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.

capntroy · 27 June 2013, 04:22

Squid Boat - the floor in that San Clemente boat is the same type of floor that came in both of my F530's and is the biggest pain in the butt to install, you need 2 men and a small boy to roll the battons onto the sides of the floorboards to make everything a rigid unit.

Whether it be made from plywood, aluminum or unobtanium, a 1-piece floorboard is superior on an F470....

Squid Boat · 27 June 2013, 04:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by capntroy

Whether it be made from plywood, aluminum or unobtanium, a 1-piece floorboard is superior on an F470....

I agree 100% Capt. I have only had to install a hard deck twice on a F-470, even with a warm hull fabric it's a Flecker. I used a oar to hammer the battons into place. Grand Raids were somewhat easier as I remember.

My experience with the Zod is behind me now and my Avon 4.5 CRRC is getting a 3/4 Meranti marine ply deck (West Systems sealed) in a couple weeks.

It will be on a trailer the rest of her time with me.

All the best, Squid

capntroy · 27 June 2013, 04:52

Sounds good Squid, post some pics of the new floor before you install it...

Squid Boat · 27 June 2013, 05:07

Thanks for the tip on the ProForm prairie tuber, it will save a trip to the Rhino dealer sprayer I had planned.

Cheers, Squid

Squid Boat · 27 June 2013, 05:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by capntroy

Sounds good Squid, post some pics of the new floor before you install it...

Aye mate, will do.

Cheers, Squid

prairie tuber · 27 June 2013, 05:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squid Boat

Thanks for the tip on the ProForm prairie tuber, it will save a trip to the Rhino dealer sprayer I had planned.

Cheers, Squid

Glad I could be of help. Be sure that the West System coating is fully cured first and give the surface a quick wipe with a recommended cleaner before applying the proform