Any problem with single-piece floor?

urbanbiketech · 28 June 2009, 22:49

Hi,

I am considering making a floor for my 2001 4.2m Zodiac Futura FR. I don't expect to deflate it all summer and would like a sturdy floor to fish off of. I find that the high-pressure air floor isn's rigid or durable enough.

In any case, does anyone see a problem with building a one-piece floor? I would prefer not to have to mess around with stringers, h-channels etc. I guess it will actually be a 2-piece seeing as I can only find 3.7m long plywood. The triangular nose-part would be a separate piece.

A second small question. With my 2001 PVC Zodiac, can I just throw the cut-to-shape plywood in without aluminum side channels? Or should I have them there to protect the pontoons from splinters and such?

Thanks,

Vince

m chappelow · 28 June 2009, 23:40

the first thing the RNLI used to do with all there sibs is toss away the floors and make a new one piecer up to where the bow starts to rise ,then fill in with a short triangular bow board ,with some zodiac boats the main board will go up to the thrust board if it has one then a bow board ,as long as the edges are rounded and sanded off off you shouldent have any problems with wear or chaffin ,on 16 foot boats the boards were about an inch thich.if you do a one piecer its not a bad idea to drill a couple of holes down each side so you can put some rope handles on makes it easier to lift out and fasten stuff to . mart

prairie tuber · 29 June 2009, 02:46

Also, add bottle jacks/turnbuckles between the main aft board and the smallr bow board so that the fabric is under tension.

m chappelow · 29 June 2009, 10:52

there is usually less wear in the edges of a boat where the boards fit on a boat with a one piecer than multi boards as there is less movement ie flexing to cause wear .i once bought an HUMBER 16 foot sib which had been used commercially with a one piecer and that had a diesel powered water pump bolted to it weighing quarter of a ton .

urbanbiketech · 29 June 2009, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Also, add bottle jacks/turnbuckles between the main aft board and the smallr bow board so that the fabric is under tension.

Hi,

I'm not sure what you mean by bottle jacks/turnbuckles. Could you clarify?

Thanks,

Vince

prairie tuber · 29 June 2009, 14:21

Hi Vince,

This picture should explain what I'm referring to. This will keep some front to back tension on the fabric.

Mark

urbanbiketech · 29 June 2009, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Hi Vince,

This picture should explain what I'm referring to. This will keep some front to back tension on the fabric.

Mark

I understand now. My triangular front piece will likely butt right up against the main aft deck in order to maintain a continuous floor. I do have a small section of h-channel for that part.

Thanks again for the replies.