me and my new boat

jonnyhas · 03 September 2010, 20:31

Hello everybody a newbie sibbie having just purchased what i think is a Avon 5.2m CRRC MK1, soo am looking round for all the help from this great forum, she is needing a bit a work to the floor this is a fold out floor with big metal clasps that run down the middle, which from a quick deployment point of view is very quick and easy but i was thinking of making it a more permanant affair and replacing it with a new plywood deck and was thinking of using a phenolic faced plywood has any one thoughts on this idea? and i am also looking for anyone who has any information regarding these types of boats plans,hand book etc . the kids are calling it a big black bouncy castle just now as i am giving it a good clean out at the mo.

any information and ideas would be appreciated.

cheers Jonny

Bus_Boy · 04 September 2010, 00:36

Congrats on the new boat !!

If your floor is anything like a conventional SIB floor, then i think you would want to stick
with the manafactuer's design, or atleast follow it as closely as possible.

You might find it difficult getting to floor board into the seams during inflation otherwise...

jonnyhas · 05 September 2010, 15:46

cheers Bus Boy, the floor i would say with my little knowledge is not conventional i have attached a couple of picks it is big and heavy and a bit hard on the feet with all the cross timbers and big metal clamps, i have contacted avon regardiong the floor so hopefully they will get back to me, do's anyone know where pre formed stringers are available from? i am thinking it may be easier to buy than to make them for the new floor.

jonny

Slaphead · 05 September 2010, 17:26

Here's some pics of a CRRC 520. They originally came with an inflatable keel with aluminium slats running across the floor, so I presume yours has either been replaced or has a piece of wood over the top of it. As far as I know the keels were removable...I have seen a set of CRRC sponsons attached to an aluminium hull. Avon are very helpful but the department that builds those things tend to deal only with the MOD.

jonnyhas · 06 September 2010, 07:25

cheers slaphead, i have looked at the one on your photos on my investigation this i think going by the Avon brochure is a the MK2 so im guessing that mine is a MK1 possibley. the timber floor is definatley the origional as is the timber keel (that looks very similar in design to the bombard C5 design) , andthe floors design & build has the hall marks of being military, im thinking of just trying to repace it with a plywood one and was looking for the best options.

Slaphead · 08 September 2010, 09:34

Are you sure it's a CRRC and not a Gemini?

Reason being the Gemini's have a fold-up floor and aluminium keel. The CRRC's were designed for rapid inflation and a wooden floor/keel would take away from that. Also there should be an Avon plate on the transom giving loading specs and other info on the CRRC.

Here's some pics of the Gemini.

jonnyhas · 08 September 2010, 12:25

am not sure Slaphead it measure 5.2m long and it does have all the fittings for the rapidinflation the nipples for the hose connectors and hypalon pockets along the bottom for the pipes and you can just notice on the rear starboard floor board the wood formers for holding a cylinder, there is no plate on it, this i can only think is because it is ex special forces?. i was told by and ex royal marine sargent major that i know, the black avons were built for special operations, and everyone else got green or grey ones.

Slaphead · 08 September 2010, 23:08

Well that sounds like the CRRC you have as the Gemini's are 4.2 or 4.5m depending on where you measure them from. The green ones date from about year 2000ish and the grey ones before that. One thing for sure is that you will have it for a long time if you keep it away from UV light when storing it. Watch out for little toes and fingers between the flooboards when it flexes out on the water!