Sib aluminum floor - matting

[kaman]

Bought some Mottez foam rubber matting to cover the Sib floor.
Comes in 1.24 m sq packs at £9.95 per pack.
I needed 2 packs for my 3.5 Honwave.
It interlocks like a jig saw so easy to remove.
It has holes to allow drainage.
Most importantly it is cushioned so no more sore knees kneeling on the aluminium.
As it is rubberized foam it will also stop my fishing box etc sliding around on the aluminum floor.
Bargain for under 20 squid:-)

[seasdes]

Thanks for that Kaman. I have been thinking of using that material. Does it move around while underway. Will hooks get caught.

[kaman]

Doesn't move at all I cut it to fit tight against the stringers.
The petrol tank is anchored tightly on top of it as well to help hold it in place.
Dont know about the hooks yet.
I land any fish into a large box and use no more than two hooks at a time it shouldn't be a problem tho.

[seasdes]

Thanks for that Kaman. I will give it a try. I use my sib in the ocean. Its for that reason I ask. Also the other day I was standing up in the sib and was doing what most blokes do when out on the water for a long time and nearly slipped overboard because of the sliperiness of the aluminium floor. Hopefully this problem will now be solved. Otherwise I need to use a bucket.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by seasdes

Thanks for that Kaman. I will give it a try. I use my sib in the ocean. Its for that reason I ask. Also the other day I was standing up in the sib and was doing what most blokes do when out on the water for a long time and nearly slipped overboard because of the sliperiness of the aluminium floor. Hopefully this problem will now be solved. Otherwise I need to use a bucket.

Lol!
I use mine for sea fishing also.
I've been in that position too.
You are fine and stable whilst sitting in a sib but the moment you stand it all goes wrong!
I now kneel on the soft floor and utilize the outboard to steady myself when conducting my gentleman business over the transom.

[dave3235]

Originally Posted by seasdes

Thanks for that Kaman. I will give it a try. I use my sib in the ocean. Its for that reason I ask. Also the other day I was standing up in the sib and was doing what most blokes do when out on the water for a long time and nearly slipped overboard because of the sliperiness of the aluminium floor. Hopefully this problem will now be solved. Otherwise I need to use a bucket.

Tip for draining the vain, one knee on the transom one hand on the engine .Stable as you like.

[Maclures]

Originally Posted by kaman

Bought some Mottez foam rubber matting to cover the Sib floor.
Comes in 1.24 m sq packs at £9.95 per pack.
I needed 2 packs for my 3.5 Honwave.
It interlocks like a jig saw so easy to remove.
It has holes to allow drainage.
Most importantly it is cushioned so no more sore knees kneeling on the aluminium.
As it is rubberized foam it will also stop my fishing box etc sliding around on the aluminum floor.
Bargain for under 20 squid:-)

Like that set up

[dave3235]

I have same size honwave I take it doesn't cover all the way to the bow.Aslso why didn't you centralize the matting, looks nice and comphy though

[kaman]

Hi Dave3235
No two packs doesn't reach all the way to the end of the floor.
I have a homemade bow bow bolted onto the wooden bow board though.
I didn't centralise the joint between the foam sections as if I had, the cuts at the sides where the matting sits against the stringers would have gone through the centre of a row of circular out cuts in the matting.
As I wanted a solid edge fitted tight against the stringers I cut it as depicted.

[dave3235]

Sounds right looks good, any building tips on the bow box!!

[kaman]

Hi Dave3235 I measured the bow floor and cut a cardboard template to ensure my box would not foul the tubes.
Built a wooden frame.
12 mm marine ply sides and lid didn't put a floor in it just used the off cuts from the matting.
M8 stainless coach bolts to bolt on to bow floor board.
I painted it with grey FLOWCOAT which is a glass resin based paint with hardener and completely bomb proof.
Stainless hinges and screws.
I added a fishing seat cushion and put a divider in to house my anchor.
Built a little box to house my plotter/fish finder battery.
A worthy addition to what was essentially wasted space.
My mate now sits on it when not too rough to fish from.
Gives more room to fish.

[dave3235]

Originally Posted by dave3235

Sounds right looks good, any building tips on the bow box!!

Got myself 2 packs will be fitting them soon.As for the bow box will give that a miss for the minute a bit to permanent.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by dave3235

Got myself 2 packs will be fitting them soon.As for the bow box will give that a miss for the minute a bit to permanent.

You won't regret fitting the padded floor. I wouldn't be without mine now.
As for my bow box it is held in place by 4 X coach bolts.
Flat head is to the under side of the bow floor board. A thin M8 nut on the upper side of the board sandwiches the board and holds it in place stopping it falling out and into the keel area.
There is approx 25 mm of thread sticking up.
The bolts marry up to metal brackets affixed to the bow box base
Tighten the 4 nuts to clamp it in place reverse procedure to remove.
When the bow box is not in use i have domed headed nuts to place on the protruding bolts to keep the bolts from causing injury.
Cost me around 50 quid for the ply, paint, hinges and screws etc.
Plus it got me out of the house into the sanctuary of the garage for a few nights away from the wife and kids
I have found the added weight of the box and it's contents excellent for keeping the bow down prior to planing when out on my own

[Max...]

Totally agree SIB's need weight up front for proper performance. Best thing to fit to boards are M6 SS eye bolts using socket (allen key) head countersunk bolts on the underside, this keeps the underside completely flush and leaves smooth low profile rings on the top for tying anything down to. Add a large Pelicase (closed cell foam piece on top for padding if needed), a couple of custom length shock cords and job done.

Bolts/nuts:

Marine Stainless Eyenut. Eye Nut. 6mm 8mm 10mm 12mm 16mm. M6 M8 M10 M12 M16 | eBay

M4 M5 M6 M8 M10 A2 STAINLESS STEEL COUNTERSUNK BOLT CSK ALLEN SOCKET SCREW | eBay

Pics:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/conside...tml#post615339

Current boat has air floor but shock cords work well as here:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/bombard...ass-62326.html

[kaman]

Originally Posted by Max...

Totally agree SIB's need weight up front for proper performance. Best thing to fit to boards are M6 SS eye bolts using socket (allen key) head countersunk bolts on the underside, this keeps the underside completely flush and leaves smooth low profile rings on the top for tying anything down to. Add a large Pelicase (closed cell foam piece on top for padding if needed), a couple of custom length shock cords and job done.

Bolts/nuts:

Marine Stainless Eyenut. Eye Nut. 6mm 8mm 10mm 12mm 16mm. M6 M8 M10 M12 M16 | eBay

M4 M5 M6 M8 M10 A2 STAINLESS STEEL COUNTERSUNK BOLT CSK ALLEN SOCKET SCREW | eBay

Pics:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/conside...tml#post615339

Current boat has air floor but shock cords work well as here:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/bombard...ass-62326.html

Excellent idea max.
It's M8 countersunk stainless coach bolts with allen key heads I have used on mine. I will order some M8 stainless eyelets for use when the bow box is out.
The only time it comes out is when the Sib is decommissioned from fishing duties and employed for a bit of Scottish Island sightseeing and camping.
The eyelets will be perfect for lashing the camping provisions (beer and BBQ grub etc) down on the floor
Why didn't I think of using them instead of the rather useless domed headed nuts.
Cheers

[Max...]

There is a link in this post about elastic fittings if you need them:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/bombard...tml#post620904

[MatFromPoland]

Originally Posted by kaman

Bought some Mottez foam rubber matting to cover the Sib floor.
Comes in 1.24 m sq packs at £9.95 per pack.
I needed 2 packs for my 3.5 Honwave.
It interlocks like a jig saw so easy to remove.
It has holes to allow drainage.

Do yo think that it will work on air-floor ? I have HONWAVE T38IE2.
And I'm not able to find "Mottez foam rubber matt" on-line

It redirected me to screwfix.com ...

[kaman]

If the Honwave has a sloped sides to the floor the matting won't work I'm afraid.
If it's flat it will do the trick tho.
It has been one of the cheapest simplest and most successful sib mods I have made.
I simply wouldn't be without it now.

[paddlers]

MatFromPoland. Try the Anglian Gardener website flick down the page for the matching mat.
Might be on other sites too.

[beerbelly]

we have similar sponge mats to form a soft floor in our caravan awning lock together like jigsaw but are blue not black we got ours from aldi about 4 quid a pack