Avon 3.4 RAB plywood floor pattern

[Sibbob]

Hi.
I have a Avon 3.4 Roll away but I don't really like the PVC hinged flooring.
Not only does it make the rolled up boat very bulky and heavy but it does not feel rock solid when underway although it is amazingly quick to prepare.
The hinged panels flex and roll somewhat to the swell under the boat.
I was wondering if I could use the existing hinged floor as a pattern to make a ply one.
Any sketches of a ply deck for an Avon 3.4 would be greatly appreciated.
What thickness do you recommend and what is the best way of locking the sections together?
I understand the bow section is not locked to the rest of the floor so should I leave this section floating?
Looking forward to the spring so I can get out again.
Any help and advice would be great.
Cheers
SIBBOB

[Chris Caton]

we had a similar problem when we had our Avon, although that was plywood sections, locked together with two strips under the tubes. We made a solid plywood floor, 3/8 or 1/2" can't remember which, but it made the boat much more rigid, went really well after that. We went for the biggest section we could get in the deflated boat in one piece to make it as rigid as possible

[Sibbob]

Chris
I take it you had her on a trailer..
I still want to be able to transport in the car so a 1 piece floor, although probably best, is not really an option. Would not fit in the car.
I guess I could get away with 2 pieces with a stringer brace.
What did you do for the bow as I remember recalling somewhere that this should not be rigid.
Cheers

[Chris Caton]

yes, was on a trailer, but would have fitted on a roofrack as well. I think the front section was hinged to the rest of the floor. The bigger the sections the more rigid it will be, good luck with it

[Sibbob]

Roof rack is a good idea. If I source a 1 piece floor I could mount that on the rack with no joins.
cheers

[Chris Caton]

we had ours made at a boatyard on Loch Lomond while on holiday, the old floor gave up, so while the weather was rubbish for a couple of days they sorted a piece of marine ply, cut it to size, gave it a couple of coats of varnish & fitted it for us. It was brilliant, made the rest of the holiday without any more problems!! We even went right up to the end of the Loch one day, no problems good luck with sorting yours