Avon S250 - Floor Side Bars? Dimensions/Advice Required

[womersdc02]

Hi everyone,

I have just purchased a lovely Avon S250. I have noticed there are not any side bars to hold the floor in place.

I am going to make some from some aluminium U-channels and some triangular shaped wood (like the one in the photo) but I am struggling to make a decision on (1) the dimensions of the opening of the U-channel and (2) thickness of the aluminium.

I have measured the thickness of the floor panels but they are all slightly different around 30mm, probably due to years of varnishing. If I get 30mm channels, will the channel bend slightly to accommodate these few mm of offset?

Does anyone have the dimensions for these bars or any recommendations?

Thank you for all your help,

Dan

[Fenlander]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Re side bars/stringers.

A few years ago I had A lovely example of a similar age less sporting Avon Rover, about 3m. The stringers had obviously gone awol and a previous owner made some. They were from two lengths of smooth turned wooden pole with slots machined out to take the floorboard edges. They worked very well. The poles were about 30% greater diameter than an average wooden oar.

Don't sort any stringer solution where the channel is a really close fit to the floor. The stringers should be really tight stretching the tube/floor interface outwards. Because of this you need to roll them in if that makes sense. There should not be enough clearance to drop stringers in beside the floor and slot onto it. If you could do that the floor/stringers will be too loose causing an annoying rattle of the panels and possible chaffing.

[womersdc02]

I didn't think about using a round pole. I might give that a go if I can work out how to make a channel. Okay that makes sense, I'll make sure the panels are tight in the floor.

Thanks for your help.

Dan