Inflatable vessel owners often face the need to improve the strength specifications of their boat, especially if we are talking about frequent operation on rocky shores or shallow water with a shell. Body reinforcement It becomes a critical stage of tuning, when standard inflatable floors or regular slates are no longer enough for a comfortable and safe fishing, and ignoring this issue can lead to rapid abrasion of fabric, microcracks and, ultimately, dangerous punctures at the most inopportune time.
There are many approaches to this, from simple overlays to creating a full-fledged hard floor, the choice of the material depends on the owner’s budget, the type of boat and the conditions in which it will be used. In this article, we will discuss in detail the main materials, their advantages and disadvantages, and also consider the technological nuances that will allow you to make a competent choice.
Why do you need to strengthen the bottom of the boat?
Standard fabric from which modern fabrics are made PVC boatsIt's very tensile, but it's not all-powerful. Constant friction on the sand, impacts on rocks, and contact with sharp branches or reinforcements at the bottom of the reservoir gradually thins the protective layer. inflatable floor (NHPD), although it provides excellent seaworthiness, is extremely vulnerable to mechanical damage when pulling a boat ashore.
The second important aspect is comfort and stability: the soft bottom is slapped underfoot, which creates instability when parking, especially if there are several people on board or heavy equipment. The hard flooring distributes the load evenly, turning the boat into a full-fledged boat where you can safely move without fear of touching the side or losing balance.
In cold water, inflatable tubes and thin floors cool quickly, transferring cold to the fisherman's body. An additional layer of material, especially if it has thermal insulating properties, creates a buffer zone, allowing longer to maintain warmth and comfort during long exits.
⚠️ Warning: Operating a boat with a damaged or severely worn bottom at a depth of more than 1 meter without a life jacket can be life-threatening.
Plywood as a classic material for protection
The most common and available material for creating a protective layer remains plywoodIt has the optimal strength-to-weight ratio, is easily processed and available in most construction stores. For boating purposes, sheets typically range from 9 to 12 millimeters thick, as thinner plywood can deform under human weight, and thicker ones will become unnecessarily heavy.
Plywood's main enemy is moisture, and even when it's treated with special compounds, it can eventually dissect if it hits the ends or gets damaged, so it's critical to make plywood flooring. seal The ideal coating is epoxy resin or special yacht varnishes that create an impermeable film.
Plywood has the advantage of being rigid, and it doesn't bend under your feet to provide a flat surface for mounting fishing boxes or mounting equipment, but it's worth considering that plywood flooring increases the overall weight of the boat, which can be a significant disadvantage for small single-seat PVC vessels.
Before opening the plywood, be sure to make an exact pattern of cardboard, as the geometry of the boat may differ from the one stated in the passport due to the pressure of the cylinders.
When mounting plywood sheets, it is important to provide technological gaps. The tree has the ability to expand and contract at temperature and humidity changes. If you put the sheets together without a gap, they can be arched with a house, which will deform the entire structure of the floor.
Aluminum sheets: lightness and durability
For those who want maximum reliability and are willing to pay for it, it is a great solution. aluminum-leafThis material is absolutely water-free, rotting, moisture-free, and lasts for decades without losing its properties. Aluminum grades of AMG (aluminum-magnesium alloys) are strong enough and lightweight.
The main difficulty in working with aluminum is its processing at home, it is more difficult to cut and drill than plywood, and the edges of the slices can be sharp and require additional treatment with a file or grinder to avoid damaging the fabric of the cylinders. Moreover, aluminum has a high thermal conductivity, so it will cool quickly in cold water, which requires the use of additional insulation or mats.
The metal-tissue compatibility is an important nuance. Direct contact of aluminum with PVC in the presence of water can theoretically lead to electrochemical corrosion, although in practice this process is very slow. linoleum Or a dense fabric that will also add comfort when cruising.
Why is aluminum better than wood?
Aluminum does not absorb water, so the weight of the boat does not increase during operation, unlike plywood, which can gain up to 10-15% of the weight from moisture.
The cost of aluminum sheets may be comparable to quality moisture-resistant plywood, but the life of the metal is disproportionately higher, an investment that pays off without the need to regularly replace rotten floors.
LSD and other alternative materials
The budget option, which is often considered by beginners, is LDSP This material is cheap and affordable, but it has one critical disadvantage: when the protective layer of laminated plate is damaged, it starts to soak up water like a sponge, swelling and losing strength, and L chipboard can only be used as a temporary solution to permanently strengthen the bottom.
There are also composite materials, such as fiberglass or sandwich panels. Fiberglass allows you to create a monolithic bottom of any shape, but requires skills with resins and hardeners, as well as good ventilation in the manufacture. Sandwich panels with polyurethane foam filler are light and not afraid of water, but their surface may not be strong enough to install heavy objects without additional linings.
Some fishermen use the polycarbonate Or extruded polystyrene as a base, covering them on top with a strong cloth or plywood, which allows you to create a very light and unsinkable floor, which is also an excellent thermal insulator, but such designs require complex assembly and sealing of the edges.
⚠️ Warning: Never use pure polystyrene foam without a protective coating – fishing hooks and sharp objects easily pierce it, turning the floor into a sieve.
Technology of production and installation of protection
The bottom reinforcement process starts with careful measurements, and you don't have to rely on the standard dimensions specified by the boat manufacturer, because the actual geometry of the balloon inflated can be different, and you'd better cut the pattern out of cardboard or old oilcloth, fit it inside the boat and then you can build the basic material on it.
When cutting material, you have to take into account the shape of the bow, the bottom of the boat narrows to the nose, and the rectangular sheets will not stand up there, often the nose is made into a composite or using separate trapezoidal inserts, all the corners of the sheets must be rounded so that the tissue of the cylinders does not scratch when moving and storing.
☑️ Procedure for setting the floor
It is strongly recommended not to attach the sheets of the floor to the fabric of the boat with glue. The floor should lie loose or be fixed with regular slings and pockets provided by the design of the boat. A rigid ligament can lead to tissue rupture when pressure changes in the cylinders or the hull deformation on the wave.
To increase comfort over a hard deck often lay a mat from EVA material Or a car mat with slots, which not only improves the grip of the shoe on the floor, but also creates an additional air gap, which improves the thermal insulation and allows water to drain into the bottom without disturbing the legs.
Comparison of materials and their specifications
To make a final decision, you need to organize data about different materials, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, which become apparent when you look at the technical parameters in detail.
| Materials | Weight (kg/m2) | Moisture resistance | Durability | Difficulty processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine plywood (10 mm) | ~6.5 | Medium (requires coverage) | 3-5 years | Low. |
| Aluminum (2 mm) | ~5.4 | High. | 10+ years | High. |
| LDPL (16 mm) | ~10.0 | Low. | 1-2 years | Low. |
| Fiberglass | ~4.0-8.0 | High. | 10+ years | Very high. |
The table shows that aluminum It's a good thing for durability and moisture resistance, but it's light enough. Plywood is a middle ground for cost and ease of manufacture, but requires maintenance. chipboards lose everything except the initial price, and it's only justified in extreme economies.
It's also worth noting the impact of the material on performance, because the heavy floor shifts the center of gravity of the boat, which can slightly reduce speed and maneuverability, especially on low-power engines. However, for fishing, where stability and the ability to stand up at full height are important, this tradeoff is completely justified.
The best choice for most anglers will be marine plywood with high-quality epoxy impregnation, as this is a balance of price, weight and availability of materials.
Additional protection and operation measures
Even a reinforced bottom requires proper handling. Before each fishing, check the bottom of the boat for rocks or debris that may have stuck between the floor sheets and the cloth.
When storing the boat assembled (if space permits), it is recommended to slightly lift one of the sides or place the floor on the edge to ensure air circulation, this will prevent mold and unpleasant smell, especially if wooden elements were used.
Don't forget to protect against UV. Many materials, especially some plastics and adhesives, degrade under direct sunlight. If the boat is often in the sun without a tent, make sure that the floor material you choose is resistant to the sun. UV radiation.
⚠️ WARNING: When using aluminum flooring in salt water, be sure to rinse it with fresh water after each exit to avoid corrosion and oxide formation.
In conclusion, strengthening the bottom is not just a matter of comfort, it is an extension of the life of your boat. Properly selected and installed flooring will protect the most vulnerable part of the boat from wear and tear, allowing you to enjoy fishing or cruising on the water for many years without the risk of unexpected repairs.
Can you use conventional plywood instead of sea?
You can use conventional building plywood, but it's going to have a much shorter lifespan, it absorbs moisture faster and it's going to be layered, and if you don't have a choice, you have to boil it in olifa or you have to thoroughly soak it in epoxy in several layers, paying special attention to the ends.
Do I need to put the floors together?
No, it's not necessary to glue the floor sheets together, it's not even harmful. They have to lie independently of each other to be able to compensate for the changes in the geometry of the boat during pumping and on the wave. The glued monolith can create stress points that will tear the fabric.
How to remove the creaking floor when cruising?
Screaming occurs from rubbing materials against each other, and can be eliminated by putting a layer of dense fabric, felt or special anti-slip mat between the floor sheets or between the floor and the fabric of the boat, and also by lubricating the ends of the sheets with paraffin or silicone.
Does the reinforced bottom affect the carrying capacity of the boat?
Formally, the weight of the floor (10-20 kg) reduces the payload capacity specified in the data sheet, but in practice this effect is invisible to 1-2 people, the main thing is not to exceed the maximum number of people specified by the manufacturer, regardless of the weight of the sex.