For any inflatable boat owner, stability and performance are the first priority. floorboard They turn a soft inflatable bag into a full-fledged boat that can glid with confidence, and without a rigid flooring, the control becomes difficult and the safety of the crew is threatened.
Many beginners confuse the concept of floorboards, calling any elements of the hard floor, but technically it is a prefabricated structure. It can be made of various materials, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages in operation. Choosing the right option directly affects the durability of your boat.
Definition and functional purpose of floorboard
In the basic sense, floorboard is a hard floor element that is collected inside an inflatable balloon. bottom-stiffnessSoft bottom creates resistance to water, whereas hard flooring allows the boat to slide on the surface, saving fuel and engine life.
The paiola design also protects the bottom of the boat from puncture and abrasion, and when landing or moving through shallow water, it is this layer that takes on the impacts of stones and branches. Plywood The aluminum variants offer excellent protection but add weight.
In addition, properly assembled floor creates the necessary hull geometryIf the floorboards are not properly selected, the boat may get inflected or sagged, which will lead to loss of speed and handling, and it is important to understand that the floorboard is not just a floor, it is a load-bearing element of the structure.
It is critical that the hard surface area is at least 80% of the total bottom area for stable glides. A smaller area will result in a bubble in the nose or stern that will slow the boat down.
The main types of materials for hard flooring
The market offers several basic materials for making paiola, each of which dictates the conditions of operation and storage of the boat. plywoodIt's affordable, easy to process and has a good value for money, but plywood is afraid of prolonged contact with water and requires careful drying.
Aluminum floorboards are the choice of those who value longevity. Metal doesn't rot, it doesn't swell, it can withstand extreme stresses. But aluminum has its own nuances: it's cold, it's noisy, it can oxidize in salt water if it doesn't have a special coating. It's also going to be a significant weight.
It is worth mentioning separately. slate-rugIt's not exactly a floorboard in the classical sense, because it's soft flooring with hard inserts, it's light and compact, but it doesn't provide the stiffness that you need for high-powered motors, and it's perfect for quiet fishing, but it's not for high-speed walks.
Modern composites try to combine the lightness of plastic with the strength of metal. They're not afraid of water, but they often have a high cost. The material choice depends on how often you plan to use the boat and under what conditions.
Design features: floorboards, stringers and profiles
Building hard floors is an engineering challenge that requires understanding mechanics. Piolas don't just lie on the bottom, they connect to each other and fix themselves to cylinders. stringer Long aluminium or plastic profiles running along the sides, which take the bending load.
The paiola itself is connected through slots or special locks. AirDeck Or similar, where the flooring is part of an inflatable structure, but in the classics we're talking about removable elements, and it's important that the gaps between the sheets be minimal, otherwise there will be sand and dirt stuffing in there.
To reinforce the design, additional cross profiles are often used, they do not allow the floor to "walk" under the load of the engine and passengers. If you are assembling the boat yourself, make sure that all profiles are inserted before clicking or tight stop.
⚠️ Warning: Never leave a paiola-mounted boat in the direct sun unattended. The air inside the cylinders expands and the hard floor can create a point of critical tension, leading to seams rupturing or cylinder deformation.
Why is the floor creaking in the boat?
The screeching occurs because of the friction of the paiola against the stringer or the balloon when rolling. To eliminate this, use special PVC lubricants or put an extra layer of tissue (linoleum) between the balloon and the profile, and creaking can also indicate drying of the tree and increasing gaps.
Comparative table of material specifications
To make a final decision, you need to compare the key parameters. Below are the data that will help you weigh the pros and cons. Pay attention to the weight, because for single boats this is a critical factor.
The table shows that there is no perfect material, plywood requires maintenance, aluminum requires money, and slate requires compromise in rigidity, and the choice depends on your priorities: speed, durability or transportability.
| Parameter | Sea plywood | aluminum | Slate-rug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (on set) | Medium (10-15 kg) | Tall (15-20 kg) | Low (3-5 kg) |
| Moisture resistance | Requires drying. | 100% (not rotting) | 100% (not absorbing) |
| Stiffness on planing | High. | Very high. | Low/Medium |
| Term of service | 5-7 years | 15+ years | 3-5 years |
| Cost | Low. | High. | Medium |
When buying plywood paiola, immediately cover the ends and surface with moisture-resistant paint or varnish. Factory processing is often insufficient for active use, and after a season, the plywood can begin to layer.
Instructions for proper assembly and installation
Building a hard-floorboard boat is a process that requires consistency. Mistakes in the assembly phase can cause the boat to be inflatable to working pressure or skewed. First, spread the boat on a flat surface and straighten all the folds.
Then put the floor elements in a balloon, but don't join them rigidly for now. Put the side stringers in special pockets or under the hinge bars. Only then start docking the paioles between you, moving from nose to stern or vice versa, depending on the design.
The last step is to set up the cross profiles and the final stretch, make sure the floor is flat, without humps, and if you use plywood, make sure it doesn't hit the valves or the seams when pumped.
- 🛶 Spread out the boat and check for no debris inside.
- 🛶 Lay the paioles in approximate order without fixing.
- 🛶 Put the longitudinal stringers on the sides.
- 🛶 Connect the paioles and fix with cross profiles.
☑️ Pre-launch checks
Care, storage and typical problems
The durability of paiola depends on how you store it. The main mistake is cleaning a wet boat. The water left between layers of plywood or under aluminum sheets causes corrosion and rotting. After each fishing, the boat must be dried by turning over or decomposing the floor elements.
When stored in winter, paiola is best removed from the boat. Plywood is recommended to be stored in a warm dry room, pre-treated with an antiseptic. Aluminum is easy enough to rinse with fresh water, especially if you have swam through salty water bodies to wash off the salt.
A common problem is the appearance of mold on wooden elements, which not only spoils the appearance, but also destroys the structure of the material. If you notice black spots, they must be cleaned immediately and treated with special tools. Aluminum is dangerous electrochemical corrosion when in contact with other metals.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use abrasive brushes to clean paiole. scratches on the surface (especially on varnish or aluminum oxide film) will become foci for further destruction of the material.
Proper drying and storage of paiola separately from cylinders prolongs the life of the boat by 2-3 times, preventing the decay of the wood and the oxidation of the metal.
Tuning: modernization of the staff floor
Many owners are not satisfied with the standard option and resort to tuning, a popular solution is to replace standard plywood with thicker or lighter aviation plywood, and often install additional sheets for an outboard motor compartment to strengthen the transom plate.
Another option is to create a flat floor that covers the entire floor area, including the space under inflatable tubes (Kilson), which increases the internal volume and allows you to place more equipment, as well as improves seaworthiness.
For comfort lovers, floorboards are equipped with special EVA mats that do not absorb water, are pleasant to the touch and provide anti-slip effects, and this is especially true for aluminum floors, which can be slippery.
When tuning, it's important not to overweight. Every extra kilogram is lost speed and increased fuel consumption. Weigh every upgrade element before installing.
Can I make a pyeol myself?
Yes, if you have a skill in wood or metal, but it's important to calculate the geometry accurately so that the boat doesn't lose its performance, and the homemade floorboard has to be perfectly consistent with the contours of the cylinders.
What's the difference between floorboard and sleigh?
floorboard is a rigid prefabricated structure of individual sheets (plywood, aluminum) creating a hard bottom. Slate is most often a soft mat with rigid inserts that does not provide complete rigidity of the hull and is designed for lightweight inflatable boats without the requirement of glides.
How often should I change my paioles on the boat?
The life of the plywood paioles depends on the material. Plywood paioles, when used actively, last 5-7 years, after which they need to be replaced due to bundling. Aluminum paioles last for decades unless the coating is broken. Slag mats are changed every 3-4 years.
Can I use floorboard in the winter?
You can use a floorboard inflatable boat at low temperatures, but with caution. PVC becomes rigid, and the risk of damaging the balloon against the hard edges of the floorboard increases. Aluminum becomes very cold in the cold and can damage the fabric if hit hard.
Why does the floorboard "walk" or shift when moving?
This is a sign of improper assembly or wear of fasteners, perhaps not fully inserted stringers or loosen locks, and also the cause may be deformation of the paiola sheets themselves from moisture or mechanical stress.
How to treat plywood floorboard for protection?
You'd better use specialty yacht impregnations, polyurethane varnishes, or epoxy compounds, and you'd get a quick peeling of the paint, and it's important to treat not only the surface, but also the end of the sheets with special care.