The choice of a swimming tool often begins with an assessment of its driving qualities and comfort, but it is precisely the choice of a swimming vehicle. PVC bottom It's the hidden foundation that determines how confident a vessel is about to keep the wave and speed. Many beginners, when they buy an inflatable boat, don't even think about what's under their feet until they're faced with floor stiffness or assembly difficulties. A properly selected base transforms a soft inflatable balloon into a full-fledged planing boat that can reach high speed.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the existing types of decking, from classic plywood to modern aluminum alloys, and help you understand why. Air Deck It can be the perfect solution for fishing, and grooved aluminum for speed riding, and you'll learn how to properly care for the floor so that it lasts decades, and what to do when the old flooring is broken, and understanding the design of the bottom is the key to safety and pleasure on the water.
Design features and purpose of the flooring
The basic function of any deck in an inflatable boat is to create a rigid plane that allows passengers to stand, sit and move without bending into the water. Without a quality base, the boat becomes an unstable raft, where every movement causes a swing. rigidity allows the vessel to get on plane mode when installing a powerful motor, significantly reducing water resistance.
Modern manufacturers use different materials, each of which has its own physical properties and application. plywood It provides excellent thermal insulation, which is critical for winter fishing, whereas aluminum sheets are prized for their debt and ability to withstand extreme loads. The choice of the specific type depends on where and how you plan to operate the boat: in calm water or on large waves.
And it's important to note that the bottom also acts as a power element that holds the shape of cylinders. H-shaped profile The flooring takes on some of the pressure created by the inflated cylinders, which makes the entire structure more durable. Poor quality or deformed floor can lead to uneven tension of the PVC fabric and, as a result, to rupture of the seams or damage to the cylinders.
When buying a boat, pay attention to the quality of processing of the edges of the decking - they should be perfectly smooth, so as not to damage the interior of the cylinders when friction.
Types of bottoms: plywood, aluminum and Air Deck
The most common material for decking remains moisture-resistant plywood, often covered with a special sliding coating. Slidex It's a classic solution that's been tested for decades, and it's got good heat and noise insulation, which makes it comfortable to stay in a boat even in cool weather, but it's afraid of long-term contact with water and requires careful drying after every fishing trip.
Aluminum sheets, often called "aluminum bottoms," are grooved plates connected together, which is considered the most durable and durable type of bottom, aluminum does not rot, does not deform from moisture and provides maximum rigidity, which allows for higher speeds, but it has a significant disadvantage - high thermal conductivity, which in cold weather can freeze the legs, requiring the use of mats.
The third type is the inflatable floor. Air Deck or Air FloorIt is an inflatable structure with internal strands, ideal for lightweight, single-seater boats designed for rapid assembly and transportation. The bottom of the air provides excellent buoyancy and softness, but is not suitable for high-powered motors and high-speed planing.
- 🛶 Plywood: Warm, quiet, requires drying, afraid of blows.
- ⚓ Aluminum: Eternal, hard, cold, noisy, heavy.
- 🎈 Air Deck: Light, soft, does not require assembly, limited load capacity.
Comparative specifications of materials
To make a final decision, we need to make a detailed comparison of the specifications of the materials, each with its own advantages in specific operating conditions, for example, for hunters who often walk on reeds and can touch the bottom, aluminum will be more reliable than plywood, which can be layered by impact.
The weight of the boat assembly is also important, especially if you plan to carry it long distances without transport, and the aluminum bottom is much heavier than the plywood equivalent, which can be critical for older people or female fishermen. tensile And the resistance to abrasion in the metal is much higher.
Below is a table that will help you organize the data and choose the best option for your needs. Pay attention to the thermal conductivity paramette if you fish in the off-season.
| Parameter | Plywood (Laminated) | Aluminum (Riflene) | Air Deck (Inflatable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight. | Medium. | Highly | Low. |
| Toughness | High. | Maximum | Low/Medium |
| Heat insulation | Good. | Missing. | Great. |
| Durability | 5-10 years | 20+ years | 5-8 years |
| Assembly speed | Slow. | Medium | Fast. |
Aluminum bottom is the choice for those who appreciate maximum reliability and speed, and plywood is suitable for comfortable and quiet fishing.
The assembly and laying process
Building a boat with a hard bottom is a process that requires a certain sequence of actions. Incorrect stacking of sheets can lead the boat to become unstable on the water. The first step is always to lay the cylinders on a flat surface and partially pump them to a state where they hold shape, but still soft.
Then you put the transom cans (seats) that serve as the framework for laying the floor sheets, and the sheets of plywood or aluminum are inserted under the valves of cylinders or in special pockets, connecting with each other with profiles. link-profile They entered the grooves without distortion, otherwise, when pumping the boat, the structure can jam.
☑️ Hard-bottom assembly algorithm
The final step is to pump the cylinders to the operating pressures indicated in the product's passport, and that's when the bottom is straightened out and takes its final shape. H-shaped profileMake sure that the central beam lies flat and does not rest on the seams of the cylinders.
⚠️ Warning: Never leave a hard-bottomed boat under direct sunlight for long periods of time unattended. Heating the air inside the cylinders can cause excessive pressure and tearing of the fabric or seams, especially if the boat is overpumped.
Maintenance, storage and repair of the bottom
The durability of your boat depends on how you care for its elements. Plywood flooring should not be kept wet. After each fishing, the sheets should be wiped with a dry cloth and let them dry completely in the unfolded form. If you leave the plywood wet in a rolled-up boat, it will quickly dissect, blacken and lose its strength.
Aluminum sheets are more unpretentious, but they also require attention. Sand and small pebbles, getting between the sheets, work as an abrasive, rubbing the protective oxide layer and the PVC fabric itself. So before packaging, it is recommended to blow the joints of the sheets with compressed air or thoroughly rinse them with water. Regular lubrication of the docking profiles with silicone lubricant will facilitate assembly in the future.
How do you handle plywood ends?
The ends of plywood sheets are the most vulnerable, and they need to be soaked 2-3 times with hot olifer or coated with moisture-resistant wood varnish, which will create a barrier to prevent moisture from absorbing into the material structure.
In case of damage to the inflatable floor Air DeckRepairs are done in a similar way to cylinder repair: cleaning, degreasing and patching PVC fabric. For hard decking, repair is more difficult: cracked plywood is better to replace the whole, and deformed aluminum is almost impossible to straighten without special equipment.
- 🧼 Wash the bottom with fresh water after use in salt water.
- 🌞 Dry the plywood only in the shade, avoiding direct sun.
- 🔧 Check the integrity of the connection profiles regularly.
Modernization and tuning of the flooring
Many boat owners don't stop at factory designs and want to improve their boats, and one of the popular types of tuning is to replace the slippery plywood with a more prehensive one, like carpeting or a special anti-slip film, which improves the safety of boat travel, especially in wet weather.
It is also common practice to install additional stiffness elements or reconfigure the cans to make fitting easier, and some fishermen integrate the plywood decking compartments to store the tackle, turning the bottom into a functional element of the interior. load-bearing floor.
If you find the floor too hard or too cold, you can use polyethylene foam mats, which not only add comfort, but also provide additional thermal insulation, and aluminum floors are almost a must-have accessory in the cold season.
⚠️ Note: When self-drilling holes in the deck for mounting (for example, for sonar or fishing rod holders), use only stainless fittings and be sure to seal the holes to prevent water from entering the cylinders or plywood stratification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I replace the plywood floor with aluminum in my boat?
Theoretically, if the design of the boat is based on a rigid deck, aluminum is heavier than plywood, which will increase the overall weight of the boat and may require a recalculation of the load capacity, and the size and shape of the sheets should match perfectly with the profile of your boat, so it is better to order from the manufacturer or look for ready-made kits for your model.
How often should the plywood floor be dryed?
Plywood must be dried after each outing, even if it is not visibly wet. The moisture from the air condenses inside the folded boat, creating ideal conditions for the fungus. At least once a season (before winter storage), the sheets must be completely disassembled, dried in a warm room and treated with a water repellent composition.
Which is better for planing: plywood or aluminum?
The aluminum bottom provides a stiffer plane, which has a positive effect on the planing output and stability of the stroke at high speed. Plywood can be slightly bent under load, creating additional resistance. For high-speed walks and water skis, aluminum is preferable.
Why does the bottom creak when cruising?
Screaming is caused by friction of sheets of deck against each other or against the fabric of cylinders, often due to the trapped sand or dried lubricant in the docking profiles, the problem can be solved by removing the floor, cleaning the profiles and smearing them abundantly with silicone spray or talc.
Does the color of the bottom affect the heating of the boat?
Dark colors (gray, blue, black) absorb more solar heat, which leads to increased pressure in the cylinders and heating inside the boat. Light colors (beige, light gray) reflect the sun's rays, keeping the temperature more comfortable, which is especially true for summer heat.