Owners of small-sized swimming facilities often face the need to upgrade the basic equipment, especially when it comes to comfort and safety on the water. Aqua 2800 It is a great start to explore the water element, but the regular inflatable floor does not always meet the increased requirements of fishermen or outdoor enthusiasts. It is at this point that the owner faces the urgent question: where and what kind of slate to buy to turn a light inflatable boat into a full-fledged vessel with a hard bottom.
The PVC boat accessories market is full of offers today, but not all of them are equally useful. hard-board It's not just a piece of plywood, it's an engineering solution that affects the fluid dynamics, the stability and the durability of the whole product, and the wrong choice of material or thickness can lead to cylinder deformation or even dangerous situations when operating on the wave.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all aspects of choosing a flooring for a model Aqua 2800Compare materials and tell you what to look for when ordering or manufacturing yourself.
Design features of the boat Aqua 2800 and flooring requirements
Model Aqua 2800 The basic design is a low-pressure inflatable floor (LDPB) or high-pressure inflatable floor, which, despite its reliability, flexes under the weight of a person and a cargo. balloon-geometry It should remain unchanged to avoid overstraining of the seams.
The hard floor in this model is a power frame that distributes the load over the entire area of the paiola, which is especially important if you plan to use the boat not only for rowing, but also for a low-power electric motor or a small gasoline engine. It is critical to ensure a smooth surface for installation of the transom mounting to avoid distortions of the motor.
When choosing or ordering a sleigh, the interior width of the boat, which is about 90-100 cm in the 2800 model (depending on the pressure in the cylinders), too wide an insert can inflate the cylinders over measure, and a narrow one can create dangerous gaps into which water can get or where the gear can get stuck.
⚠️ Warning: Never use slate that requires excessive effort to install. If the plywood sheet does not enter the boat freely, there is a high risk of damaging the internal reinforcing fabric or puncturing the balloon with a sharp angle.
Materials of manufacture: plywood or aluminum?
When you decide to buy slate for a boat, you're faced with a dilemma of what material to choose, which is traditionally marine plywood or sheet aluminum. Each of these materials has its own unique specifications that affect the material. performance boats in general.
Plywood is a classic, time-tested option. It's hard, easy to work and relatively inexpensive. However, even moisture-resistant plywood can eventually dissipate if it's not properly maintained and coated. Aluminum, on the other hand, is completely inert to water, but has less bending rigidity at the same thickness, requiring more complex design solutions.
For the boat. Aqua 2800The plywood slate will be heavier than aluminum, but it will provide warmer flooring and better cushioning, and aluminum cools down faster and can be noisy when it comes into contact with things.
- 🌲 Plywood: Affordable price, high rigidity, the possibility of self-manufacturing, but requires mandatory impregnation and is afraid of prolonged contact with water.
- ⚙️ Aluminum: Full water resistance, durability, lightness, but high cost and the need to use a corrugated sheet (relief) for (anti-slip).
- 🧩 Composites: Modern materials (glass fiber), which are less common, have high strength, but are difficult to process at home.
Technical specifications and thickness of the slurry
The optimal thickness of the material is a parameter that you can't choose at random. Aqua 2800It is usually recommended to use plywood thickness from 9 to 12 mm. the Use of a thinner sheet will lead to the effect of "hammock", when under the weight of the fisherman the floor bends to the water, which creates discomfort and the risk of wet things.
If you choose aluminum, the sheet thickness should be at least 2-3 mm, preferably with riffling, to ensure that the sole of the shoe adheres to the surface. weightThe boat 2800 is often carried by a single person.
Below is a comparative table of specifications of the different decking options for a boat with a length of 2.8 meters:
| Parameter | Plywood 9 mm | Plywood 12 mm | Aluminum 2 mm | 3 mm aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (approximate) | ~8-10 kg | ~12-14 kg | ~6-7 kg | ~9-10 kg |
| Toughness | Medium | High. | Low (deflection) | Medium |
| Moisture resistance | Requires processing | Requires processing | 100% | 100% |
| Price. | Low. | Medium | High. | Very high. |
When buying a finished sleigh or ordering a saw, be sure to check the grade of plywood. For a boat, only plywood of the variety is suitable. 1/2 or 2/2And there's no knots or defects on one side, and there's no way that they fall out, because in high humidity, they can fall out, forming a hole through.
When buying plywood, immediately treat the ends with epoxy resin or special yacht impregnation - it is from the edges that the destruction of the material begins.
Where to buy ready-made slate or order sawing
There are several ways to solve the problem of equipping the boat Aqua 2800 The easiest, but not always the cheapest, option is to buy the finished product from a boat manufacturer or specialty stores. Many PVC accessories companies offer sleighs that have already been cut for specific models, including: Aqua.
The second option is to go to a firm that makes laser or waterjet sharp materials, and you can give them a blueprint or dimensions, and you'll be made with a perfectly tailored kit, which is often more profitable than buying a branded accessory, because you only pay for the material and the work, without a markup for the logo.
The third way is to buy a piece of plywood in a construction hypermarket and cut it with an electric jigsaw, which requires tools and minimal carpentry skills, but saves up to 50% of your budget, but the quality of the cut and fit will depend solely on your accuracy.
- 🏪 Specialty shops: Guarantee of compliance with the dimensions, readiness for installation, but high price.
- 🏭 Furniture shops / Cutting: Ideal geometry, the ability to choose thickness, average price, requires the provision of a drawing.
- 🛠️ With my hands: Minimum cost, complete control over the quality of the material, but time and risk of error in marking.
When searching for a supplier online, use precise queries such as “buy PVC 2800 sled” or “saw plywood on the floor of the boat.” Be sure to check whether the package includes fastener tape or Velcro, which are often used to fix the floor.
How to save money on buying?
You can buy a substandard sheet of plywood (with defects along the edge) if the central part of the sheet is of quality. For a boat 2800, often half a standard sheet of 1525×1525 mm is enough, allowing you to share the purchase with someone else.
Instructions for installation and fixation of the floor
The proper installation of the sleigh is a guarantee of safety. The installation process depends on the type of bottom of your boat. Aqua 2800If you have an inflatable floor, the slate is usually laid on top of it, acting as a hard floorboard. If you change the soft bottom to a hard one (which requires re-adjusting the boat), the technology is completely different and requires professional intervention.
So let's consider the option of placing a folding hard floor over an inflatable floor, and the boat is fully inflated to the working pressure, then the slate is gently inserted in, and it's important to make sure that the edges of the plywood don't rub against the cylinders when inserted, and after laying, the sheet should lie flat, without swelling.
To fix the floor so that it does not ride while rowing, often use textile tapes or special profiles. In some cases, owners glue a strip of anti-slip coating to the bottom of the sleigh, which also serves as a buffer between the hard plywood and the soft shell of the boat.
☑️ Checklist for slug installation
⚠️ Warning: It is strictly forbidden to use metal screws or nails to attach slugs to the elements of the boat. Any damage to the sealed layer of the cylinder will lead to loss of buoyancy.
Care of wooden flooring and extension of service life
When you buy or make plywood slate, you take responsibility for keeping it safe. Wood is a living material, and in an aggressive aquatic environment, it requires constant attention. Plywood's main enemy is not so much water as the soak-dry cycles that lead to the veneer's dissection.
After every fishing or walk, the slate must be removed from the boat, wiped with dry rags and left to dry in the shade. Direct sunlight can cause uneven drying and deformation of the leaf. It is better to store the plywood in a horizontal position to avoid curvature under your own weight.
Once a season, before the navigation, it is recommended to conduct a coating inspection. If you notice varnish bloating or dark spots, these places should be cleaned and covered with a new layer of protective composition. A good solution is to use a yacht varnish in 3-4 layers with intermediate grinding.
The service life of a well-treated plywood sleigh is 5-7 years, after which the material begins to lose its strength specifications and requires replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use conventional construction plywood for a boat?
Use of conventional plywood (FC) is possible only under the condition of very high-quality and thorough processing on all sides, including the ends. FSF (increased moisture resistance), because the glue used in its production is more resistant to water, ordinary plywood can be layered in 1-2 seasons of active use.
Should I paint the bottom of the sleigh that comes in contact with the bottom of the boat?
Yes, you need to paint or varnish the entire surface, including the bottom, and this will create a closed moisture-retarding circuit, and the smooth lacquer coating will reduce friction between the hard floor and the inflatable floor, preventing PVC fabric from abrading as the boat moves through the water.
How much does a slate weigh for an Aqua 2800 boat?
Weight depends on the material and thickness. For plywood 10-12 mm weight will be approximately 9-11 kg. Aluminum analogue will be lighter - about 6-7 kg. When buying a finished kit, always check the final weight, as for a single boat, every extra kilogram is felt when carrying.
Does the installation of slug affect the load capacity of the boat?
Formally, the installation of a hard floor does not change the rated carrying capacity, since the volume of water displaced remains the same. However, the hard floor takes up part of the internal volume and adds its own weight (10 kg), which actually reduces the payload you can take on board (junks, motor, passengers).