Paiola in the boat: what it is and how to choose the perfect flooring

Anyone who has ever bought an inflatable boat is inevitably faced with the question of gender, and the beginners often confuse the term floorboard, and they don't immediately understand what part of the structure is being discussed. paiola It's a hard or semi-rigid flooring that fits inside inflatable tubes, forming a flat platform for legs, seats and equipment, and without it, the operation of the boat would be extremely uncomfortable: you would sit right on a soft bottom that bends under weight, and when you row your feet would rest against water or slippery fabric.

It is the quality and type of flooring that determines not only the convenience of fishing or cruising, but also the performance of the vessel. balkIn addition, the right paiola protects the bottom of the boat from punctures on rocks, shells or sharp branches when landing, and in this article we will discuss in detail what decking is, how it differs and what to look for when choosing.

Not all boats are equipped with full-fledged floorboards, and the lightest models for fishing "sitting" often use just a stretched low-pressure inflatable floor (LND), but for serious tasks you need to rigid construction. Only hard flooring allows you to safely install transax wheels and fully use the outboard motor with a capacity of more than 5 hp. Understanding the differences between the sexes will help you avoid buying mistakes and save money in the future.

Design features and purpose of paiola

The main function of paiola is to create a rigid platform inside the elastic hull of the boat, and when the cylinders are pumped, they compress sections of the flooring, turning disparate sheets into a monolithic structure. sluggishnessThis keeps the boat in shape, doesn't walk underfoot and resists side wind much better than a soft-bottom model. Stiffness is also critical for load distribution: the weight of the fisherman and equipment is transferred to a larger area, which reduces the risk of damage to the bottom.

Depending on the design, the flooring can be made up of several separate sheets connected to each other, or can be a single whole. The sheet options are popular because of the possibility of compact packaging: a disassembled boat takes up a minimum of space in the trunk of the car. However, this construction takes time and physical effort. There are also models with built-in hard bottom, where the paiola is already glued into cylinders, but such boats are more difficult to transport and store.

The most important element of the design is kielson The Kielson gives the bottom a keel shape, which greatly improves hydrodynamics. The Kielson boat with the hard floorboard is easier to glid, less prowling on the wave and requires less effort to steer. The lack of hard deck makes the boat look like a raft that sails heavily and does not obey the steering wheel.

⚠️ Warning: Never use a boat with damaged or deformed floorboards. A curved sheet can create a point of excess pressure, which will cause the cylinder tissue to rupture or damage the seams at the most inopportune moment.

Main types of flooring: plywood, aluminum and TNR

There are three main types of decking on the market today, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on how you plan to use the boat: walk far from the shore, carry it by hand or store it in the garage. plywoodIt's a water-resistant varnish, it's cheap, it's strong enough, it's a good grip on your shoes, but it's afraid of long-term contact with water, and it needs to be dried regularly, otherwise it can become detached or molded.

The second popular option is aluminum-floorboardThey are grooved sheets of aluminum, often polymer-coated. Aluminum is absolutely water-free, does not rot and lasts for decades. They are lighter than plywood of the same thickness, but cost much more. Besides, aluminum has a high thermal conductivity: in cold water, sitting on a bottom without a mat will be extremely uncomfortable, and in the sun it can get very hot.

Type three: low-pressure inflatable floor (LND). Technically, it's not paiola in the classical sense, because it's not rigid, but it's functionally replacing it. NND consists of many vertical threads connecting the upper and lower walls, which allows you to pump it to high pressure (0.5-0.8 atm), the main advantage is the minimum weight and volume assembled. A boat with NND can be carried away by even one person, and they are collected in minutes. However, it can be much easier to break through such a bottom sharp stone than plywood or metal.

• 🪵 Plywood paiola: budget, good thermal insulation, but requires drying and maintenance, is afraid of moisture.
• 🛡️ Aluminum flooring: durability, moisture resistance, lightness, but high price and cold surface.
• 🎈 inflatable floor (TNR): maximum compactness and speed of assembly, comfort, but less resistance to punctures.

Comparative table of material specifications

To make a final decision, you need to do a comparative analysis of the performance, you can't say that one material is definitely better than another; it depends on the operating conditions. For example, for a hunter who carries a boat through a swamp several kilometers away, weight will be the deciding factor. For a fisherman who rides on a reservoir, hardness and durability are more important.

The table below gives you key options to help you weigh the pros and cons. Pay attention to lifespan and storage conditions, as this often becomes a hidden item of expense or problems in the future.

Characterization	Plywood (laminated)	Aluminum (groaned)	inflatable floor (TNR)
Weight of kit	Medium/Severe	Light/Mediocre	Very light.
Moisture resistance	Requires drying	100% (not afraid of water)	100% (PVC material)
Term of service	5-10 years (depending on care)	20+ years	10-15 years
Heat insulation	High.	Low (colds)	Tall (air cushion)
Price.	Low/Mediocre	High.	Medium/High

Analyzing the data, the bottom line for most users is good-coated plywood, but if the budget allows and weight matters, aluminum is a great investment, while NND is for those who value mobile above all else or plan to use the boat primarily as a rowing boat.

The assembly process and installation of flooring

Building a paiola boat is a process that requires a certain sequence of actions. A breakdown in technology can cause the flooring to get crooked, form humps, or you may not have the strength to fasten the locks. First of all, you need to spread the boat out on a flat surface free of sharp objects. The cylinders are pumped partially, about 30-40% of the working pressure, so that they take shape, but remain soft.

Then the quill is placed inside (if it is removable) and the paiola sheets are consistently stacked. They usually start at the nose, gradually moving towards the transom. It is important to make sure that the edges of the sheets fall into special pockets or lie on the stringers welded inside the boat (inflatable tubes along the sides). After all the elements are laid, the cylinders are finally pumped, the pressure "pressure" the structure, straightening all the folds and fixing the paioles dead.

Special attention should be paid to connecting the sheets together. Lock & Roll Or similar profiles that snap when you flex, and if you hear a characteristic click along the length of the joint, it means that the connection is sealed and reliable, and in older models, the sheets could be joined by metal tongues that were inserted into the slots, but this method is considered less reliable and more time-consuming.

What to do if the paiola does not stand in place?

If you see a swelling in the middle of the boat when you're fully pumped, it means that the floorboard is not assembled correctly or it doesn't match the size of the cockpit. Try lowering the cylinders slightly, correcting the sheets and pumping again. In rare cases, you need to replace the keelson with a longer or shorter one.

Care, storage and repair of floorboard

The durability of your flooring depends on how you care for it. After every fishing, especially in rainy weather or when used in salt water, paiolas need to be wiped with dry rags. The remaining moisture between the sheets or under the mats is the main cause of mold and rot (for plywood) or oxidation (for aluminum, although this is less critical).

If you notice that the plywood sheet has begun to dissipate