Swimming aid Ufim 22 Deservedly considered a legend of Soviet and post-Soviet water tourism, this rubberized inflatable boat has outstanding payload and strength, which allows it to be used on serious rocky bottom water bodies and even on fast-flowing rivers, but to turn an inflatable shell into a full-fledged vessel capable of carrying crew and equipment, you need to properly equip a cockpit. Boat floor Ufimka 22 This is not just a flat surface, it is a power frame that ensures the rigidity of the structure and the safety of people.
Owners often face a dilemma: leave a regular slate mat, make plywood flooring or order a lightweight aluminum floor, each of which has its own specifications, weight and cost. The optimal solution for hiking is considered a combined floor of waterproof plywood with a thickness of 7-9 mm, as it provides a better balance between strength and thermal insulation. Incorrectly selected or poorly fixed flooring can cause displacement of the center of gravity or damage to cylinders during movement.
In this article, we will discuss the technical requirements for decking, compare different materials and consider the step-by-step process of making and installing the floor yourself. You will learn how to properly open the material, how to treat the ends to protect against moisture and what nuances you need to take into account when fixing elements inside the cockpit. A competent approach to this issue will prolong the life of your boat and make your stay on the water as comfortable as possible.
Requirements for flooring and design features of Ufimka 22
Boat. Ufim 22 It has a distinctive bottom shape with a pronounced keel and high inflatable sides. Unlike modern flat-bottom models, the floor must not only withstand the weight of the passengers, but also repeat the bends of the bottom, ensuring tightness and stability. The main requirement for the flooring is the absence of sharp edges that could damage the PVC fabric or rubberized base when friction or loading.
Stiffness is achieved by tightly fitting the floor elements to each other and to the sides. If you plan to use the boat for an outboard motor, the rear part of the floor (transe insert) should be as rigid as possible to extinguish the vibrations from the engine. transom plate It is usually made of thicker plywood (18-21 mm) or reinforced aluminum, while the bulk of the cockpit can be made of lighter material.
When calculating floor sizes, always leave a gap of 1-1.5 cm between the edges of the deck and the sides of the boat, which is necessary to compensate for the thermal expansion of the material and prevent the boat from bloating in hot weather.
The weight of the flooring is critical, especially if the boat is used for long walks and water trips, where the equipment has to be carried by a drag. Too heavy floor will increase the total weight of the kit, but add stability on the water. Light floor will improve the performance on the oars, but may require additional strengthening of the transom. It is important to find a middle ground that will suit your use scenarios.
Comparative analysis of materials: plywood, aluminum and slate
Choosing flooring material is always a trade-off between weight, durability and price. The inflatable boat accessories market is dominated by three main types of decking, each with its own proponents. Understanding the physicochemical properties of materials will help you make an informed choice.
The slate mat that comes with the boat is a flexible structure of wooden slats sewn into a strong fabric. It's a budget option that is easy to roll up and pack. However, such a floor does not provide a flat surface, it gets wet quickly and can rot. Plywood floor is a classic for the world. UfamkiIt's warm, hard and maintainable. Aluminum flooring (often called alum) is the modern standard for those who value minimal weight and absolute moisture resistance, even though it costs more.
Below is a comparison table that will help you organize the data and choose the best option for your situation:
| Parameter | Slate-rug | Plywood (9 mm) | Aluminum (2 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (approximate) | 3-4 kg | 12-15 kg | 6-8 kg |
| Toughness | Low. | High. | Medium/High |
| Moisture resistance | Low (requires drying) | Medium (requires painting) | Tall (not rotting) |
| Heat insulation | Good. | Great. | Bad (cold) |
It is worth noting that plywood can increase in weight when wet, which can be a problem in an emergency situation, while aluminum, despite its lightness, creates an “ice shell” in cold water, so it often requires the use of additional insulating mats. Slate. It is also good for quiet fishing, but it is not suitable for active tourism or the installation of a full-fledged engine.
Manufacture of plywood floor: step-by-step instructions
If you decide to make a floor for Ufam 22 You will need waterproof plywood (FSF or FC, but it is always polished) and the process starts with accurate measurements of the inner width of the boat at several points, since the geometry of the inflated cylinder can float slightly. The optimal thickness of the sheet for the main part of the floor is 7-9 mm, and for the transom insert is at least 18 mm.
The best way to cut the jigsaw is to make it with a clean-cutting jigsaw, to minimize the chipping, and after cutting the pieces, you have to carefully process them, and the plywood ends are the most vulnerable places where moisture gets in first, causing the layering, so you have to impregnate them with special compounds.
☑️ Checklist for plywood processing
You can use aluminum corners or special profiles to connect the floor elements to each other (if you make a composite floor), but it is better to avoid metal mounts inside the cockpit, so as not to tear the boat. The elements should simply fit tightly together. The floor fixation in the boat often uses standard leers (tension cables) or additional belts that pass under the decking.
⚠️ Warning: Never use paint or varnishes with a pungent odor and high solvent content (e.g. nitro-emalee) to treat the floor inside the boat. In the confined space of an inflated boat in the sun, the concentration of vapors can become dangerous to health, and aggressive chemistry can damage the PVC tissue.
Installation and fixation of the flooring in the cockpit
Installation of the floor in the boat Ufim 22 It requires a certain skill, because the elements must fit into their places without skewing, first the nose, then the central sections, and lastly the transom plate, and it is important that there are no slits between the boards that could get water or small equipment.
For reliable fixation, regular ropes (lears) are often used, run through special loops on the sides of the boat, these cables pass under plywood deck and when stretched press the floor against the bottom, creating a single rigid structure. If standard liners are not enough or they are worn out, you can use wide slings with fastexes, but their installation must be done so as to avoid friction against the fabric.
Nuances of the wave-mounting
If you are setting the floor on the shore in the wind, use sandbags or stones (wrapped in cloth) to temporarily fix the elements so they are not blown away by the wind until they are finally fastened.
Special attention should be paid to the transom board, which should be based on a rigid base. ufimke This often involves an inflatable kylson balloon or additional inflatable elements, and make sure that the transom plate does not press sharp corners on the soft elements of the structure. Shifting of the centre of gravity back when installing a heavy motor should be compensated by the correct placement of the load in the bow.
Protecting the floor from moisture and wear
Even water-resistant plywood can lose its properties over time if left untreated. The main threat is moisture that lingers between the floorboards and the bottom of the boat. After each fishing or hike, you need to dry not only the boat itself, but also the flooring elements. The ideal option is to dismantle the floor and dry each board separately.
You can use special coatings to protect the surface from abrasion and slipping. Linoleum glued to plywood will create a great waterproofing layer, but it can slide. A more modern option is self-adhesive anti-slip tapes (as on yacht decks) or painting with special rubber paint for decks. It's not only safe, but aesthetically pleasing.
Check the condition of the floor edges regularly, even small burrs are a signal for immediate repair, skinning and repainting the end will take several minutes, but will save your boat from puncture. Ufim 22 The boat is strong, but careful attitude to the interior space will prolong its life for decades.
The main enemy of plywood floors is not water itself, but lack of ventilation. Always keep a boat with valves slightly open or slightly raised floor to ensure air circulation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use regular laminate instead of plywood for the floor?
Laminate flooring consists of pressed wood chips (HDF), which swells and turns into porridge in a matter of hours when moisture hits, and even moisture-resistant laminate classes cannot withstand constant contact with water and mechanical stress in a boat environment.
What is the minimum thickness of the transom insert?
For the boat. Ufim 22For medium-power outboard motors, the minimum thickness of the plywood tray insert should be 18 mm (two layers of 9 mm or one sheet of 18-21 mm). The use of thinner plywood can lead to deformation of the transom and loss of the motor overboard.
Do I need to put joints between the floorboards with a sealant?
No, you don't have to. The floor has to be able to breathe and dry. If you seal the joints, the water that's under the floor will stay there forever, causing the plywood and the fabric of the bottom of the boat to rot, and it's better to keep the boards tight, but leave the micro-gaps to evaporate the moisture.
How to reduce the weight of the plywood floor without losing strength?
There is a technology to facilitate plywood by drilling holes in the central part of the boards (where there are no critical loads) or using composite materials (sandwich panels). Ufamki most often just select the minimum permissible thickness of high-quality birch plywood, which is stronger than pine at the same weight.