The organization of space in an inflatable boat is not just a matter of convenience, but a necessity for comfortable fishing or recreation. Many owners of boats face the problem when everything is scattered along the bottom, gets confused under their feet and interferes with maneuvering. The ideal solution for fixing tackles, sonar or just a mug with hot tea becomes lyctross-boardThis simple yet efficient design allows us to use the usable area as efficiently as possible without compromising the integrity of the cylinders.
Making a table yourself is a great opportunity to save money and get a product that is ideal for your model of boat. Unlike factory counterparts, homemade can take into account the individual layout of the layout. PVC boats In this article, we will explore the process of designing, matching materials and building a reliable table that attaches to the lyctross, turning your boat into a full-fledged floating office or fishing headquarters.
The main advantage of the lyctross design is that you don't have to drill cylinders or use complex suction systems that can unstuck in the heat, and the lyctross is a strong cable that encircles the balloon at the base, and it will be our support. Using lyctros as a fastening point allows you to distribute the load evenly without creating a critical pressure on one point of the PVC material. This makes the design safe and durable when executed correctly.
Principles of fastening and design selection
Before you start purchasing materials, you need to clearly understand how the table will interact with the balloon. There are several mounting schemes, but the most reliable is a system with vertical racks covering the cylinder and fixed to the lyctross using carbines or clamps. Strength of construction It depends on the quality of the assembly of the mounting units, and if you make them too loose, the table will stagger at the slightest wave, which can lead to the fall of expensive equipment, such as a sonar or a smartphone.
It is important to consider the geometry of your boat. Inflatable boats Other manufacturers have different cylinder diameters and lyctross heights. In some models, the lyctross may be hidden under a protective tape, which requires special hooks. In other cases, the cable is open, which makes it easier to do so, you need to measure the distance from the bottom to the lyctros and the diameter of the balloon at the intended attachment.
⚠️ Warning: Never attach heavy structures to only one section of lyctross. The pressure must be distributed around the circumference of the balloon, otherwise the center of gravity may shift and even the risk of the chamber deforming under load when rolling.
The optimal design of the table is a lightweight platform on one or two supports. The single-pillar option is easier to manufacture, but requires a very rigid attachment to the bottom or an additional stress on the side to compensate for the lever. The two-pillar version, where the racks are attached to both sides on lyctros, provides better stability, but more difficult to install. For most fishing tasks, it is quite compact. single-table with a wide base that lies on a hard or inflatable floor.
Required materials and tools
The quality of the final product depends on the components chosen. To create a durable and lightweight table, you do not need to look for exclusive alloys, you need to approach a standard set of materials competently, the main requirement is resistance to corrosion and moisture, since the operation will take place in an aggressive aquatic environment.
For the frame, a profile pipe made of stainless steel or aluminum brand is ideally suited D16TAluminum is lighter, which is critical for inflatable boats, where every kilogram counts. Stainless steel is stronger but heavier. If the budget is tight, you can use a conventional steel pipe, but it will have to be carefully painted and protected, which in constant contact with water and sand is a temporary solution.
The countertop is best made of moisture-resistant plywood (FSF grades) 10-12 mm thick or composite materials of the type fiberglassPlywood must be coated with a yacht lacquer in several layers or pasted with self-adhesive film to protect against moisture, and PVC foam is also becoming a popular material, which is completely free of water, easy to process and has a low weight.
- 🛠️ Profile pipe 20x20 mm or round pipe 20-25 mm diameter (aluminum / stainless steel).
- 🪵 Sheet material for countertops (FSF plywood, PVC plastic, composite).
- 🔗 Fixing elements: bolts, nuts, washers (only stainless steel A2 or A4).
- 🔨 Tool: Bulgarian, drill, metal drill, roulette, marker.
Special attention should be paid to fittings. All metal parts that come into contact with water must be protected. A conventional black fastener will rust after the first fishing and leave unpleasant rusty streams on the light cylinders of the boat. stainlessFor the connection of the elements of the frame, welding (for steel and aluminum) or bolt joints can be used. Bolt joint is preferable for home manufacturing, since it allows you to disassemble the structure for transportation.
Use grovers (spring washers) when assembling bolt joints. Engine vibration and waves can gradually unwind the normal nuts, leading to the destruction of the structure on the water.
Step-by-step instructions for assembling the frame
The manufacturing process begins with a drawing or at least a detailed sketch with dimensions. Do not rely on the eye meter, as a mistake of a few centimeters can make the table unsuitable for installation in your particular place. PVCDetermine the desired height of the countertop: it should be comfortable for sitting, usually 30-40 cm from the level of the seats (cans).
First, we cut the racks, and if you're making a single-pillar table, you're going to need one long vertical tube and elements to support the bottom, and the bottom part has to be T-shaped or cross-shaped so it can lean on the bottom and not flip. The top part has a lyctross attachment mechanism, and it can be a hook, a carabiner, or a brace that covers.
⚠️ Attention: All pipe slices must be thoroughly cleaned and ground. Sharp edges or burrs can damage the boat cylinder if sloppy movement or strong swing, which will lead to depressurization.
Next, we build the countertop frame. It can be welded to a vertical rack or removable. Removable option is more convenient: you can use one rack for different tasks, changing the upper modules (table, fishing rod holder, sonar stand). To connect, we use M6 or M8 bolts. It is important to ensure the rigidity of the connection so that the countertop does not "walk".
☑️ Frame assembly
The key is to create a lyctross attachment, and the easiest and most reliable way is to use a powerful aluminum bracket that covers the balloon and rests on the bottom of the lyctross, or a carbine that clings directly to the cable. The locking mechanism You can use carbines with screw clutch or homemade latches with spring-loaded lock.
Manufacture of countertops and fittings
Once the frame is ready, we move on to the fabrication of the working surface, the size of the countertop depends on your needs, but the optimal size is considered to be about 40 x 50 cm. This is enough to accommodate a glass, a box with baits and a phone.
If you use plywood, you have to prepare it, soak the end of the end with olive oil or epoxy glue, then grind and coat with a 3 to 4 layer yacht lacquer, each layer has to dry completely, and this creates a strong water-repellent film, and the alternative is to paste PVC film with the texture of wood or carbon, which will also protect the material and improve the appearance.
To increase functionality, you can attach additional elements to the countertop, for example, small perimeter sides will not allow objects to roll when rolling. It is also useful to provide holes for installing glasses or mounting. spinnerIf you plan to use a sonar, immediately mark and cut the hole under the cable channel so that the wires do not hang.
| Countertop material | Weight (kg/sqm) | Moisture resistance | Difficulty processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood FSF (10 mm) | ~6-7 | Medium (requires coverage) | Low. |
| Foamed PVC (10 mm) | ~5-6 | High. | Low. |
| Fiberglass | ~4-5 | High. | High. |
| Aluminum sheet (2 mm) | ~5.5 | High. | Medium |
Mounting the countertop to the frame is best done with screws with a secret head, so that the hats do not interfere and do not scratch your hands. Be sure to put wide washers under the nuts so as not to push the material during tightening. Table design It must withstand not only the static weight of objects, but also the dynamic loads when the boat is moving.
How do you make a table foldable?
To create a fully collapsible structure, use tsang clamps or quick-removal connections. The vertical rack can be inserted into the nest on the bottom support and fixed with an eccentric clamp, and the countertop is attached to the rack on two bolts, which will allow you to pack the table in a case with the boat.
Installation and setup on the boat
Installing the finished product on the boat requires caution. First, inflate the boat to working pressure and let it stand for a while for the material to spread. Set the table in the intended place. If it is a single-pillar structure with a support on the bottom, make sure that the bottom of the table has soft linings (for example, rubber or dense fabric) so as not to damage the inflatable floor.
The tension should be such that the table is stiff, but does not deform the balloon. If the table is wobbling, you can use additional stretch marks or swing the bottom against the opposite side through a soft pad. double-stage It is important to synchronize the height of the mounts on both sides so that the countertop is horizontal.
Check the stability of the structure by putting on the countertop a load equivalent to the weight of your equipment. shaking the boat. If the table is confident and does not want to turn over, the installation is successful. If there is a backlash in the ligtross mounts, tighten the joints or add sealing pads.
⚠️ Attention: When setting up a table, make sure that sharp corners or fasteners do not touch cylinders in areas exposed to friction. Constant friction of even blunt metal against PVC in the wind or wave can lead to rubbing of the material.
Operation and care of the product
A homemade table, like any equipment on a boat, requires proper maintenance. After every fishing, be sure to rinse the structure with fresh water, especially if you have been fishing at sea or in salt water. The salt aggressively affects the metal, even stainless, and can cause spot corrosion.
Before packing the boat, the table must be thoroughly dried. Wet plywood or metal in a closed case is the ideal environment for mold and corrosion. If the countertop is removable, store it separately or unbuttoned. Regularly check the condition of the fasteners: vibration can weaken the threaded joints.
In winter, keep the table dry at positive temperatures, and extreme temperature changes can adversely affect the lacquer coating of plywood or the adhesive seams of composite materials. lyctross-table It will serve you for many seasons, making fishing as comfortable as possible.
The main secret of the durability of homemade equipment is the use of high-quality materials (stainless steel, moisture-resistant plywood) and regular drying after operation.
Can I make a table entirely out of wood?
Theoretically, you can use hard wood (tick, larch) and special impregnations. However, wood is heavier than aluminum and still absorbs moisture, swells and requires constant maintenance. For a PVC boat, combined solutions are optimal: a metal frame and a light countertop.
Will the lyctross withstand the weight of the equipment table?
Liktros is a power element of the boat design, designed for heavy loads when pumping a balloon. The weight of a light table with a sonar and a glass (2-5 kg) is absolutely not critical for it, if the mount is made correctly and does not squeeze the cable to the state of cutting.
How to secure the table if the lyctros is too low?
If the lyctros is very close to the bottom, you can use elongated brackets that raise the support point above, or use a combined method: a focus in the lyctross from below and additional fixation for the handle for carrying or rim bolt on the cylinder.