Any inflatable vessel owner thinks sooner or later about improving comfort while sailing. AirDeck or Low PressureIt's a very powerful, squirming, and it's a very unstable, if you're going to make a sudden move or catch a fish, and it's at that point that the hard floor for the PVC boat comes on the scene, and it turns the soft inflator into a full-fledged small boat with a solid deck.
Installation of high-quality flooring radically changes the performance specifications PVC boatsIt's possible to stand on your feet, install heavier attachments, and even fit full leg seats, but the choice of material is not as obvious as it might seem, because each option has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, which we'll discuss in detail.
In this article, we will conduct an in-depth analysis of the available solutions, from low-cost plywood to high-tech aluminum alloys, you will learn how to correctly calculate the dimensions, what tools will be required for self-manufacturing, and how to avoid the typical errors that can shorten the life of your vessel.
Why You Need a Hard Floor and Its Benefits
The main purpose of the hard floor installation is to create a stable platform, the inflatable floor, even with high cylinders, remains elastic and mobile, and when moving on a boat or active fishing with spinning, this causes permanent loss of balance. Hard flooring. completely eliminates this effect, distributing the load evenly over the entire area of the bottom.
And it also makes it much easier to install additional equipment, so you can attach fishing boxes, sonars, rod holders, even small tables to plywood or aluminum, and the soft bottom of these loads simply won't hold up or deform, disrupting the geometry of the cylinders.
⚠️ Attention! Installing a hard floor that is too heavy can significantly reduce the boat's load capacity and increase the time it takes to planing. Always consider the weight of the deck when calculating the maximum load of the vessel.
Another important aspect is to protect the cylinders from mechanical damage, and the hard sheet takes on the impacts of sharp objects that fall into the boat and prevents them from contacting the vulnerable. PVC material This is especially true when using a boat in rocky waters or when there are people in a crew in rigid shoes.
- 🚤 Provides a perfectly flat surface for confident movement inside the cockpit.
- 🛡️ Protects the inflatable floor from punctures and abrasion during intensive operation.
- 🎣 Allows you to install fixed mounts for fishing equipment.
- ⚖️ Improves the weight distribution of passengers and cargo, increasing stability.
Comparative analysis of materials: plywood, aluminum, slate
Choosing a flooring material is always a trade-off between weight, strength and cost. There are three main options in the market today, each with its own supporters, and let's go through them in detail so you can make an informed decision.
phanera The most popular material is the availability and ease of processing, and the boats are made exclusively of moisture-resistant plywood of the FFS or FC brands. It has good strength and thermal insulation, but is afraid of prolonged contact with water and requires high-quality coating with varnish or enamel. The weight of a medium-thick plywood floor (9-12 mm) can be significant for small boats.
Aluminum alloys Aluminum is the choice of those who value durability and minimal weight. Aluminum is absolutely not afraid of water, corrosion resistance (if there is an oxide film or anodizing) and has a minimum thickness. However, the cost of such a solution is many times higher, and in the sun the metal can heat up very much, creating discomfort for bare feet.
The third option is slateThese are pre-made moisture-resistant plywood floors, covered with wear-resistant linoleum, sold in kits for specific boat models, and the slate is convenient because it doesn't require self-cutting and processing, but it often weighs more than a homemade plywood floor of the same area because of the use of thick sheets.
| Parameter | Plywood (FSF/FC) | Aluminum (AMG) | Ready slug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (per m2) | Highly | Low. | Very tall. |
| Moisture resistance | Medium (requires protection) | High. | High. |
| Cost | Low. | High. | Medium/High |
| Difficulty of manufacture | Medium | High (tool needed) | Not required |
Technology of manufacturing floor from plywood DIY
If you're going to make a floor yourself, plywood is the best place to start, and the first thing you need to do is take accurate measurements from an inflated boat, and it's important to measure the length and width at multiple points, because the geometry of the balloon may be different than what you're looking at on your passport. The optimum thickness of plywood for most boats up to 3.5 meters in length is 9-10 mm, for boats over 4 meters - 12 mm.
The cutting process is best done with an electro-cloth with a clean-cutting file. To avoid chipping on the front side, saw the plywood with the side marked upwards or use a special file with the back of the tooth. All ends after the sawing should be carefully sanded with P80-P100 sandpaper.
☑️ Checklist for plywood preparation
Wet protection is critical, and plywood needs to be coated with at least two layers of yacht lacquer or special wood impregnation, and pay special attention to the ends and future anchorages, if any. Some craftsmen additionally paste the surface with fiberglass on epoxy, which turns conventional plywood into an unkillable composite material.
You can use aluminum profile pads to connect the floor sections together, or just tight docking if the gaps are minimal. It's important to make sure that the structure is quickly disassembled for transportation. Often the floor is made from 2-4 sections connected by belts or special locks.
Aluminum flooring: features of installation and operation
Aluminum flooring is a premium solution, and it uses a corrugated sheet aluminum (quintet, dural) to prevent slipping. The sheet thickness is usually 2-3 mm. The main difficulty here is the processing of the edges, since aluminum has sharp edges that can damage the cylinders of the boat.
A prerequisite is the rounding of all corners and grinding of the ends. The radius of rounding should be at least 3-5 mm. Around the perimeter of the sheet, it is recommended to put a soft edging from a rubber tube or seal to exclude direct contact of metal with the metal. PVC fabric When the boat is moving on water.
⚠️ Attention! Aluminum is highly thermally conductive, and in hot weather, the surface can heat up to 60 to 70 degrees, making cruising barefoot impossible, and it is recommended to use removable mats or carpets.
Aluminum floor sections are most often fastened with bolt joints or special joint profiles. Unlike plywood, aluminum does not swell from water and does not require drying after every fishing trip. Just rinse it with fresh water, especially if you have been swimming on the salt sea.
How do you reduce the noise of aluminum?
Aluminum floors can rattle on the wave, and to eliminate this effect, strips of vibration-proofing material (bitumen or rubber) used in autosound are glued to the bottom of the sheets, which also improves thermal insulation.
Proper geometry: calculation of gaps and joints
Geometry errors are the main cause of hard floor problems. If you cut the sheets "back" to the sides, when pumping the boat, the balloons will straighten the floor, and it can bend out in an arc or damage the seams. Always leave a technological gap.
The optimum clearance between the floor edge and the inner wall of the cylinder is 2-4 cm around the perimeter, which is necessary to compensate for the change in shape of the cylinders when water and air temperature change, as well as dynamic loads on the wave.
The joints between the floor sections also require attention, and if the sections are just lying next to each other, debris or water can get stuck between them, and the ideal solution is to use connecting profiles or to arrange overlapping sections ("tile"), although the latter is more difficult to implement.
- 📏 Leave a minimum of 2 cm of clearance on the sides to compensate for balloon inflatation.
- 🔩 Use soft pads under the fasteners if they touch the bottom.
- 🌊 Consider drainage holes in the floor if it covers the entire perimeter so that the water does not stagnate under your feet.
- 🔄 Make the sections symmetrical for easy stacking and storage.
Care and storage of hard flooring
The life of the hard floor depends on the storage conditions, and plywood structures should not be left in the boat in a rolled-up state for a long time, especially if they are wet, which will lead to the detachment of the veneer and the appearance of mold.
After each foray into the water, the floor must be removed, dryed with rags and left to dry in a well-ventilated environment. Aluminum floors are less demanding, but also need to be dried to avoid oxidation of fasteners and white plaque.
Use fabric covers to store sections of the floor, which will protect the surface from scratches and allow moisture residue to evaporate, unlike plastic bags, where there is a greenhouse effect.
Check the condition of the protective coating regularly, if there are chipped varnish or bloating on the plywood, immediately clean the area and apply a new layer of protection, ignoring minor defects will lead to rapid penetration of moisture into the structure of the material.
Proper drying and storage of plywood floor in the straightened form increases its service life by 3-4 times, maintaining strength specifications for many seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use conventional building plywood to floor in a boat?
Regular plywood (PBA) is not moisture-resistant and will dissipate after 2-3 contact with water. Use only FF (high moisture resistance) or FC (moderate moisture but requires perfect protection), and FC is more environmentally friendly.
How hard does a hard floor weigh down a boat?
The weight depends on the material. A plywood floor for a boat 3.2 meters long weighs about 15-20 kg. An aluminum equivalent of the same area will weigh 7-9 kg. A finished slate can reach 25 kg. Keep this in mind if you are transporting the boat alone.
Do I need to make holes in the floor to drain water?
Yes, if the floor covers most of the bottom, water that gets into the boat (from splashes or rain) will accumulate under the floor, causing plywood rotting and corrosion. Drill several holes 10-15 mm in diameter in the lowest points (low points) sections.
How to fix the floor so that he does not ride on the boat?
In most cases, the floor is held by a tight fit between the cylinders and the pressure of the inflated bottom. Additional fastening is rarely required. If backlash is present, you can use Velcro straps glued to the cylinder and floor, or rubber stops.