reelfishin
Captain
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2007
- Messages
- 3,043
I recently came across several sheets of 1/8" aluminum diamond plate sheeting.
Since I'm in the process now of redoing my Sportboat, I am seriously considering adding a few extra cross braces and riveting in an all aluminum floor. I've also considered doing the rear floor in three pieces, thus leaving a removable panel in the middle secured by screws or even just riveted that would allow me to access the bilge for maintenance or to run cables or wires. This would depend on whether I end up going with a center console or stick steer. If I go stick steer, then the rear panel will be done in one or two pieces. The sheets are wide enough to allow me to use only two pieces for the whole boat, one on the lower section, one on the upper section with a short rear section left separate to access the bilge, and possibly to recess the battery into the deck part way.
I could also frame the forward deck to have a removable storage panel or fuel tank compartment which is serviceable.
Its only slightly more work than doing it with wood and it would no doubt be permanent.
I'm already coating the inner hull with Gluvit and replacing all wood cross members for the deck with aluminum, adding an all aluminum deck would make it as durable as possible.
I would still paint the deck, most likely with something to aid traction, as well as to reduce the sun's reflection. a light gray would work well, primed with a self etching zinc chromate primer with some grit added to the final coat.
My concerns are that it will take too many cross pieces below the deck to make it sufficiently solid under my 300 lbs, and that boxing any compartments would be more trouble then their worth. Cutting the aluminum can be done with a plasma cutter, or circular saw at the expense of a few blades, but not a big deal. Welding up H shaped frames is doable but a real pain but I could also make the access panels run cross ways too, much like the original deck is made now, (the original forward deck is three pieces of plywood, the middle one lifts out if you pull it up from the front first and could easily have been hinged. It may have been for a factory tank option?).
It would be nice to be able to have a boat that I could come home after a long day on the water fishing and just park it till the next day without worrying about it getting wet in the rain.
Things the are in question if I go stick steer are where to mount the fish finder and GPS unit as there will be no dashboard. As well as what type of front seat and how to secure it and make it strong and solid on an aluminum deck. With wood, I'd be using 5/8" plywood and adding an extra floor support or two where the seat will be. The aluminum would pretty much mean putting in a three pack of cross braces right below each pedestal seat and anchoring right through those cross members with stainless toggle bolts. This could also ruin any plans to tuck a fuel tank under the forward deck. This is something I'd really have to measure and think about first. Weight wise the aluminum is actually a few pounds lighter even though its a larger sheet, but it would require adding a half dozen or more extra floor cross members, which would make the overall install heavier, but since if I use aluminum, I'd be going with a stick steer set up, that would eliminate the weight of the console and rear leaning post. The rear seating would also be a pedestal seat, meaning I'd dump the rear fold down seat to eliminate all wood in the boat. I think the final weight would end up being slightly less than with the console. But do the benefits outweigh any compromises?
Since I'm in the process now of redoing my Sportboat, I am seriously considering adding a few extra cross braces and riveting in an all aluminum floor. I've also considered doing the rear floor in three pieces, thus leaving a removable panel in the middle secured by screws or even just riveted that would allow me to access the bilge for maintenance or to run cables or wires. This would depend on whether I end up going with a center console or stick steer. If I go stick steer, then the rear panel will be done in one or two pieces. The sheets are wide enough to allow me to use only two pieces for the whole boat, one on the lower section, one on the upper section with a short rear section left separate to access the bilge, and possibly to recess the battery into the deck part way.
I could also frame the forward deck to have a removable storage panel or fuel tank compartment which is serviceable.
Its only slightly more work than doing it with wood and it would no doubt be permanent.
I'm already coating the inner hull with Gluvit and replacing all wood cross members for the deck with aluminum, adding an all aluminum deck would make it as durable as possible.
I would still paint the deck, most likely with something to aid traction, as well as to reduce the sun's reflection. a light gray would work well, primed with a self etching zinc chromate primer with some grit added to the final coat.
My concerns are that it will take too many cross pieces below the deck to make it sufficiently solid under my 300 lbs, and that boxing any compartments would be more trouble then their worth. Cutting the aluminum can be done with a plasma cutter, or circular saw at the expense of a few blades, but not a big deal. Welding up H shaped frames is doable but a real pain but I could also make the access panels run cross ways too, much like the original deck is made now, (the original forward deck is three pieces of plywood, the middle one lifts out if you pull it up from the front first and could easily have been hinged. It may have been for a factory tank option?).
It would be nice to be able to have a boat that I could come home after a long day on the water fishing and just park it till the next day without worrying about it getting wet in the rain.
Things the are in question if I go stick steer are where to mount the fish finder and GPS unit as there will be no dashboard. As well as what type of front seat and how to secure it and make it strong and solid on an aluminum deck. With wood, I'd be using 5/8" plywood and adding an extra floor support or two where the seat will be. The aluminum would pretty much mean putting in a three pack of cross braces right below each pedestal seat and anchoring right through those cross members with stainless toggle bolts. This could also ruin any plans to tuck a fuel tank under the forward deck. This is something I'd really have to measure and think about first. Weight wise the aluminum is actually a few pounds lighter even though its a larger sheet, but it would require adding a half dozen or more extra floor cross members, which would make the overall install heavier, but since if I use aluminum, I'd be going with a stick steer set up, that would eliminate the weight of the console and rear leaning post. The rear seating would also be a pedestal seat, meaning I'd dump the rear fold down seat to eliminate all wood in the boat. I think the final weight would end up being slightly less than with the console. But do the benefits outweigh any compromises?
