Question about support structures

[jeeep]

Hey Everyone,
I'm working on building a new casting deck and I'm looking for places to distribute the weight. In the attached photo what is "A" pointing to? A support structure for the hull or the casting deck, or both?


2011-09-28_17-52-38_701 by Jeeeps, on Flickr

Thanks!

 

[oops!]

Re: Question about support structures

that is a minor hull reinforcement....but you could also use it for a casting deck.......i would add another bulkhead up front for better weight support on the casting deck

 

[jeeep]

Re: Question about support structures

Thanks Opps!
I was planning on attaching some aluminum brackets to the side of the hull for 2x4's to attach to, but since the hull is angled I'm having no luck figuring this out. All the brackets at home depot are at right angles and are not aluminum. I've read on here that you can attach wood to the side for platform mounts but that doesn't seem like the best solution. Any thoughts?

 

[jeeep]

Re: Question about support structures

Here's a drawing of what I'm planning on doing. The vertical boards are 4x4's, all untreated, the rest are 2x4's. The only problem is that I can't figure out how to attach the 2x4's to the aluminum hull on the edges.


casting_deck-01 by Jeeeps, on Flickr

Picture was created using adobe illustrator

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Question about support structures

Just my opinion, but I would put the supports on the the bulkhead under where you are showing the 4x4s. I would use marine ply to build the bulkhead up to the platform height. Then simply put a ledger board 2x2 or 2x3 along the sides of the hull and attach your cross members to the ledger boards. If set up right the cross members can be set on top of the ledger boards and then attached. The ledger boards can simply be drilled straight through the hull side and bolted. You will want to make sure you don't have treated lumber for this application because it will cause the boat to corrode. also make sure your hardware is either coated or is aluminum hardware. Some use stainless, but this can still cause disimilar metal corrosion.

If you design it this way and put a bottom floor in, it will give you plenty of forward bow storage for anchor etc underneath your platform..

Also, another option is for that space, it wouldn't cost much to have someone make the frame out of aluminum, then you could just attach marine ply to it and seal.