flooring

[joho5]

ok, question. obviously most boats have a U shaped floor naturally. so when you want to install a wood carpeted floor, whats the best way to set up bracing underneath since its in a U shape. on the sides there is alot less space than in the middle that will need to be braced. what have you guys done to compensate for this.

here in the short future I might have some questions that seem dumb, or common sense, but I have not done a whole lot of carpentry work in the past. with that said, I am a quick learner so just bare with me at first and ill be ok.

 

[bassboy1]

What I have seen done a couple times, and done once myself, in the old Sea King to get me through vacation was to put 2 x 4s on edge, perpendicular to the keel, scribe them with a compass, and then cut the shapes out. It makes a lift out deck that is solid under foot, doesn't hurt the boat, and is fairly cheap to make.

Another thought, that I may pursue if I end up keeping/using the Sea King for a while is to line the inside of the hull with some sort of plastic, and pour two part expanding foam on top of it. Once it sets, pull it out, peel the plastic off the bottom, and cut the top off level. A piece of 1/16 aluminum on top would complete the deal. It would provide the absolute most support possible, be light, provide sound deadening etc.

 

[Zum]

On that second idea BB1...why would you remove it,then level it?Is it so it would be removable and not stick to the boat?

 

[bassboy1]

The way that foam pours, the top will not be level. It rises a LOT so the thicker area is going to rise significantly more than the thin area. Also, if you don't make it removable, you better have a system to drain water into the bilge. Now, if you have the deck attached, you could inject foam in there, and make something similar to the injection molded Carolina Skiffs, Boston Whalers and Mckee Craft boats.