Just finished my new boat floor

[Gun Rod Bow]

I had quite a few tears in the vinyl on my boat floor so I pulled up the factory flooring. 3/4" marine plywood with vinyl glued and wrapped around.

My plan was to sand the plywood and have it coated with urethane (truck bed liner type).

I realized when I pulled out the floors how heavy the were. I checked on weight of aluminum and realized I could knock over 200 lbs out of my boat. "Lund" told me he had doen the same program with aluminum flooring and Rhino lining a few tears back and really liked it.

I haven't been all that thrilled with aluminum diamond plate that I have fished on...boxes slide all over, kinda slick, bright, hard...

I bought 1/8" flat aluminum plate. Using my original floor for templates, cut to fit (I have a plasma cutter but a Sawzall would work fine). After fitting the floors in, I drill the plates and sanded all the edges. Next had them sandblasted on the top side and about 6" of the bottom edge. Next grey Rhino lining. I redrilled the holes that filled up and fit them back in the boat. Drill holes through the strakes right through the new plates. Used 1/4" self threading machine screws with flat washers.

Moved my kicker tank up front and oil tank out of my "kitchen".

Here's how it looks.





I'm kinda nutty about weight and like it as light as possible. I also like the balance better moving the kicker tank up and over. It has a quick disconnect.

Thanks to Kevin for the ideas, Ryan and Rich for the help.

New seats go in tomorrow.

[SandySteel]

That looks great. How much did the Rhino liner cost? Where did you source your aluminum sheet from?

[ZaQ]

Does that Rhino liner have pretty good traction even when it is wet? Is it heavy stuff?

[steelheadslayer]

[ 02-28-2004, 07:09 PM: Message edited by: steelheadslayer ]

[steelheadslayer]

Zaq, I have Rhino liner in my truck and it is indestructible. I bet it would be awesome for a boat floor.

That looks awesome GRB!! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[Just A Little Chrome]

Thanks for sharing this information. I have a relatively new boat but I was considering going over the boards with liner. I like the aluminum + liner idea even better!

One of your pics makes the finish look pretty smooth. Are dif finishes offered?

Thanks

[HntnFsh]

Looks great.You did a good job puttin that new floor in.If you dont mind sharin.What kind of dough and about how many hours into your project?

[The Overfishin Condition]

How nice, six gallons in kicker tank, about a half a gallon in the hose! If you start her up, then shut the tank off, you should be able to run for what? a couple hours on what's in the hose! The floor looks great! Rhino liners are the way to go!

[Lured In]

GRB...looks awesome. I have often wondered why boat manufacturers don't use Rhino Lining or Line-X on certain areas. Much more durable than vinyl and just as tough as diamond plate with good traction.

What does Wade think, will he still be able to get cozy on the deck? :grin:

[Time Off]

Aren't those spray on products great! I'm considering doing my boat floor.

As far as Weight Zaq I think it took about 5 gallons (40lbs) to do my truck bed.

[Gun Rod Bow]

Thanks for the comments and questions

I got the aluminum at Alaska Copper and Brass for about $250.

The spray lining was $250.

Stainless hardware about $30.00

I believe about 81 square feet. The urethane didn't add alot of weight. Me and another guy picked up the whole stack of sheets and set them in my truck (easily). The wet (it's always wet) 3/4" plywood was a real grunt for me to lift a 4' by 74" piece.

The sandblasting I got for nadda (Thanks Finz) 'cause I kind of sell that stuff for a living.

I had the sheets sheared to length. Hand cut the lift out panel over the bilge. Hand cut the taper of the very front and next to front panels.

Fitting and drilling holes, Ryan and I about 3 hours.

Installing the floors, running fuel line, eye bolts, battery box, oil reservoir, fire extingusher, Rich and I about 5 hours.

There is rougher and smoother finishes available. This finish doesn't really show in the pics but it's about the same roughness as a typical truck bed liner. Traction seems great. The Rhino guy told me he does rough surfaces with non-skid (garnet thrown in while wet) for the coast guard.

I really believe sandblasting and wrapping the coating around the corners, as well as pre drilling the holes, is important for bonding the coating to the aluminum plate. On the back side where some overspray was on the smooth aluminum, it pealed off easily.

BTW, there's about 15' of 5/16" fuel line under the deck. Original hose was about 3'. So there is an additional 12' of hose. Quick connects on each end. No problem with drawing fuel.

LI, Wade watched the whole process and was wagging his tail when I got done, so I think he likes it. He wants to keep his rug though.

[ 02-28-2004, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Gun Rod Bow ]

[willametteriveroutlaw]

That really turned out nice.. Bruce isn't kidding about saved weight either, each one of those pieces of plywood proably weighed darned near what the entire floor weighs now.
All its missing now is a healthy coating of egg goo.

[Spoiled Daddy]

GRB,

Nicely done project! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Thanks for the pics. I have a friend who is going to replace the floors in his 15 year old sled. I will show him your work and see if he wants to go this route.

SD

[FishinMission]

Looks good! I'd be a bit concerned about whether you primed the aluminum or not. The sandblasting may give you the adhesion you need.

I admire "Do-It-Yourselfer's"

Hats off to you!

Mark

[Flatfish]

Looks cool Bruce.

Are you gonna do the in floor fish boxes?

You gonna be springer feeshin in style!

Mark and the dog.

[reeldick]

Nice job! Look out springers...GRB is ready.

[Tacklebuster]

Wow Bruce, that looks really nice.
You ever take that open boat of yours out in the salt to chase Salmon. I dig the room, you could hold a boxing match in there

[ZaQ]

Bruce, whats the traction like when it is wet?

[NorthRiverRick]

GRB,

Looks like you did a great job! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I bet that'll be a good surface when wet or even better when SLIMEY. Better go check that part out!!!! :grin:

Wash down looks like it'll be a breeze too.

Let us know how she works after you get some fresh blood in there.

Rick

[ 02-29-2004, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: northriverrick ]

[Just A Little Chrome]

Thanks for the additional info. Much appreciated. Now go catch some biguns.

[wwwturkey]

Rinolined my boat 4 years ago. Still looks like new after many trips and and fish slim on it. Very easy to clean just hose is out when you get home. You will like it alot. Best way to go.

[Gun Rod Bow]

Thanks for the comments guys.

TB, remember the post from Depoe Bay last summer with 3 limits of salmon, 3 limits of rockfish and a couple lings? The answer is yes when the weather is right. I love the ocean.

Zaq, traction is great. It's bumpy, but smooth...hard to explain, you may have to see it

Mark, I just didn't think it would fit enough fish :grin: I'm back to using my fish box for a fish box.

FM, I believe priming is needed more for paint adhesion and "chemical bond". In the case of urethane a "mechanical bond" is more important IMO.

New seats are now mounted on the seat boxes, I just kinda forgot that my floor just dropped 1/2" :blush: I was going to glue some rubber to the seat box bottoms anyway. This should prevent sliding on the screw heads.

[Tacklebuster]

How the heck could I forget that post, I drooled over those pics for days

Just a few more months away.....