Speaking of wood....

Ed L.

Ed L.

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I wanting to put some kind of floor in a flatbottom I just bought. I don't have the funds or equipment to do an aluminum floor this year so I'm considering a plank floor. I've heard DO NOT use treated lumber where the wood will touch aluminum so I was wondering what other options are out there? Has anyone used the new re-manufactured (poly) deck boards for this. I'm told this stuff will not rot but is much heavier than wood. Is that true? It's a small 1442 Alumacraft so I don't need to be adding a bunch of weight.
 
Ed, stop at the big box store and see what they have for WRC (Western Red Cedar) fence boards. If you pick through they usually are pretty nice. Plane and rip to desired dimensions, I glue and screw with SS screws and in your case, I would remove the screws to eliminate the SS and aluminum interaction. Once the glue is set, the wood will fail not the glue.
 
Are you talking about King Starboard type of material Ed? This stuff is heavy for sure.

There is always the fiber reinforced olyurethane boards such as Coosa but I would make sure to support it somehow.

I'd just use cedar 5/6" decking boards and screw them down. I wouldn't even bother with SS as it doesn't look like you will keep the floor around all that long anyway. Use the coated decking screws and you will be good to go. Used these on my deck and have had them in for over 5 years. Not one speck of rust on any of them.

Mark W
 
MDO (medium density overlay) the old outdoor sign boards...this was the standard and they lasted 30 years in the elements. Several guys on Wooden boat forum have built rather large boats from this with no ill effects. Menards sells it by the way. 50/sheet for 1/2" bit heavier than the cedar guys are mentioning, but just laying out an alternative that will not corrode your boat like PT ply.
 
Crazy thought - do aluminum anyway. Got to be an old dead aluminum boat around somewhere close. I have my old 14 v-hull I un-riveted and stuck out back. Should be almost free source of aluminum. Screw to a few dimensional lumber stringers or old boat parts and your good until you can get fancy. The old rivet holes will help it drain ;^)

Scott
 
Thanks for the input. My initial thought was to go with a solid floor of aluminum or MDO board like Eric mentioned. I have used MDO in the past with great results but after thinking it through I decided on a floor that will drain if I have the dog in the boat. Also if I use the layout seat on the floor I won't be sitting in water. I worked as a design draftsman for a log home builder in Arkansas that built using Cedar because it's basically impervious to the elements and when Dave mentioned that my decision was made. I stopped at the lumber store on my way home and picked up what I needed.

Scott, I just sold my old 14'er. It never occurred to me to dismantle it up for future use..;-) I used it for 3 years and sold it for what I paid for it minus a quart of paint and a few rivets so I guess I won't cry...lol
 
Ed, know anyone who works over at Alcoa? They can get it cheap! The last time I got it, I got 3 sheets. 2 4x10 1/8" and 1 4x8 1/8 and it was 125$ They go off of what scrap alum is that day on stock market.
 
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Ed, know anyone who works over at Alcoa? They can get it cheap! The last time I got it, I got 3 sheets. 2 4x10 1/8" and 1 4x8 1/8 and it was 125$ They go off of what scrap alum is that day on stock market.
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That's an Idea Tom. I don't know anyone but my neighbor retired from Alcoa a couple of years ago. I'll have to see if he knows someone.
 
Ed, go to a plastics supplier and take a look at expanded PVC board. As far as I know it comes in white or gray. This board is what most sign painters use today, also upholsterers use it in hard bottomed cushions instead of plywood. I saw an article in National fisherman, where some of the eastern shore commercial fisherman are building boats out of this stuff. We use quite a bit on my shop, it is much lighter than starboard and holds paint. Rich
 
I put an aluminum floor in my 18'er using old road signs. I bought them off a scrap dealer for cheap. The bullet holes add character I find.

Mike
 
I put an aluminum floor in my 18'er using old road signs. I bought them off a scrap dealer for cheap. The bullet holes add character I find.

Mike
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Mike,

To funny. Probably drains well too! Actually I was remembering seeing pictures of your wooden slat floor when I was thinking of what to do.
 
Rich,

I'd seen signs being made of something I didn't recognize. I knew it wasn't MDO board so when you mentioned this stuff I had to look it up. This looks pretty neat. I'll keep this in the file cabinet for future reference.
 
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