floor advice

[tony69starcraft]

im considering buying this boat. it’s a 14’ aluminum deep v. there is currently no floor in it. i have a few questions.

does it need a floor? can i just find a suitable chair and sit on the bare hull?

if not, can i just lay marine grade plywood across the bottom and bolt the swive seats to that? i don’t know anything about what kind of work this involves.

attached is a picture to show you what i’m working with

thanks in advance
tony

 

[MTboatguy]

Might want to post this over in the Starcraft section of the website

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/owners-groups-by-manufacturer/s/starcraft-boats

 

[tony69starcraft]

fwiw, it’s not a starcraft, it’s an alumacraft. i’m just looking for general advice/opinions

 

[gm280]

I would think just sitting some chairs on the bare aluminum would be iffy to fish from. A better idea is to mount some type solid setup for that. If that means installing a floor, then do it right with ideas from others that have done that before. And that points to the starcraft section.

If it were mine, I would go the floor route and make it solid, waterproof and enjoy solidly installed seats. JMHO

 

[roscoe]

Build a wooden box/bench to sit on.
Make it extend from side to side and attach it near the top of the boat.
Attach a seat to it if you want, or just a cushion.

Don't waste time and money trying to create a floor for a boat that never had one.
That would make it too heavy, and possible tippy.

 

[Watermann]

You should install a deck back in the boat, I can see the holes in the ribs where a deck was once riveted. It's a blank slate in there to make the boat what you want, well maybe not... tossing in bag chairs isn't the way to go and it doesn't have to be a Starcraft to get ideas from the forum.

 

[MTboatguy]

I said to look in the Starcraft section, because those who work on them come up with ideas that will work on just about any aluminum boat with ribs like your boat does.

 

[Captain Caveman]

IMO, loose chairs should only be used (if at all) on bigger more stable boats like pontoons. Little 14' boats are tippy to begin with because they don't have a wide beam. You could also unavoidably go over a much bigger boat's wake and go for a swim. I would build a lightweight bench if that were my boat.

 

[TyeeMan]

Did that boat have aluminum benches at one time? If it did and if they were cut out, I would be concerned about the rigidity, , or lack there of, of the freeboard. I've never seen a wide open aluminum boat like that, , something, either the floor or the benches were removed.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Really for me it would depend on how much time you plan on spending in it. If your are not using it much maybe its not worth it. If you put a wood floor in it and dont seal it it will get water logged and be heavy. However it might work for 4 to 5 years if you pulled it out over the winter. Ive got a couple of make shift scaffolding that I use to clean my shops lights ( 14 feet high) made out of 2x4s and 1/2” plywood they usually last about 4 to 5 years and I just leave them outside year round. I’d toss a couple 2x4s in the bottom front to back along the center support beam and then see how a piece of plywood is supported by it maybe you could get by with a very simple support for 1/2 plywood notched out where you need to if its to wide and makes contact at the edges. Instead of making a skeleton type structure which is how most floors are supported. A refrigerator box makes good pattern material. You could buy something like porch paint which is very durable for the price and roll a couple coats on it and not add to much weight. Secure 2x4 to that center rib in a. Few places maybe with something like those wide wire ties point here is not to drill holes in anything on the boat if you dont have to. I fished a 50s Starcraft with something like that done to it in the Columbia for a couple years I had a piece of linoleum left over from a home project glued that to the plywood and it was on that boat 10 years later..