Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

[mic2261]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

Hi There Squidwood,
Two questions; 1) Did you look into using PVC board for the floor instead of wood? If you did, why did you go with wood?
2) What thickness of plywood did you use to be able to fit into the PVC connector?

DO you still use the floor in your boat?

Thanks in advance for the reply.

 

[jameshunt]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

Hi...I've been following your thread. I have also recently ordered an Excursion 5 and started looking around for materials to make a floor board. There is always the plywood option, but I also saw some Polystyrene sheets that might work. It is fairly rigid at 1.5 inches (the 1 inch is a little too flimsy) and I think it might work okay. I think having a little flex is a good thing and would put less pressure on the seams, at around $13 for a 4 x 8 ft sheet, it is a worthwhile experiment. I suppose one could then put a layer of 1/4 inch plywood on top but I dont think it will be neccessary. You wouldn't be able to bolt on seats or anything though.

 

[jameshunt]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

still waiting for delivery of the rubber ducky...(yes, you get what you pay for). I Have decided to stick with the plan of using 1.5 inch polystryene insulation panels and after measuring space in the Hyundai, if I can get the store (Home Depot) to at least cut in to a 33 inch width, I think I can get it fit in the trunk with the back seats down. and if that is possible, then it should be possible to cut a one piece for floor board which I estimate to be 80 inches. Worst case scenario, I will find it not substantial enough and I will have a ready made template for a plywood floor, but really dont want to take the trouble to sand, coat with urethane or something, use foam pipe insulation on edges e.t.c.

In all reality, I will more than likely end up with a Zodiac at some point in time, but for now portability is my objective.

 

[mic2261]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

That sounds good,..let me know how it works out!

Thanks for keeping this thread going.

Mic

 

[jameshunt]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

Well, got the boat today and infated it with the little manual pump. Fairly easy and did not take long at all. It is quite a bit larger than I imagined. Prelilminary measurements for the floorboard looks like 36.5 in wide and 99 inches long. If you are using plywood I can see you would want to leave room on the edges for garden hose or foam pipe insulation but since I am going to try polystryene, I will try 36.5 (two pieces) x 96 inches and join together with extra strong Guerilla Tape or Duct Tape and hope it doesnt buckle. The boat is a lot less pointed than the Sevlor. Rod holders are useless except maybe for very light fresh water rod. I also doubt if the idea of rowing will last long and I will indeed have to register it for power usage (Minn Kota 30). I will post results when finished but not for a week or so.

Cheers.

 

[jameshunt]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

Okay...preliminary report:

Materials: 4X8 ft 1.5 inch polystyrene foam insulation sheet. Cut to 37 inches wide and two 48 inch length. (Should have gone to
38.5 inches) Home Depot will cut it for you for free.
1 roll 36 yd Guerilla Tape (plenty left over).

I first made a simple cardboard template for the bow end and took a few measurements and sort of "eyeballed it", but it came out pretty darned good. Traced the curved part onto the poly sheet and cut it with a serrated kitchen (bread knife). This stuff is very easy to work with. Butted the other half to the bow end and rounded off the trailing corners a little. Ran a few strips of the tape fore and aft as well as across the beam. Also on all the edges and corners. Used a double strip of the tape to join the sheets together by placing on top and use as a hinge. Inflated the bottom about 75%, placed the joined sheet in, continued inflating the 2nd and 3rd chambers and made sure to tuck the bow in under the tube as much as possible. The joined sheets slip under the middle inflatable seat clips but you could run a lateral piece of plywood or 1/4 inch plastic across the beam under those clips. The floor seems quite sturdy, although very light weight. CAVEAT!! This was done sitting on the patio slab and has NOT been tested in the water yet! I do not expect it to last all that long, but at least I will have a good template to cut a plywood sheet. If and when I do that, I would probably try to figure out how to scribe a better arc by using a piece of string and "sharpie" to find the right radius. Total cost around $22 and about an hours work.

 

[jameshunt]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

Okay...more info on the decking experiment. I used 1 1/2 inch polytstrene insulation board, hinged together with Guerilla Tape, the bow end was tapered accordingly. The sheet I bought measured 4 x 8 and I had them cut it to a 37 inch width and then into halves. It seemed ridgid enough on a hard surface. Then the "sea trials"....... it's a NO GO...the panel just will not hold up and cracks very easily, also the 37 inch width is too narrow. (rode up between the tubes, not under). My next attempt will be 3/8 inch sanded plywood, coated with several coats of Urethane or something similar. I will use my Polystyree board as a template for the bow radius, but modify it slightly to accommodate the wider width of 39 inches and use pipe insulation all around the edges for protection. The sections will be joined by a 30 inch continuous hinge (also painted) and two slide bolt locks on either end. This should keep the hinge from buckling upwards. The idea is to have the deck wide enough to rest under the tubes. The floor chamber need only be inflated partially. Ideally it should also have stringers running fore and aft, but have not figured out how to install them since the decking will be in two pieces. Sorry if this sounds a bit "verbose", but I often just let thoughts "spill out" as I compose and draft a letter.

Cheers

James

 

[jameshunt]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

in case anybody is interested......measurements for Intex Excursion 5 seem to be: 40 inches wide, 20 Inch radius in the bow. I did not make mine a "bull nose" but actual 20 inch radius. The edges are protected by foam pipe insulaltion (for 3/4 inch diameter). I mention this as I did not see anybody come up with measurements for this particular boat. Plenty for the Seyvlor Fish Hunter, but none for the Intex. decided not to go with the hinge, but simply fastened a 1 x 6 across the middle joint held in place by 5/16 wing screws going through the cross member (hole counter sunk 1/2 inch) and into decking and 5/16 inch T-nuts coming up from bottom. Sea trial will determine if stringers are needed. Everything flush on the bottom, nothing sticking through. the wing screw on top makes for easier assembly. You could also use a cap bolt with plastic "star" thumb screw, knurled knob e.t.c.

 

[Pesce]

Re: Intrex Excursion 5 Floor Board

Hello jameshunt et al,

Can you give us an update on the floor, etc. on your Intex Excursion 5? I am considering a purchase of this inflatable boat. I also considered the Sevylor 6-Person Fish Hunter, but am leaning toward the Excursion. I believe that the Fish Hunter is more heavy duty but I like the extra room with the Excursion. I plan to buy the motor mount and use a Minn Kota 35 lb thrust trolling motor. I would definitely want a floor as I prefer standing while fishing.

I'm planning a vacation to New Orleans for a week in June with my wife, son, and family. Not my first choice, but my parents are paying for the condos. We are driving from the Dallas area, so I wanted a portable boat to use for inshore fishing the bays, etc.

Any additional info on the floor, etc. would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Pesce