Securing flooring to bottom of boat

[jburn25]

My 17 foot aluminum center console has plywood flooring in the boat that is attached with self drilling screws. In fact, the floor and the center console are both attached like that. When I purchased the boat, used, the boat floor and console were solid and nothing shifted or rattled no matter how much I shook it. After the first time I took it in rough water (its a flat bottom) all the screws in the flooring started unscrewing and coming up. console is not so sturdy anymore. I tightened them back, same thing happened. Talk to a buddy who said he did that and tightened them a ton and put locktite and the vibration just pulled the ribs off the bottom of the boat after that.

I understand that when things start vibrating and bending and shaking, the boat floor must be able to bend and vibrate or else things will compensate (ie: break or unscrew). does anyone have any suggestions on how to attach the flooring and have it be able to give a little bit?

I've heard suggested maybe using rivnuts that have the rubber in them so they'll flex a little bit. I've also thought of laying some sort of polyurethane bushing or spacers under the deck but don't know where to find them.

any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[JB]

Re: Securing flooring to bottom of boat

DECK, Jordan. Deck.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Securing flooring to bottom of boat

Flat bottom boats don't like rough water and what you experienced is not unusual, some boats hold up to it a little better, but others can get beat to pieces in a short period of time. Center consoles can have more problems because it has little support and the occupants tend to hold on to it to keep their balance, creating more stress.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Securing flooring to bottom of boat

Ayuh,...

Screws will Always shake Free...

My boat,+ every other Tinboat I've seen are put together with Rivets....

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Securing flooring to bottom of boat

Yep rivets, cheap easy and won't pull free.

 

[jburn25]

Re: Securing flooring to bottom of boat

Well I didn't want to go with standard rivets or anything like that because they still lack the ability to resist vibration. When things vibrate like crazy something has to give and it would either be the ribs on the bottom of the boat or the rivs breaking. I've had a couple friends with these same problems.

I looked around on the net and found some anti--vibration rivet nuts. You can search for them as "rivnut AV" or "rubber rivet nuts" etc.. Basically a standard blind rivet nut but it has a thick rubber or neoprene casing around the metal so that when you tighten it to the proper torque it still has some ability to absorb vibration. They are used in mounting pumps to concrete and steel in the machine world.

It was really hard to find somewhere that let me order them as a non-business or distributor so I ordered a couple different kinds and I'll let you know how they work. I have high hopes for them though!