About those plastic floors ...

SeaMasterZ@aol.com

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
1,924
Just one thing about those recycled plastic decking floors ... arent they heavy as hello? (censor that!)<br /><br />Also - in regards to 3/4 inch plywood ... I am close to four bills in the weight dept, and a buddy of mine goes 500 and change (suddenly, that 125 Johnson makes sense!) will putting cross stringers every 18 inches be enough, or should I go 12? I havent measured the ribs in the Starcraft, but they seem pretty close together, I was going to put 2x2 stringers across and lay plastic decking boards down, but they are flexible, so 3/4 ply might be the way to go - or that fiberglass reinforced stuff they sell for tractor trailer van bodies.<br /><br />now, I know you are going to say save wieght by leaving my buddy on the dock, but since hes the only one insane enough to want to take a relatively small boat to the places I like to fish, thats tough to do!<br /><br />(and there is no way I can get the SeaCraft going this season, ive decided to take one of the runabouts and make them work, and the Starcraft is my favorite, the underdog of the bunch!)<br /><br />the original floor was plywood riveted to the ribs and a center joist running down the center ... lining up a new floor seems impossible, so I was going to bolt down the stringers with aluminum or nylon washers against the ribs, and use a screwgun to secure the floor to the stringers<br /><br />I suppose I could make floorboards the width of the boat and two feet wide to hit those old rivet holes ... still, it seems danged tricky, and its already past memorial day!<br /><br />On the other hand, the Crestliner has a mostly solid floor, anyone know if a mid sixties Crestliner 18 foot runabout could handle a 125 Johnson? (only til the Starcraft gets a floor in, she came with the 125, so I suppose she can handle it!)
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
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Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: About those plastic floors ...

Yes to the 125 on the 18'. Not sure if there is another question there.
 

Paul Moir

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Nov 5, 2002
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Re: About those plastic floors ...

Seeing that standard (residential housing) construction has 1/2" ply on 16" centres (~14.5" span) for subfloor, I'd think your 3/4" on 18"'s would be fine. First, your probably using higher quality ply (douglas fir G1S or spruce select?). Second, 3/4" ply will be about *twice* as stiff as 1/2".
 

flashback

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
4,047
Re: About those plastic floors ...

Down here in Georgia we use 3/4 inch flooring....a material called advantech on 24 inch centers in house const..............
 

SeaMasterZ@aol.com

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 21, 2003
Messages
1,924
Re: About those plastic floors ...

hi guys<br /><br />thanks for the postings, I figured that 12 was way too tight, but maybe 24 is too much, but it IS 3/4 inch ply, should I go that route .. the plastic decking boards offer little other than rot protection, but if they are rotten to begin with (heavy, sagging, etc ... well, you know!
 
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