I just signed up and have found a lot of good info on this forum, but I still have a few questions. Let me start of by saying that all I know about boats is that they are general supposed to float other than that I'm very new to this topic. I know this topic has been covered extensively but I"m going to ask anyways.
I am going to take delivery on a brand new (in the early 70's) 16' aluminum lund boat. Right now the boat is in rough shape but for the price I think it was deal. It has no floor in it and as far as I know it never did. I would like to add a floor and maybe remove some seats. It has the metal bench seats like most of these do. It also has basically a piece of sheet aluminum over the bow. I was told that this is for "decoration" but I don't know if I buy that. So here are my questions.
1. What is the best way to add a floor to an aluminum boat starting from scratch? I have two ideas. Just put 2x4's on running on the bottom and put plywood on top of that. The second idea. I have an uncle that is a professional welder that I think would be willing to do me a favor and I thought about welding up some tube aluminum and making ribs out of that to attach the plywood too. Just not sure which is better. If I do the metal option I would think that I could weld the ribs I have made right to the hull, but how do I attach the wood? Does it just sit freely on the bottom of the boat and the plywood hold it together?
2. Can I remove a seat or two? I'm under the impression that they are a key support member to the boat. Is that true? Does anyone see an issue with taking the middle seat out? If so I was thinking about having my uncle weld me up a frame that replaces the structure of the seat but goes under the floor to reinforce the hull.
3. I would like to remove that piece of alumn. over the bow of the boat. I would really like to be able to put a higher floor there to stand on to fish. Is this a key structural element or just there for looks? Again, if its structural I could have a frame made to take its place.
There is a very good chance I'm thinking about doing this the really hard way. That's how I seem to do everything. Again, I have no idea what the heck I'm doing so go easy on me
Thanks
Josh
I am going to take delivery on a brand new (in the early 70's) 16' aluminum lund boat. Right now the boat is in rough shape but for the price I think it was deal. It has no floor in it and as far as I know it never did. I would like to add a floor and maybe remove some seats. It has the metal bench seats like most of these do. It also has basically a piece of sheet aluminum over the bow. I was told that this is for "decoration" but I don't know if I buy that. So here are my questions.1. What is the best way to add a floor to an aluminum boat starting from scratch? I have two ideas. Just put 2x4's on running on the bottom and put plywood on top of that. The second idea. I have an uncle that is a professional welder that I think would be willing to do me a favor and I thought about welding up some tube aluminum and making ribs out of that to attach the plywood too. Just not sure which is better. If I do the metal option I would think that I could weld the ribs I have made right to the hull, but how do I attach the wood? Does it just sit freely on the bottom of the boat and the plywood hold it together?
2. Can I remove a seat or two? I'm under the impression that they are a key support member to the boat. Is that true? Does anyone see an issue with taking the middle seat out? If so I was thinking about having my uncle weld me up a frame that replaces the structure of the seat but goes under the floor to reinforce the hull.
3. I would like to remove that piece of alumn. over the bow of the boat. I would really like to be able to put a higher floor there to stand on to fish. Is this a key structural element or just there for looks? Again, if its structural I could have a frame made to take its place.
There is a very good chance I'm thinking about doing this the really hard way. That's how I seem to do everything. Again, I have no idea what the heck I'm doing so go easy on me
Thanks
Josh
