decking for a jon ???

[raidercoop]

Hey All,
Well I am about to start decking my jon boat and I have a few questions. I plan on using marine grade 3 1/4 ply wrapped in marine carpet for the deck and 1/4 marine ply for other areas. My main question is how would I go about securing the decking to the boat? There are no benches in the boat to attach it to. The only thing that is on the interior of the boat is two sets of flanges across from each other that the previous owner had some 2x6 boards screwed into. I don't think I will be able to use them since they are at different heigths. Should I build a "sub floor" then attach the deck to that. I will attach more pics to my photobucket so that you all can get an idea of what I'm talking about. Thanks Guys!!
Raidercoop
p.s. I am going to have a carpenter helping me with this part of the project and his insight will be helpful in the woodwoorking area but the insight from this message board will keep us from doing any work that doesn't need to be done.

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/raidercoop/?sc=1&addtype=local

 

[Holymann]

Re: decking for a jon ???

Beautiful boat,

I have boat envy. :'(

Holymann

 

[stevieray]

Re: decking for a jon ???

Raider - do you want the floor to be flat (parallel to the water) or to follow the curved contour of the boat bottom?

 

[raidercoop]

Re: decking for a jon ???

Hey All,
Thanks Holyman!!
stevieray, I would like for the floor to be flat. My plans include a dry storage hatch on the starboard side and a live/bait well on the port side. Both of these will be above the floor level. I am also planning on having a hatch area at the bow of the boat for life jackets and ropes, etc.
Raidercoop

 

[bassboy1]

Re: decking for a jon ???

Wouldn't you want to put the live well dead center? That seems like a rather small boat to do an off center livewell.

 

[raidercoop]

Re: decking for a jon ???

it would more or less be a bait well, with at the most 5 gallons of water in it. im just tired of my bait dying in a minnow bucket before im ready to leave for the day.

 

[stevieray]

Re: decking for a jon ???

You're going to have to build some kind of sub-structure to support it. My first thought is to run a few "stringers" the length of the hull, level off the tops & epoxy them in. Of course, all the wood should be sealed with resin (lots of other posts on that here). Most of these guys on here will steer you away from carpet & tell you to finish it with a non-skid since it's a lot easier to clean & maintain. Once you have a solid floor in, you can build up the rest of your spaces.

 

[raidercoop]

Re: decking for a jon ???

too late on the carpet i've already purchased and began installing it (cut it) besides I like the look and feel. plus it is charcoal grey so it shouldn't show that much dirt.
So how would you secure the sub-structure to the boat?

 

[stevieray]

Re: decking for a jon ???

it would more or less be a bait well, with at the most 5 gallons of water in it

Remember water is 8.34 lb/gal. Just make sure to have something on the other side to balance (fuel tank?, battery?)

 

[stevieray]

Re: decking for a jon ???

So how would you secure the sub-structure to the boat?

I'm gonna take a wild guess here & say an epoxy mixture will hold the wood to the aluminum. I'm sure one of the fiberglass gurus will set you straight if I'm wrong.

 

[raidercoop]

Re: decking for a jon ???

That's the plan stevieray, The opposite side is going to have a storage hatch for the batteries as well as other items.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: decking for a jon ???

I think if you put a 40+ pound live well mounted on a piece of wood floor it will not move. I am not sure you would have to secure it. We are talking about a fishing rig here and not a 60 mph bass boat. It could be removable along with other floor sections.

An additional option is to build it and tie it in from the top to the sides with aluminum angle and stainless bolts.

 

[kalla man]

Re: decking for a jon ???

i would go with some kind of aluminum bracket, either rivited or thru bolted thru the hull... possibly bolted to some stringers, then decking on top.

 

[strizzy]

Re: decking for a jon ???

i would go with some kind of aluminum bracket, either rivited or thru bolted thru the hull... possibly bolted to some stringers, then decking on top.

Yeah thats how I would want it. Thats how the factory would do it also...

 

[raidercoop]

Re: decking for a jon ???

I would want it to be removable for any future repairs that may (and probably will) arise. As Bob VT stated this is going to be used for fishing on ponds and resevoirs. As a matter of fact I can't even use a gas powered motor anywhere that i fish. However I still don't want to be driving down the road and look in the rear view mirror and see my decking flying out the back of the boat. Looking at the pics what options are out there for me? There are 3 "ribs" that are raised towards the back of the boat.
http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n320/raidercoop/

 

[strizzy]

Re: decking for a jon ???

I guess if that’s the case, I would get some 1/4 ply and shape it to the shape of your haul and attach it to those larger ribs with some screws. Attach the bow to those flanges and have to make something work in the middle. Maybe have it all connect bow to stern with a "soft" support in the middle that touches the haul, but wont wear through it. This could be made so that it would not be hard to take out, but no worry about loosing it.