Installing a floor in a v-bottom boat

[Snyder50]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum and looking for some advice. I have a 1970's 16 ft starcraft v-bottom boat that I am upgrading. I have put a casting deck in the bow of my boat, and now am looking to put a floor, and rear casting deck in my boat. I already know how I'm going to install the rear deck, but am looking for advice for how to install the floor. Am thinking about running stringers across the boat to screw down the floor to, but I've also heard of people foaming the floor to the boat. Has anybody done this? I don't want to raise the floor of the boat a whole lot, just want to make it flat. I am also concerned a little bit about the weight. It will only be a 4 person boat max, but want to make sure that if I put a floor in with a rear deck that it will hold the weight of the wood, and passengers. any advice at all would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[64osby]

Welcome to the site. :joyous:

Lots of Tin heads here working on their boats that are willing to help.

Pics and model would help with providing advise. If you don't have one open up a photobucket account and post some pics.

 

[Snyder50]

Tried to post pics yesterday but didn't work, will try again here soon. The model is a 16 ft StarCraft seafarer

 

[Snyder50]

having troubles posting pics, will get them up asap

 

[Snyder50]

here are the pics

 

[Snyder50]

Are these better?

 

[64osby]

Can't recall who but there have been a few here that have added a floor or sole to a smaller boat like that.

Look in the Starcraft MFG restoration section. You may get a few ideas.

3 or 4 stringers mounted to the ribs no higher than the bottom of the lower edge of the seat panel would be my plan.

 

[Watermann]

Good lord you have a 50 HP motor on that little tinny! After taking out the seats that go across the boat you really need to consider rebuilding some cross support of the hull too, the ribs will be taking all of the stress. There also needs to be some flotation foam added. That style of SC wasn't designed for what you expect out of her but adding decking could help shore up the structural integrity if done right. You'll be adding height and weight to the craft making it less stable too so the lower the better.

The decking should be fastened to the ends of the ribs with rivets and a support running length ways down the center of the boat would probably work fine as narrow as she is.