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Fowl Chaser · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject:

Here's what I did with mine.
I put pink insulation between the ribs, 1" on top of 1/2" to fill in between the ribs.

I used rivets and put down .065 aluminum, with the insulation between the ribs the floor doesn't flex at all. It wouldn't be strong enough to put a seat base on, but I just bring enough lawn chairs for the amount of guys going.

I then put hydroturf on top of it and called it good. Fairly inexpensive and will last alot longer and is much lighter than a wood floor.

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corey032 · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject:

Nick Ballard with Alumilite Boat Blinds in Ankeny, IA is a good at alluminum welding and I am sure would do a side job for you.

http://www.alumiliteboatblinds.com/
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CLIPPER · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 10:40 pm Post subject:

welding might not be the way you want to go.... I have an all welled alumacraft and they manufacture it w/ pop riveted floors.... you should have lateral ribs or horizontal depending on the manufacture.... no big deal to screw the pedestals in the floor... biggest deal is make sure the peds. are not to long so they don't grind into the bottom hull.... I added three w/ self tappers so the can be maintained.... AND make sure you drill a drain hole in the bottom of each other wise you will have some seized up pedestals in a couple years..... I put in insulation wrapped in black tape on each of mine/with a drain.... you will still get cattail gunk, mud and junk plugging the holes..... dont weld in the floor!

Denny · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:58 am Post subject: Aluminum Floor

My son and I fitted and welded in aluminum floor in his 18x72 SeaArk 5 yrs ago. We used 3/16 aluminum deck plate from Alcoa which they a make for fire truck bodies. We fitted sheets around ribs and welded them in. Had to put floor drains in at stern to drain floor in to bilge. Nothing can get under floor to plug up drain channels under ribs. We also beefed up transome and added CNC hydralic jack plate, and hydralic stearing. Seat bases were bolted through floor befor welding. We currently are running 225 hp Johnson Venom and are in proccess of installing sponsons on sides of hull, to gain a few more mph. Runs high sixties with a hunting load in it. Good cheap aluminum floor panals can be made from aluminum road signs.....er you didn't hear that from me.
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