Assembling 3m aluminium floor SIB aboard?

[dankilb]

I think I know the answer to this already - but is it possible to assemble a (3.0 - 3.3m) aluminium floor SIB aboard a typical 41' AWB?! We have some stainless work forward of the mast (bars over a dorade vent) so the dinghy could not sit the right way up there...

The background to this is that we're in the market for a new SIB and, having thought I was decided on a V-floor airdeck, a pontoon neighbour lent us their 3.0 alu deck and I was smitten with the solid working platform (we were testing/transporting 3 separate outboards, so lifting them in and out of the SIB and on/off the yachts was a doddle!).

I've watched videos of assembly and so have seen what is involved and it seems a flat, stable, surface is essential to get the floors to fit and connect (and even then it doesn't look 'easy'). So how do people assemble these aboard? Is it simply impossible? Needless to say, the aforementioned pontoon neighbour also has a handsome set of davits (which we don't have - nor want, as a solar arch with dinghy lifting/storage is on our distant wish list). For now, we store any dinghy upside down on the foredeck.

TIA!

 

[KompetentKrew]

I find the floor of my airdeck to be a perfectly sold working platform. Honwave 2.7 IE. The hull is a v-shape, but the floor is either flat or nearly so.

 

[dankilb]

I find the floor of my airdeck to be a perfectly sold working platform. Honwave 2.7 IE. The hull is a v-shape, but the floor is either flat or nearly so.

I was (and basically still am!) planning on a v-hull airdeck. I’m pretty convinced it’s the way to go for a yacht tender (without davits) and will be the best combo of fun and practicality.

I guess I just wanted a definitive reason not to look at alu floors… just fantasising about jerrycans, bags of rubbish, shopping, oh and crew(!) all on that flat, solid, dry surface. Of course, in reality they’d be sloshing about with my driving anyway!

I was experimenting to get the neighbour’s 3.0 alu on the plane with a 5hp and wasn’t even close. “Sorry, it’s full of water!” he replied. I was mighty impressed that I hadn’t even noticed.

 

[KompetentKrew]

Having bought a boat with davits, I wouldn't now wish to be without them (not, at least, on a boat of this size).

 

[Graham376]

We have ply floored 2.9 and wouldn't go back to airdeck, they don't stand up very well to things like bikes and dive gear. OTOH, I wouldn't have ply or aluminium if it had to be assembled on deck every time it's needed, ours hangs from gantry but can also store on foredeck if bow tube deflated.

 

[dankilb]

Boatworld 3.0m V air floor should be coming tomorrow

Knew we couldn’t stretch to a HonWave but I’m still looking forward to giving its cheaper cousin a go.

Choice of 5hp 4-stroke Yam or 4hp Tohatsu 2-stroke. So, now the question is - will either, or both, plane 1-up?!

Thanks for helping confirm the decision ??

 

[ashtead]

You can get a 6hp Yam so why go for5? I have seen someone wh had a sold floor and stored deflated on deck behind mast but guess you might have room. Folding boat but much more than Boatworld. We have a quicksilver air deck and keep deflated in lazarette locker -looking at davits and wondered if anyone has fitted telescopic ones and if so from which installer?

 

[dankilb]

You can get a 6hp Yam so why go for5?

Indeed! But those two are the motors we already have (sorry for the confusion!).

As a related aside, I know the Tohatsu is definitely the same as the 5hp just with different carb (jets and stop only?).

The Yam I’m less sure about. I’ve seen a larger bore/stroke quoted for the 6hp.

But for both I plan to grab Chinoise carbs from the next model up and see what happens…!

The SIB arrived yesterday. Very impressed by the quality and design. The obligatory living room test inflation definitely confirmed my decision. It’s a big old tub, compared to our 2.8 vintage waveline and glad we didn’t also have to wrestle with assembling a floor.

Lovely day for a launch and test today so will find out just how it ‘performs’ later!

 

[ashtead]

Indeed a fair wind if cold blowing in the Solent but I would stay in sheltered waters for testing as don’t want to be flipped over.

 

[Graham376]

Boatworld 3.0m V air floor should be coming tomorrow
new we couldn’t stretch to a HonWave but I’m still looking forward to giving its cheaper cousin a go.
Choice of 5hp 4-stroke Yam or 4hp Tohatsu 2-stroke. So, now the question is - will either, or both, plane 1-up?!
Thanks for helping confirm the decision ??

Both good engines but Tohatsu 4 lighter to handle and less likely to have problems than 4 stroke. Try them both.