Avon 310

[Trintella]

I have a c.10 year old Avon 310 Rover with a 3 piece locking wooden floor and inflatable keel.

I have to use something this size as a tender as my mooring is exposed to both wind and tide and is a couple of miles from the slip.

The way the floor locks together means it would be difficult to take it apart and stow it on deck - its bad enough on dry land.

I asked Avon about replacing it with an inflatable floor but they said their current model floor would not fit.

Has anyone come up with an alternative floor that would allow the boat to be easily rolled up and stored on deck?

Many thanks

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[steve_cronin]

I am just about to throw away an unwanted Hutchinson inflatable which has slats about nine inches wide with six inch spaces. These slats are shamfered at the ends to fit into the sponson/floor angle and are glued in via flaps of dinghy material but they often come loose but to no disadvantage as they are held tight in place by the inflation pressure. They give sufficient stable standing area and enable the boat to be rolled up. They are made of 18mm ply with rounded edges and varnished. I guess the weight isn't more than that of a continuous floor.

It would solve your problem.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[Trintella]

Steve

That's a kind offer. I'll PM you so we can arrange details.

Many thanks

Giles



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[Talbot]

You will find that a slatted floor is nowhere near as good as the solid wood. It has two serious disadvantages:
The engine size may well have to be reduced as the solid wood floor helps the rigidity needed for the larger engine, and if you are using anywhere near the maximum engine size you will find that the floor will start to buckle.
The solid wooden floor enables the boat to take in a limited amount of water without getting your feet /baggage wet (other than by direct splash), whereas the slatted floor means that as soon aas water gets inside the boat, you are paddling in it.
However the slatted floor versions are much lighter and easier to stow.
There is a third version which is a good compromise between the two - the air deck with an inflatable keel. This provides the rigidity and floor benefits of the solid with the ease of folding of the slatted, although there is a weight penalty over the slatted. I have a zodiac 2.6 Fast Roller which stows nearly as small as my old slatted 2.6 zodiac, but with the high presure floor and keel is a much better boat in marginal conditions - suggest you take a look at these.

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[Trintella]

I agree. I only use a 2.5hp engine & if I follow Steve's suggestion I will have the option of using the boards or the slats depending on the situation without the cost of buying a new dinghy. If it doesn't work well, I'll do as you suggest and consider a new inflatable floor model.

Thanks.

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