Cabin sole boards - screwing down

[BlueSkyNick]

the YM crash boat video of the controlled capsize emphasized the damage done by big flying items down below, including the sole boards.

Some boats are manufactured with them screwed down, others are not eg our Starlight.

Should we be drilling and screwing as a matter of priority?

 

[ripvan1]

Hmm, you may need to get there pronto say after hitting something so I'd say no or have catches of some description as against screwing down.

My last boat's floor were planks but very well fitted (tight) and had an easily removed inspection hatch which made removal of planks easy.

 

[Robin]

Compromise

Is the name of the game. Our sole boards were all drilled, countersunk and screwed down, but then just the ones needing occasional access at any time had the screws removed, IIRC only 6 screws would need to be put in place from the little tin kept under the chart table if we anticipated any need. In nearly 20,000 miles in all weathers we never saw the need, but like the softwood plugs taped to the seacocks the 'elf 'n safety angle was covered! The batteries and battery box tops were different, the batteries were strapped down inside their boxes and the lids screwed on (just two screws to each lid) and the cooker too was locked in it's gimbals with heavy split pins.

 

[westhinder]

Both on this and the previous boat the floorboards have been fixed with screws, apart of course from the inspection hatches. Feels solid and safe. If we need access under the floorboards, removing a couple of screws does not take ages.
Edit: the surveyor commented favourably on the fact the floorboards were fixed, he has circumnavigated, so that may influence his views.

 

[Kelpie]

I would like to secure the sole hatches in my Vega, but unsure how to do it.
The sole is mostly a grp moulding, with the hatches in ply set into it. One problem is that if you are stood a the bottom of the companionway, facing aft, passing the time of day, yor feet can suddenly slide from under you as the board you are standing on decided to jump out of place. Has led to more than one spilled cup of tea!

Can only find one photo at the mo that shows the cabin sole...

 

[DJE]

the YM crash boat video of the controlled capsize emphasized the damage done by big flying items down below, including the sole boards.

Some boats are manufactured with them screwed down, others are not eg our Starlight.

Should we be drilling and screwing as a matter of priority?

There have been instances in the Sadlers and Starlights of people fixing screws into the hull liners and hitting water pipes which are buried in the foam infill. Very difficult to fix.

 

[chewi]

There have been instances in the Sadlers and Starlights of people fixing screws into the hull liners and hitting water pipes which are buried in the foam infill. Very difficult to fix.

Better to park a dog on the floorboards....


time for bed I think.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

There have been instances in the Sadlers and Starlights of people fixing screws into the hull liners and hitting water pipes which are buried in the foam infill. Very difficult to fix.

That has occured to me Dave, drilling into the hull lining doesnt seem to sensible to me. I wonder if course velcro might do the job instead.

 

[westhinder]

There have been instances in the Sadlers and Starlights of people fixing screws into the hull liners and hitting water pipes which are buried in the foam infill. Very difficult to fix.

Our boards are fixed to the ring frames without ill effects. I suppose it was done by the yard and they should know where to drill safely, of course.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I wonder if course velcro might do the job instead.

Can't think of any reason it wouldn't. You might need to put in some finger holes or fit flush catches so that you can get enough muscle on them to break the Velcro's grip if you ever need to lift them in a hurry.

 

[Hoolie]

... ... ... I wonder if course velcro might do the job instead.

Excellent suggestion! I have used B&Q mega velcro but it is probably too strong for this application.
Some of our boards have finger holes and it should be possible to lift them to gain access to the rest.

 

[Sans Bateau]

My cabin sole is screwed down, as standard, machine screws into encapsulated threaded plates. But there again it is a higher quality boat.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Some boats are manufactured with them screwed down, others are not eg our Starlight.
?

Interesting comment. My Starlight has them screwed down and I suspect it was by Bowman when the boat was built.

 

[brianhumber]

There have been instances in the Sadlers and Starlights of people fixing screws into the hull liners and hitting water pipes which are buried in the foam infill. Very difficult to fix.

Yep, if you go drilling into Baraccudas longitudinal box frames you will hit water, (might not see any foam though as Sadler build quality was so poor).

Having said that all the original sole boards were screwed down which I replicated when I replaced them some years ago. I only screw down if going long distance as you are always taking the sole up on Baraccudas to mop up water anyway.

The biggest hazard which I am always mindful of is the Baraccuda's huge inverted cockpit table which doubles as the entire cockpit floor for sailing.( Big enough to get 5+ each side) If that came out I would be in trouble. It has stayed in place when the boom etc has hit the water on a couple of occasions and I was at 50/60 degrees this past weekend in some gusts. Not sure of this design was transferred to Starlights etc.


Brian

 

[BlueSkyNick]

My cabin sole is screwed down, as standard, machine screws into encapsulated threaded plates. But there again it is a higher quality boat.

... or more prone to knock downs !

 

[Bosun Higgs]

There have been instances in the Sadlers and Starlights of people fixing screws into the hull liners and hitting water pipes which are buried in the foam infill. Very difficult to fix.

Cant comment on other models or indeed how Sadler did things but on my Bowman built 35 there are no pipes anywhere you would want to screw boards down. But then there is no forward heads

 

[davidej]

My cabin sole is screwed down, as standard, machine screws into encapsulated threaded plates. But there again it is a higher quality boat.

ooh!

Listen to him Sandy

(apolgies to all not old enough to remember Round The Horne)

 

[robp]

Can't think of any reason it wouldn't. You might need to put in some finger holes or fit flush catches so that you can get enough muscle on them to break the Velcro's grip if you ever need to lift them in a hurry.

Yes I keep meaning to do this. Even with nicely routered sp? finger holes, it's sometimes difficult to lift them. A simple tool with ears that unfold under the board is needed.

 

[Sans Bateau]

... or more prone to knock downs !

Why are you concerned about your boat having them then?

 

[RupertW]

We've bought a boat with many small problems including having some of the sole boards screwed down nice and tight with screws that are immovable and have heads rusty enough to get stripped when I've tried to apply pressure.

A complete pain especially when tracing pipes, and where the sump and filter is out of sight. I would hate to think what would happen if we hit and object and got holed. No amount of wooden bungs or other blocks are any good if you can't get the boards up fast above where you think the hole might be.

My next task before going down again is finding out what "drilling it out" means as my first attempt just damaged the wood and polished the first screw head. I'm planning to reinstate the hinges and recessed catches which still work on half the boards.
If I store nothing under the boards then the worst that will happen is the boards fly open and then shut down again if he boat comes upright.

Like the Velcro idea though.