New deck for inflatable

[RobWard]

I have a very old Avon 2.8 inflatable. I've patched the sponsons and they're fine, the airdeck though seems to be beyond repair. Can I make a rigid deck out of a few pieces of ply (4? More? Or less?) Fastened to each other with tape?

 

[gordmac]

Can't see a problem with doing that.

 

[mjcoon]

Good test for your choice of gaffer/carpet tape: can it stick to ply while getting wet? Maybe varnish at least the sticking stripe to seal the grain?

 

[[2574]]

I have a very old Avon 2.8 inflatable. I've patched the sponsons and they're fine, the airdeck though seems to be beyond repair. Can I make a rigid deck out of a few pieces of ply (4? More? Or less?) Fastened to each other with tape?

I had the same issue. New air deck from Ron Hale was £600! So I bought a sheet of 40mm thick closed cell foam. Cut to shape and fitted as the air deck was it served the purpose well. It gives a surprisingly satisfactory firm floor, not dissimilar to the original air deck. Total cost £80.

 

[V1701]

I had a ply 2 piece floor on an old Avon, from memory more like 10mm, painted white and with well rounded corners and edges for obvious reasons. made the dinghy a lot easier to use, particularly ferrying full water containers, etc...