Saloon floor layout

[aitchem]

Hello,

I'm in the process of cutting the holly/teak ply for the saloon floor.
To be undertaken after a stiff drink .

Just looking for pro's and cons/options.
I am thinking conventional, one panel across each end and the middle would have a panel each side of the table.
But, all I need is access to the bilge suction points, so why not just have access points to these with little doors and screw the main large panel down to the supports.?

thx
Howard

 

[Stemar]

Hello,

I'm in the process of cutting the holly/teak ply for the saloon floor.
To be undertaken after a stiff drink .

Just looking for pro's and cons/options.
I am thinking conventional, one panel across each end and the middle would have a panel each side of the table.
But, all I need is access to the bilge suction points, so why not just have access points to these with little doors and screw the main large panel down to the supports.?

thx
Howard

If you cut after a stiff drink, you may remember that drink for a long time...

Fixing the panels down sounds good to me. You will need to take them up at some point when someone spills something smelly, but one lives in hope that that won't be too often! I'd definitely screw everything down. If, God forbid, you do end up rolling it, you don't want flying floorboards adding to the general confusion!

When I cut an access hole in my cabin sole, I put a frame round it screwed to the underside of the sole and fitted insert nuts so I could use machine screws to hold the cover down. They're some sort of alloy or die casting metal but with a bit of grease on the threads, they've lasted 7 years with no problems.

 

[Tranona]

There have been long debates on here in the past "to screw down or not" and there seems to be no clear consensus with strong arguments for both. In production building you see all sorts from the cheap and cheerful screwed down panels and loose access hatches like on my Bavaria to closely fitted insulated panels sitting in a framework and held down with latches on some of the classy boats.

If you are building your on boat for your own use, then you can choose how you do it - nobody will tell you off for being wrong (or right!)