should my avon inflatable have floorboards?

[Burnham Bob]

I bought it at a boat jumble. Old and no idea what model it is, but it is an Avon. There is not a rigid transom, the engine mount is a good solid piece of wood mounted on a curved metal frame, and slides into rubber recesses so that when the boat inflates it sits tight against the rear tube.

The floor is basically just hypalon and it bears weight okay when I stand up in it, but mainly I sit on the tubes. A seagull 40 plus pushes it along fine.

But, did it have floor boards originally? If so where can i get some or is it a case of finding some marine ply and making some. Or would they just be an unnecessary extra to store. Haven't really missed not having floorboards but wondered whether they would make difference and if they were originally fitted.

 

[VicS]

Varnished marine ply floor boards were available for most round tail models as optional extras.

 

[Ludd]

They were/are an option.I have the newer type Avon, and after seeing an article in PBO I used bed base slats from IKEA cut to size and varnished.The ends go into rubber caps and if you fit and then inflate the curve of the tubes holds them in place. They give a convexity to the floor making the boat more directionally stable.

 

[Kelpie]

I missed that PBO article. How much of a difference does a floor of some kind make? My Avon came without any wooden floor and I've been using it that way for about a year without a second thought.

 

[Ludd]

I missed that PBO article. How much of a difference does a floor of some kind make? My Avon came without any wooden floor and I've been using it that way for about a year without a second thought.

It makes it easier to row(you have something to brace you feet on) and motoring it's more directionally stable and more easily driven. No IKEA in Stornoway,though! Nearest is Glasgow?

 

[earlybird]

The older Avons came with 2 options, either a full length solid, 3-piece floor with holes for the inflatable seat toggles or a rather shorter slatted floor held together by flexible plastic strips. Either could be home made, using, say, tape to hold the slats.
Both types, but esp. the solid floor make deflating and stowage considerably more awkward, although the slats can be rolled in, but giving extra bulk.
The main advantage is avoidance of the puddle that forms where any weight is placed on the fabric floor.
The ones I've used, Avon supplied, were quite flat, made no difference to the shape of the floor, and had no effect on handling properties.
Not really worth the bother IMHO, unless you rarely inflate/deflate the dinghy.

 

[Ludd]

I missed that PBO article. How much of a difference does a floor of some kind make? My Avon came without any wooden floor and I've been using it that way for about a year without a second thought.

Took some pictures. This is how it looks(after 5 years). Needs adjustment,but still does the job.

 

[forethought]

Yes - either make something using ply sheet/bed slats or buy the Avon air deck (?? £500). In all cases the boat will plane if the deck is flat enough with a 3.5HP engine on the back. I have both the ply sheet (two halves split centrally and slid into PVC H section from building cladding) and an air deck bought many years back from a chandlery at SIBS who were selling off boatshow stuff half price, because they didnt have a warehouse to take it back to as it had burnt down during the show.

 

[Kelpie]

Ludd- I appear to have gone blind! Photos?

As to rarely inflate/deflate... this does not apply to me. I keep the Avon in the boot of my car most of the time. So I think on balance I will probably continue using it as before.

 

[Ludd]

Ludd- I appear to have gone blind! Photos?

As to rarely inflate/deflate... this does not apply to me. I keep the Avon in the boot of my car most of the time. So I think on balance I will probably continue using it as before.

Whoops! Just tried to load them again bu this @@@@forum doesn't want to know----again. Sometimes it works,sometimes it doesn't.
I cannot understand why tis state of affairs is allowed to persist. Somebody's taking money under false pretences,they're supposed to be professional IT people so why don't they fix it.

ANDbefore someone says you can load them up on photobucket---I shouldn't need to ,the advertised system should WORK!

RANT OVER!