Speed boat flooring, plywood alternatives?

[blackrandomapple]

Hi guys and girls

It's been a while since I have been on YBW due to selling up for a big trip to Australia, I've been back two months now and have already got myself a project boat.

It's a 1995 Thompson Calea 1800, American boat I believe.. With a 135 Merc inboard

Bought the boat for a very cheap price as it needs lots of work but I'm on the case

Anyway, I'm putting a complete new floor, all upholstery etc, basically a complete refit, top to bottom

As you may be aware I own www.fordsmarine.co.uk so I'm in my own safe hands.

Now, I want to improve the original design with some kind of material other than the original plywood flooring and my question is, with what?

I'm thinking some kind of composite material that can be found in a builders yard that will me strong waterproof and light, some kind of sandwich board?.

Has anyone got any ideas, will be covered with carpet so looks aren't a problem. I once tiled a bathroom onto floor boards using some kind of material to put on the floorboards and tiles on top, I can't remember what it was but it was a black carbon type material with yellow foamy stuff in between... Hard to explain but that's the kinda thing I was thinking.
I'll try and attach a pic to this post of current flooring, any ideas much appriecated

James

 

[Alpha22]

You won't get it from a builders merchant, but an aluminium honeycomb will be both light and strong... It also won't rot.

http://www.coretexgroup.co.uk/6.html

 

[blackrandomapple]

You won't get it from a builders merchant, but an aluminium honeycomb will be both light and strong... It also won't rot.

http://www.coretexgroup.co.uk/6.html

That looks technical... But aluminium never crossed my mind as being a suitable option, it needs to be something that can be fibreglassed to the hull, I can't see this working unless you tell me otherwise?

I can't see any prices online, do you know what money's I'm looking at per sq m?

The problem I have is is that I want to make the upright struts and floor out of the same material.

 

[Beyondhelp]

Why? Just get good marine ply. Good quality Birch Marine ply is lovely and if you seal it properly will last much much longer than you'll ever need to worry about.

 

[sarabande]

how about glassfibre panels ?

http://www.bayplastics.co.uk/grp.htm


In particular, the anti-slip panels if well supported, might be made for the job.

http://www.bayplastics.co.uk/antislip.htm

 

[blackrandomapple]

I understand what your saying!

I'm doing it for two reasons, first being weight as its only got a Merc 135hp. And secondly, I am one for experimenting and trying new things, fitting a plywood floor would be pretty straight forward... I'm always looking for ways to improve and this being one of them

 

[JerseyDiver]

Google Nidaplast. Honeycomb in any thickness you want. Designed for the job and easy to work with.

 

[blackrandomapple]

Google Nidaplast. Honeycomb in any thickness you want. Designed for the job and easy to work with.

Just had a look at that, I'm not sold on the honey come on both posts above...

I just thing downward force using honeycomb would be be right, I was more thinking on the foamy filled board of some kind..

Really appreciate these suggestions though, I will consider and research all ideas!

Have said items been used for this application before?

 

[JerseyDiver]

Cheetah marine use Nidaplast for the decks on their fishing catamarans who endure some real work. Also look at bwseacat and there are lots of build pics using Nidaplast for constructing storage units, decks etc. it will need glassing in before the carpeting stage.

The carbon black you were thinking is wedi board I think which has little strength to point loads.

 

[blackrandomapple]

Cheetah marine use Nidaplast for the decks on their fishing catamarans who endure some real work. Also look at bwseacat and there are lots of build pics using Nidaplast for constructing storage units, decks etc. it will need glassing in before the carpeting stage.

The carbon black you were thinking is webi board I think which has little strength to point loads.

I just googled it, wedi with a D it seems... But yes,, I think that's the stuff I used for the ties

I will google bwseacat now!