What is the best way to hold floor-boards in place?

[Beneteau381]

No matter what safety precaution is suggested, there will always be a situation where having it will be more dangerous than not. It's a matter of risk assessment - which is more likely, an emergency need to get the sole up, or getting brained by a flying floorboard in a knockdown, and what's the likelihood of either event?

On my Catalac, I reckon the risk of flying floorboards is low - if they start flying around, I reckon my priority would be getting the hell out of Dodge, so I'm quite happy to rely on gravity to hold them in place. On a bluewater monohull or a sporty capsisible cat going offshore, my assessment would be different, and I'd like the boards to be held down. I would suggest that a sump with through hulls or transponders is vulnerable to sudden ingress of water than needs to be dealt with right now, so those expensive clips are probably worth the cost, the ones where edible and drinkable ballast is stored and have no holes in the GRP could be screwed down into the OP's inserts or similar, with a dedicated screwdriver living in a clip somewhere nearby, so it can be found when needed. I wouldn't screw them direct into wood or grp because regular removal and replacement means they'd get loose eventually.

I like pragmatic!

 

[Refueler]

My own previous boat, which I sailed extensively offshore, never had locking floor boars either and the likelihood of a rollover is, for what it's worth, in the same risk category as a keel dropping of

Having delivered one from Germany to Latvia ... the owner then racing it .....

I would be inclined to leave every board / every access loose and unfastened .....

Boat ? Bav Match 35 .................... yes - she lost her keel of Kolka just like so many of her sisters ...................

Keel recovered .. boat was grounded to save it ... keel refitted - BUT with extra to make sure it stayed !!

OOP's shouldn't mention such things ... people get upset !!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

As a by the way, for those who sail offshore and court impending doom, there is a good study in the book Total Loss. After hitting something the boat began to sink. The sole was not screwed down and the boards began to float free. Two observations, they were like missiles surging back and forth and the single sailor got his foot stuck under the floors in the bilge. As stated earlier there is no right or wrong way, just beware of the risks.

 

[dankilb]

Whether as a private pilot (‘cabin secure?’), or just having read the Smeetons first as a child, the importance of a cabin that is ‘secure’ in the case of a significant ‘upset’ has always be drilled into me.

Even a jar or marmalade could do you a mischief - let alone several square feet (metres in some cases!) of sole boards!

Haven’t the remnants of sodden books (literally…paperbacks) been known to block all pumps when things go very wrong? Best have everything able to be secured down or in its place, within reason of course.

 

[coopec]

Whether as a private pilot (‘cabin secure?’), or just having read the Smeetons first as a child, the importance of a cabin that is ‘secure’ in the case of a significant ‘upset’ has always be drilled into me.

Even a jar or marmalade could do you a mischief - let alone several square feet (metres in some cases!) of sole boards!

Haven’t the remnants of sodden books (literally…paperbacks) been known to block all pumps when things go very wrong? Best have everything able to be secured down or in its place, within reason of course.

I wouldn't want to be in the 1979 Fastnet Race or the 1998 Sydney/Hobart Race (X5 sunk, X7 abandoned) with loose floor-boards. (I have bolts on the lids of every locker)

 

[Neeves]

I don't think the requirements for certain yachts, particularly racing yachts, to have their floor boards secured was dreamt up out of thin air and the background to 'cruising' yachts to follow suit may not be a legal requirement but this idea - if it has happened to them it might happen to me, is - prudent and not to be sniffed at.

I don't know - but did floor boards gain. mention in the Fastnet - The OP beat me to it

The proponents of 'don't secure your floor boards' presumably don't believe in securing batteries either (or as Dakilb mentions, jars of marmalade) - as all are safe if you are sailing flat, level and smooth - its when life gets tough - the Southern Ocean - that the dangers increase. If you follow the OP - he will be sailing in the Southern Ocean. Last time I was near Cape Leeuwin (bottom left hand corner of Oz) they had a forecast of 11m seas - and the last time we had 11m seas outside Sydney, just the Tasman, not even an ocean, it smashed balconies on cruise ships windows - the ship was refused entry to enter The Harbour - it was too dangerous. If you are half way across the Southern Ocean the forecast you picked up before leaving will be well out of date - and you need to take what is coming.

I recall Tony Bullimore was rescued, after rolling, in the Southern Ocean.

I am sure yachts have been rolled crossing the Atlantic - the OP seems to be asking sensible questions.

It seems perverse that Vendee Globe yachts carry 2 FX 55 anchors - but they are used and at least one yacht completed the race having both used 2 and lost them both. Volvo yachts carry FX 85 anchors and use them

We had to have secure floor boards when we raced under Cat 1 regs - but for the life of me I don't recall what we did (other than marking them with the yacht's name (which seemed overly melodramatic - and discouraging).

So those thinking the OP is a pansy - might like to considered Tony Bullimore or the 1998 Sydney Hobart Race, and that was only in Bass Strait not even in anything grand enough to be called a 'Sea'

Australia might be the land of beaches, bikinis and barbecues but we also have weather courtesy of Antarctica with no shelter between Patagonia and Cape Leeuwin.

If I were the OP I'd be asking about heating (but then I'm a wimp)

Jonathan

 

[ghostlymoron]

If you don't want to spend much, just screw them down with stainless screws. It's a once-in-a-lifetime (or less) chance that you'll ever suffer a hull leak other than at an existing seacock, etc, which should already be accessible. If you do have such a leak, it's likely to be the result of serious damage and unlikely that you'll be able to do much about it. In these circumstances, spending one or two minutes unscrewing a few screws in order to lift boards won't make much difference to the situation.

That's what I did on Anemone the only potential problem is that the screw holes might get enlarged if you take them up a lot. Then use a bigger screw.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I am glad that I am not only one who has no fasteners to hold down cabin sole boards.

Correctly fitted with sufficient interference fit to 'hold' should be sufficient for any boat ....

To lift mine - I have to give quite a hard jerk tug to get started ... and I know they hold in extreme seas without any movement at all.

Previous boat had a loose centre teak board set into a gulley covering the pig iron in the centre keel ... nothing fastening that either ... even though it was 'loose' - it never walked or gave any cause for concern.

OK - its my own personal preference - but I hate things like this screwed down .. its an act that IMHO just adds complication in the event you need to get under it ...

I wouldn't rely on interference fit as wood is an organic material that expands and contracts depending on moisture content. A friend of mine who was skilled at woodwork constructed beautiful rattan fronted lockers but in the marine atmosphere, they expanded and wouldn't open.

 

[Mudisox]

? Stand on them?

 

[Stemar]

? Stand on them?

Difficult if the boats on its side or upside down

 

[Laminar Flow]

As seems to happen quite frequently, these discussions often take place in the oxygen free zone of improbability.

I would judge ocean cruising to be generally a lot less dangerous than the daily commute by car and I have yet to meet anyone freaking out about whether the spare tire is going to come loose or the door mats in the event of a roll over at the traffic lights down the road which, statistically speaking, is a far more likely event. Comparing cruising, even ocean cruising, to events like the Vendee Globe, is on par with comparing formula 1 racing or the Paris/Dakkar to taking your RV on a summer holiday.

The process of building a boat or fitting one out for the big trip is often fraught with anxiety, mostly because of lack of experience and the very real fear of the unknown. I have met a few who spent so much time and energy getting ready and in an effort to suppress this anxiety that they never left and a few others that barely made it around the next headland after a grand farewell because they were terrorized by the reality of it and all without even a single floor board coming unstuck.

Obviously everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and the level of risk they are comfortable with, but I do find it amusing to be discussing the risk of a floor board coming undone with someone who sails a vessel of limited stability in what he assures us are the most dangerous seas in the world.

 

[pvb]

Obviously everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and the level of risk they are comfortable with, but I do find it amusing to be discussing the risk of a floor board coming undone with someone who sails a vessel of limited stability in what he assures us are the most dangerous seas in the world.

I reckon the OP's odds of being rolled at sea are about the same as the odds of his boat ever being launched.

 

[bigwow]

My soles are held down with Dual Lock, if I had to get a screwdriver every time I fancied a bottle of wine I might become teetotal

 

[Refueler]

I wouldn't rely on interference fit as wood is an organic material that expands and contracts depending on moisture content. A friend of mine who was skilled at woodwork constructed beautiful rattan fronted lockers but in the marine atmosphere, they expanded and wouldn't open.

I agree ... but I can tell you straight ..... my boat was built in mid 70's and those boards have been interference fit since day one ... I have never had any trouble with them staying in place .. and the fit is still good today ...

Note my boat goes through Baltic seasons ...........

 

[coopec]

I reckon the OP's odds of being rolled at sea are about the same as the odds of his boat ever being launched.
[/QUOTE

Well your Bavaria might lose a keel but I can assure you it will never turn turtle while it is permanently penned in the Marina?

 

[Refueler]

Well your Bavaria might lose a keel but I can assure you it will never turn turtle while it is permanently penned in the Marina?

Now now Girls ..... easy easy !!

Bav's can't help being designed to return to 'Flat Pack' self assembly state !!

 

[Neeves]

I really don't understand.

An OP asked a simple question, he wants to secure his cabin sole. It does not need insults nor sarcasm. It does not need an evaluation of how likely it is that the securement is necessary. We will not be there - he will.

I have been wearing a seatbelt for decades - and never had an accident. I will continue to wear a seat belt - because they do save lives. I have an EPIRB and have had it for years - but never used it. They do save lives. I use 2 halyards up a mast - yes I am more likely to be run over by a bus than fall from my harness - but I will not change the practice.

People own Ferraris - but never exceed the speed limit, I don't argue with their choice.

This part of the forum is for those who are actively working on their yacht - it is not about why they do it, how much enjoyment they derive, what they are going do with the completed yacht - their motivation has nothing, at all, to do with us.

Just answer the question and keep your humour and sarcasm to yourselves.


We left Tasmania with a forecast and of maximum 35 knots - when it was too late to turn back we enjoyed 55 knots for 8 hours - those of you acting as the thought police have no idea what the OP might decide to do - just answer the question, professionally - keep your entertainment for somewhere else.

Basically - you should be ashamed of yourselves

Maybe we should make your use of the 'Report' facility.

Jonathan

 

[pvb]

Who said Australians have no sense of humour?

 

[Neeves]

Who said Australians have no sense of humour?

Mine was honed and dried out in Scotland.

Jonathan

 

[Refueler]

Mine was honed and dried out in Scotland.

Jonathan

Explains a lot !!