Need dinghy floor ideas.

[Ed Schenck]

I own a very old but serviceable Avon inflatable dinghy. It had the three-piece plywood floor. I say "had" because the bow piece turned up missing the morning we were leaving Lake Erie for Florida.

It is a heavy floor and I am also missing that connector piece, the slotted hard rubber that goes in between. Any ideas about a better floor that one could make? Maybe something that rolls up? Or should I just make a new floorboard?

We towed that dinghy all the way and used it many times with the bow section just flopping along.

 

[kendall]

I've played with the idea of something built along the lines of a tambour door as a floor, but ended up getting rid of the inflatable before I tried it out.

Did build one as a sleeping platform in the V-berth, and as a cargo shelf in my truck (using some aluminum angle in spots to better handle load) that worked out very well. Much easier than flat panels to store, the berth one was rolled up and stored behind cushions on the settees to form a back rest.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Ed,

I have a perfectly good inflatable floor from a Zodiac Fastroller 285. It was about a 9'3" dinghy. If you think it might fit, I will measure the exact dimensions. If you can use it you may have it for shipping cost.

 

[Ed Schenck]

What a kind and generous offer Rich! This afternoon I will drag it into the garage and measure it. Then I will e-mail you with the dimensions. As I started to write this I am thinking that I have no idea where the pump might be. This dinghy sat in a rack at a marina in Florida for a year before I went to get it. And an oar was missing, one of those good two-piece wooden oars. Finally it is back up here in Ohio. And we have a firm delivery for Ladylove from St. Pete to Huron, Ohio. November 1 she leaves Florida on a truck.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Zodiac FastRoller 285 Dimensions

Ed,

Attached is a quick sketch of the floor and the important dimensions. I also have the plastic clips that secure the floor to the transom.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Amazing Rich, those are exactly the dimensions! That hole lines up with the valve for pumping up the keel bladder. The 3/8th inch mahogany boards fit tightly under the tubes. And there is a piece of 1x1 on the transom that the board fits under. That will probably have to be removed. Boy did I make a mess in the downstairs TV room. Shoulda' taken it to the garage like I planned. I'll send an e-mail.

 

[Larry Jackson]

Floor Boards

Ed, Sounds like you have an old Avon Redcrest. If so, I have a set of the floor boards you're welcome to have. I live in Tampa and you can just pick them up. Larry

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks Larry but I am in Ohio and so is the dinghy. On November 1 the boat is also being trucked back. Life forces prevent me from returning to Florida. So I have opted to take Rich up on his generous offer for an inflatable floor.