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Im planning to install a new casting deck on my Lowe 1448m and I'm planning to use aluminum, either plate or checker plate and wondering if anyone has tips from experience on a few things,
-how you fastened it (riveting, welding?)
-where you got the aluminum
-what thickness you used
-what did you cover it with
Any suggestions and tips are welcome.
Cheers
Smitty
Check out tinboats.net. You will find everything you want to know and more on there. That's where I got a lot of the ideas for my rebuild last year.
Any thoughts/experience on what thickness aluminium checker plate to use?
Not personally. I went the plywood route. Hopefully someone else can chime in here.
I would go the plywood route, you can carpet it easier and it will be more comfortable when fishing from all day.
I've considered using plywood, but would personally like to keep the weight down to a minimum. Just wondering if anyone had any tips or experience using aluminum.
I haven't used aluminum in either of the builds I was part of but will offer what I can.
I wouldn't weld it in due to the chance of needing to remove it for repairs, etc.it wouldn't take many stainless bolts to hold it in place and would make removal a breeze.
Keep in mind you may want a door installed to utilize under the floor space.
I don't remember which is which but you can get a cool touch aluminum that won't burn your feet in the hot summer sun brushed vs gloss.
Be sure to add some form of slip resistance to bare aluminum.
In the end all be all plywood will not add that much extra weight and is much cheaper should you goof on a cut. The one boat I put together I used a hollow composite decking. It turned out great. Always cool on the feet and light as a feather.
Best of luck with your build.
Thanks Oaknut,
I plan to either put some marine carpet over it, or some roll on bedliner with a gritty finish, haven't decided which yet.
I also plan to make it removable as I use it for hunting in the fall and need the extra depth at the front for gear.
Cheers
Smitty
if I was building/installing in my boat...I would go with 1/8 thick alum. and add a couple 1" alum tubes to help support have it so it covers the first seat totally...if checker I would not likely cover with anything....if it was smooth...there is a non slip tape that I would cover with...stay away from stainless hardware if you plan on R/R frequently..galvanized will serve you better!!
Thanks for the thoughts WHTLHNTR. What do you mean by R/R?
I got a 1/8 sheet of aluminum checker plate that should be big enough to do my front and back deck. Just a matter of determining the support structure and access hatches for under deck storage.
I have a bow mounted trolling motor to wire in, and would like to wire in a bubbler for the live well in the front bench, and bow and stern lights as well. I am a complete rookie when it comes to wiring. I'm not sure if I want to move the battery to the back of the boat, and will probably have to wait to see what the weight distribution is like once the front deck is in. Any thoughts on simple durable wiring?
Smitty
If you plan to put fish in the live well be sure to have a pump to circulate the water to enusre fresh water is coming in and temps do not become an issue.
Where did you find your checkerplate?
I'd like to use aluminum in mine too.
S.
Smitty...R/R = remove and replace...Stainless nuts/bolts have a tendancy(sp) to bind up with repeated loosening and tightening...Galvanized will not...wiring would be pretty Simple.....I could pm you instruction on how to wire when you get to that point if you need it.....
Sinker.......Kawartha Metals in PTBO would have it...but if you know of any metal fab shops you might be able find something there.(.offcut) maybe cheaper????
Ahhh....remove and replace...I'm new.
I've heard about issues mixing different metals with the aluminum that can cause corrosion, do you think the galvanized may be an issue with regards to that?
I'd love to see the wiring when I get to it.
Sinker - I got mine as an off cut from a fabrication shop a friend works at, they order huge sheets and happened to have a lighter gauge sheet available as usually they use 1/4 inch thick, which is really heavy.
No issues using galvanized hardware with aluminum ...stainless is fine also....other than the seizing
Thats sweet! Is that yours?
It's not quite what I'm looking to do but it's cool.
Not mine, but I'm making the extension likenthey do. It's .125 aluminum with 2 x cross braces.
Held on with 4 x quick release snaps. Snaps you use on a trailer lock. They also suggest tapping 4 x holes and using knob style 1/2" bolts