I'm looking for recommendations on the best way to connect the bow and main portions of my hard floor (made from marinegrade plywood). I'm thinking of some sort of flexible rubber connection. Any suggestions?
Nice looking boards! What sealant/finish did you use on them? As for a connector, if you don't need something that applies a spreading force, why not just use some aluminum H bars (2 U bars welded back to back). That is what I have on my boat between each floorboard section, and it does the job well.
Thanks, I just used a high gloss spar varnish (3 coats) over stain. I was initially concerned the boards would be slippery when wet, but its not too bad.
I'm looking for a little flexiblity in the joint--I think aluminum would be too rigid.
I don't think you'll have any issues of excessively limiting the flexibility between the boards with the H bars. My boat has 3 rear rectangular boards (which get held rigidly together by a stringer) & 2 trapezoid shaped bow boards (which are meant to flex) with H bars between each of them. The H bar joints between bow boards 1&2, and between bow board 2 & the foremost rectangular board allow for sufficient bow flex for a boat with hijackers. The H bars allow the boards to sit at an angle and have some angular movement at the joint (see my drawing attempt). If you do use this joint system, it might be important to make your bow board in 2 sections to allow that extra bit of flex.
As I recall, my Achilles had 3 plastic plates: 2 under the 2nd deck section, and one above, attached with about an inch to an inch and a half of extension. They were, at a guess, about 6" wide, and 3 or 4 inches deep. A couple of aluminum plates would do the trick; probably 1/8" or 3/16" thick. Round off the upper edges, and you're good to go.
