How to install floorboards easily?

[gaitken]

I just got my hands on a cute little Avon Rover R2-80 and I'm struggling to get the 3 floorboards in. Any tricks? I figure I should partially inflate the tubes first, then place the boards, but they don't go in easily and it's a heck of battle to squeeze them into place. Any help is much appreciated!

[dave3235]

Hi

Try soapy water

[Fenlander]

Is it the grey hypalon Rover 2.8 with varnished transom/floorboards and alloy joiners for the floor sections... and no side rails/stringers?

Like this one?

http://www.rib.net/forum/attachment....6&d=1246044680

[m chappelow]

Depending what type,
If it has side stringers / channel pieces to lock the boards in place its sometimes easier to roll them into place when you have the boards installed ,, sprinkle of Talc or french chalk helps too .

[gaitken]

Yes, Fenlander. That's the one, about 10 feet long, 3 varnished floorboards with alloy joiners. Very difficult to seat properly!

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Is it the grey hypalon Rover 2.8 with varnished transom/floorboards and alloy joiners for the floor sections... and no side rails/stringers?

Like this one?

http://www.rib.net/forum/attachment....6&d=1246044680

[Fenlander]

Ahh OK... I have the 3.1m version in lovely condition.

The original manual says...

Partially inflate boat... in my experience that means only very slightly so it's still very crumpled... perhaps about 30% filled.

If required use chalk dust at the point the floor edge sits round the boat... I don't as it isn't needed and makes a mess.

Drop the bow board into position and push right forward.

Fit the rearmost 2 floor sections together, drop in and push right to the transom under the battern... If you are butting up to this battern not getting under it then it will be too tight.

Then lift up the front of the middle board and the rear of the front board high enough for the channel to start to engage and push down hard when it will flatten, slot in and tighten the boat.

Take care not to trap or pinch the tube material at any point.


With such a small boat and no side stringers this should be really easy... unless you have the wrong floor or someone has remade one (or more) section a bit oversize.

[gaitken]

very helpful info, thank you Fenlander! By the way, do you know how to get a copy of the owner's manual for this boat?

[Fenlander]

Hard to find manuals, mine is tatty but all pages readable. There are 21 pages in all. If you wanted and PM'd me an email address I could take a photo of each page and send it to you as jpegs??


Oh and by the way this question is in the RIB section and next time you need to head over to the Inflatables forum to get the most viewings for an inflatable issue.

[Mickhitchuk]

Not much help but I struggled for 18 months getting the floor boards into my first rib until I had to scrap it as the tubes had split from the transom(but it was an old and first purchase)
Turned out I was putting the boards in upside down, doh

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Oh and by the way this question is in the RIB section and next time you need to head over to the Inflatables forum to get the most viewings for an inflatable issue.

I've moved it now

[kaman]

A trick worth considering is fully inflating the Sib minus the floor.
Leave it sitting in the midday sun for a few hours thus letting the tubes expand.
Let 70% of the air out and fit the floor.
Sib floors are a pig to get in if the fabric is cold.
Much easier on a warm day using this method in my experience.

[azzurro]

Soapy water.
Rubber hammer.
Half inflated.
If alu floor is a bit bended, you must find the proper sequence for the stringers to fit.