Payol (sometimes there are forms of "pael", "payola"), or slan - removable flooring, most often made of wood, laid at the bottom of ships and boats.
Types and features of flooring
PVC
Lightweight foam PVC flooring, does not swell even with prolonged contact with moisture. Slan, an inexpensive and practical tool to use. The deflection is insignificant, depending on the thickness of the plate, offset by the water located at the bottom of the boat.
Aluminum
The hard floor is made of aluminum. Products from this metal are highly durable, resistant to aggressive influences. The disadvantage of such structures is noise, and increased heat dissipation, which causes inconvenience in hot or cold weather. You can deal with these shortcomings with an additional coating of rubber or other non-slip material.
Inflatable
Despite the hollowness, inflatable options are tough. This is ensured by air pressure. They are durable, folded and compact. The positive side of this type of flooring is to give additional buoyancy to the vessel. Lack of damage with sharp objects.
Recently, another variety of inflatable floorboards has appeared - a low-pressure inflatable bottom. The peculiarity is that the deck and the bottom are one. The rigidity of the structure ensures the presence of internal partitions that serve as the frame in the inflated state. Using this design, you can reduce the weight of the boat, increase its speed and patency.
Wooden
The easiest and cheapest option. They are a flooring made of battens, plywood, sheathed with waterproof fabric. Differ in small weight, simplicity of assembly. Can be made in a makeshift way. The material more often is marine plywood. With this flooring, moisture absorption is minimized, it is durable, does not slip, it is easy to wash. It has soundproofing parameters with low weight. Moisture protection is required.
Other species
- Payol folding type. Easy to install in grooves. There is no rigidity, planing with this type is uncomfortable, therefore it requires the use of stringers. Suitable for budget boats that are not intended for serious use.
- Rigid, has an H-profile in construction. Inexpensive and unreliable option. Consists of plywood sheets with a small joint surface. Stringers are used to give rigidity and reliability.
- Tough, collapsible with aluminum grooves. It takes up a lot of space, has tangible weight and cost. But in terms of strength and reliability - the best option.
Which bottom of the boat to choose? Pros and cons of different options
When choosing a flooring, it is necessary to be guided by the watercraft where it will be installed.
Rack floor, inflatable, rigid with n-profile is used in small vessels.
If the size of the vessel is more than three meters, install folding decks with stringers or with aluminum grooves and an enlarged joint surface. Vessels with an inflatable keel require the installation of a rigid model of the ship. PVC boats of increased capacity are equipped with floorboards from the manufacturer, which is not recommended to be replaced with other types.
For calm ponds, the rigidity of the floor does not matter.For fishing on a quiet lake, you can get by with an affordable and simple DIY assembly. If the ship is supposed to be operated in a big wave, then reliability comes first. A solid bottom of marine plywood and aluminum is installed.
How to make a floor yourself - a step-by-step plan
Before proceeding with the manufacture of flooring with your own hands, you need to choose the material with which you will work. This is usually plywood or a hard sheet of plastic.
Consider the independent manufacture of plywood flooring.
- We measure the dimensions of the bottom of the boat, taking into account the gaps.
- We make a pattern of rubber or linoleum. It is easier to work with a pattern than with a drawing. In addition, it will come in handy at the final stage as a gasket.
- We cut out part of the floor from the sheet, processing the edges with a file so that there are no burrs. If plywood is not impregnated, it should be treated with protective impregnation.
- We connect the parts together. For this purpose we use loops and make an “accordion” of parts. Fasten the hinges with countersunk bolts.
- We process the assembled structure. We do this with a file and sandpaper. It is useful to glue the ends. It is advisable to cover the plywood with yacht varnish.
- We install a gasket (pattern) between the bottom of the boat and the floor.
Video experience
Tips
If the boat is small, on which you fish or ride in calm weather, it makes no sense to buy an expensive branded floorboard. You can make it yourself with inexpensive materials at home. It can be pieces of plywood, plastic. You can use both loops and a regular rope to connect.
There are many types of flooring. The choice of a particular model depends on many factors. First of all, you need to think about reliability and safety. Good luck with your choice and seven feet under the keel!
