JEM Watercraft

Anyone ever added additional flooring on their bottom to add strength to the bottom? Or even the sides?

Just something that crossed my mind. I know it could be done, and it would add weight to the over all project.

If you did what would be the best method? Epoxy the added flooring in before you glass?

H

Before you do that, I'd finish the hull and see how strong it feels.

If you think you need more stiffness, additional fiberglass would do the trick.

Hunter, if Matt provides different advice that conflicts with mine - listen to him. But, in the meantime, here is something for your consideration.

First off, as Matt suggests, try it according ot plans first. THEN if you think you want more reinforcement, try the glass.

Try it on the inside first. It will provide as much stiffening for you there as on the outside. additionally, it will provide more protection for the bottom from being split from the outside. Glass on the inside is good insurance to protect against splitting from running up on a rock, stump, etc.

If, in the final analysis, you feel that even more stiffening is warranted, try running a few strips lengthwise of the bottom. If you feel you need a keel, apply them to the outside. If not, apply them on the inside. Start out with four strips, two on each side of the centerline. The outside ones can likely be shorter than the inside ones nearer the centerline.

I have no intentions of making any changes to Matt's plans. Not on this first project anyway. And when or IF I get to that point I will always run them by Matt for opinions.
No my questions were simply that. Thoughts that popped into my head that I couldn't answer for myself.

H

Dang
I think I hit a chord with Jack on inside out boat building
Ron

Yeah, Ron we agree. (Mark that on your calendar.) I learned it first form John Lockwood of (little, short people who live in jungles) Boat Company, and Cliff Jacobson repeated the lesson with tent floors.

Your ideas are spot on, Ron, as are your paddling and camping skills. We make a good pair - I'm astoundingly good looking, outstandingly intelligent, and appropriately humble. You're a good camper, accomplished paddler, talented designer, and exceedingly honest in telling campfire stories.

For what its worth, I did this with a small jonboat that I built about 5 yrs ago. The idea was to allow for 2" of floatation foam in the floor, but it had the additional benefit of adding a great deal of torsional rigidity to the boat (it has a lot of flex to it with the floor removed). Keep in mind that this boat was built with internal chine logs, not stitch and glue. I had a canoe, also built with internal chine logs but it was pretty stiff to begin with, I doubt that adding a floor to the inside would have been of any benefit.

Jim