Casting Deck Support

[CLM65]

For those of you that have an elevated front casting deck, how did you support it.  I'm at that stage now, and I can't seem to find any details on how best to support the deck.  I've got a lip to support the sides, and the vertical side where it steps up will support the rear edge, but that is a pretty wide and long span to leave unsupported in the center.  And since this is really the only storage on the boat, I want to leave it as open as possible.  Right now I'm thinking I will put a partition halfway between the front and back, and have a hatch on each compartment, but I'm open to other ideas.  Thoughts?

Edit:  the deck will be 3/4" nidacore, with 2 layers of 1708 on each side.  This is what I used for my main deck/sole, and it was pretty stiff, but I think it would still flex a bit in this situation.  The casting deck will be about 6'+ wide at the rear and nearly as long.

[dirtwheelsfl]

Any space you have that doesn't have a hatch, just glass in a stiffener on the underside. They were "full floating" originally so whatever you do will be much better!

Your 2 horizontal compartments... How deep are you planning on making em?

[Levi]

Double up on the nidacore or use it as stiffeners
Also I noticed everyone is using nida cor ?
I used plascore on my Mako and it was KILLER the cell structure is much smaller so its inherently stiffer I used half inch on my Mako to replace the original half inch balsa core and HOLY COW its strong.
Don't know if you guys can get it where you live but Raka in Ft. Piece has it and theyre the cheapest. Mike the boss in there is a great guy to deal with. Last time i was in there he was getting right about a hundred bux for a shet of 3/4" plascore hes also got coosa lightweight pvc board ans all sorts of other composites.

[CLM65]

Good info Chris.  I thought that was how the original casting deck was installed, but it was so long ago when I ripped it out that I couldn't remember for sure  .

Good or bad, I ended up with a center stringer in mine, so I don't have the full depth that I think most have.  It is only about 8" tall (max) in the storage area.  I ended up closing pretty much that whole area in and filling with foam so that I won't have to worry about any water accumulating there when at rest.  I am also dressing up the whole storage area a little so that it will look a little more "finished".  Anyway, the depth in the center area is about 16", and about 10" on the sides.  It's still a bit rough, but I think you can see what I'm talking about in this pic.




That shelf-looking thing in the forefront of the picture covers the fuel fill & vent.

[CLM65]

Thanks Levi, doubling it up is a good suggestion also.  I did do that in a couple of areas of the main deck where the span was greatest (over the tank).  I've never used plascore, but I think Rick has.  I get most of my stuff from FGCI in St. Pete - they only carried the nidacore when I bought mine.  3M no longer makes the nidacore, but I understand someone else is now producing it.  I'm not sure how it compares to plascore, but I do really like the nidacore - make a very stiff and lightweight panel.

[RickK]

I know where you can get a good dip net for that front area 

Do you want me to merge this into your rebuild thread?

[CLM65]

Do you want me to merge this into your rebuild thread?

Nah, you can leave it here if that's ok.  I'm hoping to get a better response by having a specific subject listed.  I'll include build info in my thread eventually.

[Levi]

I just thought of something else too I was at fiberglass Florida the other day and they had these foam forms that had carbon, 1708 and some kind of bulker for a facing looked like once you wet them out they'd be REALLY strong and low profile. They were about 7" wide including the glass and carbon ang about 1" thick the faom inside was about 3/4" x4" and they came in 4 door pieces and were 10 bux each if I remember correctly. Might be worth looking into cause the money was right on them for sure
these look like the ones I saw : http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=57773&familyName=Prisma+Composite+Preforms+Hull+Planks