Floor or no Floor in Jon

[Swampfishing]

I am redoing my 11.5' jon boat, and am wondering if you guys things a carpeted floor is worth the effort. I am leaning towards yes, cuase my boat has ribs that across it. I don't trailer it, it goes in the back of my turck, and is only pushed with a 50LB trolling, so weight is always an issue. Also, the ribs trap a lot of water, I should be OK drilling some small holes in them to let it pass right? Thanks again for the tips.

[Flatfish]

Yes a floor is nice, also quietens noise being transferred down. If your concerned with weight go to a metal shop and get .100 thousants thick aluminum sheet.  What I did was layed thick styrofoam insulation between the ribs leaving a 3" wide gap down the center(kinda like a gutter down the center),  I was lucky because my boat had "V's" running the length of the boat under the crossmembers, but if you drill holes in your braces dont make them to small they will plug up. I prefit every thing and all the edges of the styrofoam were wiped with a shop towel and lacquer thinner to seal them that way little pieces don't plug up your freshly drilled holes. Layed the insulation in place and used spray foam insulation sparingly  around it keeping away from the center gap(this stuff expands) layed the floor in and stood on it while either screw or pop rivet it in place. Carpet is nice. Probally not 10lbs heavier and a lot more flotation, not to mention QUIETER.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Check this out. Full instructions are icluded in posts further down.

http://bassresource.com/cgi-bin/bass_fish/YaBB.pl?board=boating_ID;action=display;num=1119359773

This boat is trailered but the trailer doesnt go in the water .  It is loaded/unloaded roadside and carried to water.

55lbs thrust on this boat and it's plenty

floors are removable.  Ultra-easy.  Nice for cleaning and storage

[Rattlinrogue]

I put a carpeted floor in mine and it was great.Didn't hurt a thing putting a few metal screws through the ribs.You ought to buy a cheap,used trailer and you could really customize.

[Swampfishing]

Thanks for the replies, I think I have a pretty good plan on how to attack it. The ribs stand 3/4 high, so I think a 1/2" hole will do me nicely, maybe two in each rib. I have not read that other post yet, but I will later. I am thinking 1/2" plywood floor with carpet, and finsih the benches off too the Bow and transom, and carpet those. I wish I took some pictures of how bad this thing was when I pulled it out of my Folks woods. Had a fire ant colony living in it.