My Jon Boat Project - Suggestions Welcomed

[daveshepp]

i got this boat and trailer for $500 off of craigslist i want to put a simple flat deck on it and this is where im at so far. does anybody have any suggestions? its a little bit more than 1' overhang from the vertcal supports do you think that will be ok i figure my 2x4's are 1'oc then the plywood will be screwed to those not much weight will be on thatarea but i think it will hold anyways. i will be sealing with thompsons. should i be looking forward to a fail? im looking for a 2-3 year lasting deck at the longest.

thanks for looking and for any comments

[CGH]

I might add a curved piece of wood to the 2x4 floor supports as seen in your last picture. It would be so that the load of your supports is not on a small area of that 2x4 that contacts the floor but a larger area.

Reason being I can't see if your upper floor 2x4 framing rest on anything other than the side walls of the vessel. This added material might keep your boat from spreading out some due the weight of your deck across the gunnels.

Just my two cents.

[Fishin Phil]

I'm gonna suggest rotating your lumber so the tall dimension (the 4 in the 2x4 lol) is verticle. That's where the strength is. If you stand them up like that (like the joists in your house) you're gonna wanna crown them so they are bowed up in the center. That way when you add the weight of the ply and you fishin it will weigh it down to flat. Crowning just means look down the length of the 2x4 and see which way it bows naturally. Sometimes it's easier to see the crown on longer boards, so crown and mark them before you cut.

If you don't do any of what i said, don't worry, you're boat won't fall apart. I think the way you have it should be fine, but turning them would add a little more strength. That's all. Good luck with your project and hurry up!!! It's gettin warm out lol.

[Fishin Phil]

Oh, and where do you fish? I'm in Spring Grove visiting for a week or two and am getting the itch. Good thing I brought my gear lol.