Put Floor In My Shawnee

[Aleutian06]

I have a 1997 Shawnee with the two rails in the floor. I love the boat but hate dealing water in the bottom. I noticed some one on here mention putting down a false floor in these boats . I am chicken and haven't worked with Fiberglas and don't understand how you do this and don't just wind up with water under the false floor. Does any one have pics of a build like this?

[Terrierman]

I put a floor in mine and it was really easy. It's 1/2" CCA plywood cut to fit painted to match with non-skid porch paint and then screwed to the floor rails. My boat is a 48" wide model with 4 rails. No rail on the outsides so I also screwed a strip of 1"x2" CCA to the plywood before I laid it in the boat so it wouldn't be flexing when anyone walked on close to the gunwales on the boat. The plywood has enough flex to allow for the rocker these boats have, just had a buddy stand on it while I screwed it down. I figure there is about a sheet and a half of plywood in the boat. Sure it added a little weight but those boats are not light to begin with and I'm pretty sure that amount of plywood weighs less than what the solid fiberglass floors weigh. Water will still run under the floor but my boat stays pretty dry and if water does get in, my theory is what doesn't drain on the drive home will evaporate. And it won't hurt the CCA to be wet. I'm really glad I put the floor in, really improved walking comfort in the boat and stuff on the floor stays dry too.

Here's what it looks like:

[Aleutian06]

Thanks for the pics!

One of my issues is that the boat, which is 34'', only has two drain plugs placed fore and aft of the live well in the middle of the boat on the left side . How do you get the water to drain?

[Ham]

Boat looks good Rick. Drag it over and we'll put a 100 trout in it.

I have seen it done with rubber matting that can be custom cut to fit. Water would run underneath them, but none of the trout jons drain well.

[Terrierman]

Thanks for the pics!

One of my issues is that the boat, which is 34'', only has two drain plugs placed fore and aft of the live well in the middle of the boat on the left side . How do you get the water to drain?

Just make a cut out to still be able to get to the drain plugs.

[grizwilson]

Not seen it done in glass boats but nice in alum, PERFORATED ALUMINUM SHEETS, lighter and lets air through....

http://www.trouttandsons.com/AquaBoss2/aq-show.php?listid=125121345524468&page=6&p=5&s=make Think Joe will install and all for $500

or call Fred at Current River Marine, he does nice work:

http://www.currentrivermarine.com/

(I am too cheap used plywood and carpet)

g

[LittleRedFisherman]

Rick, that looks good, if you and Ham want 150 trout in that boat don't forget to holler at me!

Not seen it done in glass boats but nice in alum, PERFORATED ALUMINUM SHEETS, lighter and lets air through....

http://www.trouttandsons.com/AquaBoss2/aq-show.php?listid=125121345524468&page=6&p=5&s=make Think Joe will install and all for $500

or call Fred at Current River Marine, he does nice work:

http://www.currentrivermarine.com/

(I am too cheap used plywood and carpet)

g

Griz, I second the floors that Fred and Current River marine put in for aluminum boats. I have a War Eagle that I had them put the perforated aluminum in, it's a great floor, and weighs nothing!