Deck plates for Zoom (Wooz)

[Big Al]

Replaced ash wood gunnels and thwarts and am pleased with results.
Not crazy tho about using the original bow and stern black plastic deck plates as I sort of tore them up a bit when I ripped them off. I could probably use a heat gun to reshape and reattach if I can't come up with something better. Lexan?

Any ideas out there? I saw the video of Kelvin's Wooz that has same black plastic deck plates but also has full covers over float bags. What material is that and how are they attached?



Big Al

[Mike W.]

I made some for my downriver boat. Kevlar w/ metal-flake. Make a curl at the end towards the center of the boat like a combing so the water will run back over the sides of the boat.

[the great gonzo]

Don't put any on! You don't really need them, unless you build some that come really far back and shed water to the side. But the regular short deck plates don't really do much. I ripped them off my Outrage and am not missing them.

TGG!

[Big Al]

Gonzo, thanks,


But don't they give some protection when bouncing off rocks?





Big Al

[Craig Smerda]

float covers... http://belugaworld.com/?p=produits.item&pid=57&pg=3

[clarion]

Al, if you're looking for some rock bashing protection, I've heard of using kitchen cutting boards. I found out about that option after using Kydex (touring boat). I'd probably go with cutting boards on a WW boat.

You just run nice screws down through the top into the outwales.

[Craig Smerda]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.a ... &catid=705

I used this stuff to make a cockpit rim with a router. As long as you don't mind white... http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.a ... &catid=705

It's good stuff

[yarnellboat]

A 1/32" sheet of HDPE could make a nice deck, if it's not too floppy.

Anyone know how HDPE compares to ABS (in terms of using it to deck an open canoe)?

Pat.

[PAC]

Al posted....

But don't they give some protection when bouncing off rocks?

The Great Gonzo doesn't bounce off rocks... rocks bounce off of TGG!!!

Al since I plan to stop over your place on Sunday to watch football via your massive flat screnn TV, eat your food and drink your beer...I guess we can discuss this then too!.

By the way GO STEELERS!!! Sorry Craig!

[Mike W.]

I made some one time w/ a sheet of polyethelyne. I added mini-cell chevrons to divert the water back to the river.

Here's a pic of the Kevlar bow deck I made for my downriver boat:

[fleckbass]

You should put the Golden Monkey on the Boat. you know the thing with one eye.

[fleckbass]

[Deb R]

Gonzo, thanks,


But don't they give some protection when bouncing off rocks?





Big Al

My Zoom (definitely Wooz) took a beating in Phil's Hole on the Ottawa a couple of years ago, and the plastic deck plate probably saved the boat from a big bow ding, because there's a great big gash in the deck plate. It's also served it well by covering the broken thwart that was a result of that same swim, that I'm too lazy to fix. But that plastic does hold a lot of extra water and I'm thinking of removing the deck plates this summer (and finally fixing the thwart).

Deb

[Big Al]

Deb R. --

The plates do hold way too much water. When I stored my Wooz upside down (which is its usual position on the water, as well) under my deck outside, it collected water and that's why my gunnels had to be replaced. If I do replace the plates with new ones or use the old ones, I'll be sure to drill extra holes in them.




Big Al

[Mike W.]

One big hole right @ the end helps drain the boat. Get a uni-bit & run it all the way to the largest size.