Avon Dinghy Sole ?

[BubbleHeadMd]

I picked up a used Avon Redcrest. Upon looking at photos of a much newer Redcrest on the Avon website, I noticed that the floor has some slats to provide rigidity. I'm not sure if they're wood, 'glass or ABS.

These are not listed anywhere on the repair parts website. Any idea as to how I could score a set, or perhaps reproduce them? It seems to me that tossing in a sheet of plywood would be Very Bad Idea.

[swagman]

Hi,
I'm pretty sure you'll find the slats now used are simply plywood, but not sure your idea of 'tossing in a sheet of plywood' is such a bad idea either.
You cannot easily add slats - as the job of welding the sleeves to hold the slts on the flexible floor is not a home job.
But a sheet of ply, finished to keep it waterproof with non skid one side, and most importantly cushioned around the edges to prevent any wear of the floor and side chambers, might give you what you want.
Good idea. Good luck.
JOHN

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by BubbleHeadMd

I picked up a used Avon Redcrest. Upon looking at photos of a much newer Redcrest on the Avon website, I noticed that the floor has some slats to provide rigidity. I'm not sure if they're wood, 'glass or ABS.

These are not listed anywhere on the repair parts website. Any idea as to how I could score a set, or perhaps reproduce them? It seems to me that tossing in a sheet of plywood would be Very Bad Idea.

Not so bad.

Here is a picture of my dingy, a 1977 (yes, that is right, 1977) Avon Redcrest.



This is a sheet of 1/2" plywood covered in fiberglass resin. It works like a champ. I have a 'pool noodle' under the center so there is a bit of a keel. It tows and rows better, like this.

There is also an oval shaped cut out just forward of the stern. It makes it much easier to bail.

The solid floor makes this into a much better little dingy. My main complaint is that the tubes are not larger forward like other dingys, so it captures much more of the spray.

Read about cruising with this dingy here.

[BubbleHeadMd]

Faith, that is damned brilliant. Especially the pool noodle. Many thanks.

[bloodhunter]

Bubblehead,
Also have an elderly Redcrest (1981) and made a plywood floor very similar to the one made by Faith except I made mine in two parts so it is easier to stow as I keep my dinghy deflated except when I use it. His looks a lot better than mine as I used white paint (never thought of using fiberglass resin). I used the rubber gasket they use to stop air leaks on refrigerator doors (available at Home Depot) to put around the playwood to prevent chafe. Love the idea of using a pool noodle for a keel -- another thing I never thought of. Will have to try that this spring, if I ever find my boat under all this snow (sigh)

[Freddyboy]

Hi guys, I would love to find where to get a spare A4 plug for my old red crest. Thanks in advance. Fritz

[egonfrech]

I just gave up on my old Redcrest because the A-4 valves would no longer hold air, and new ones cost too much and are a pain to replace. I have the original floorboards as well as the yellow rear seat (repaired) and some plugs for the valves, as well as the original stuff bag. The floorboards came in four sections, and are plywood. The rear three sections are held together by some bolts and nutplates connecting to a 2x2 hardwood spine. The front section broke or fell apart years ago and I fashioned a new one out of plywood. The floorboards have holes for lashing down the inflatable thwart. I also have the motor mount. Does anybody want them?

Egon Frech

[Feral Cement]

Hey you Redcrest owners! Is there a HIN or Serial Number anywhere on a Redcrest? The State of NC wants it to issue a registration tag, and I can't find one. Lil help?

Thanks,

John

[egonfrech]

It should be somewhere in an open-faced glued on "pocket". It's an aluminum plate with the info stamped into the metal. Look on the post by "Faith" above. See the thing on the hull above the center of the motor mount? Mine was the same thing, but to the right of the motor mount.

[Feral Cement]

Originally Posted by egonfrech

See the thing on the hull above the center of the motor mount?

On mine, it's a patch of brown glue where the rubber and aluminum tag USED to be, I suppose. Thanks anyway.

John

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by BubbleHeadMd

It seems to me that tossing in a sheet of plywood would be Very Bad Idea.

I have an Avon Rover with a factory plywood floor. I chose plywood because I thought it would be more rugged than aluminum or high pressure inflatable floors, and I still wanted to be able to roll it up and put it in my attic in winter. The plywood floor is nice and firm to stand on and it works reasonably well with a small 3.5 hp outboard or oars. The floor comes in 3 sections, joined with extruded aluminum rails to give it rigidity.

If you decide to try to make a plywood floor, you should carefully cut it to match the shape of your redcrest's bottom, round off the edges with 80 grid plywood, and seal it with epoxy or deck enamel.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Feral Cement

On mine, it's a patch of brown glue where the rubber and aluminum tag USED to be, I suppose. Thanks anyway.

John

Doesn't sound like it simply fell off

I would buy a permanent marker - and write some numbers on

[elhix]

My otherwise indestructible Redstart needs a new floor, the slats that slide into the plastic sleeve have broken (I jumped in from a height for no reason other than fun - I am a fool...). I thought I'd be able to pick some new ones up easily enough, found some on an official supplier website and spat my coffee out when I saw the price - £170!

If anyone happens to be wandering past their (or a) Avon Redstart with a tape measure and was able to measure the dimensions of the slats in the original slatted floor... well I'd regard you as a hero and a god amongst men.

[elhix]

Please..?