Looking for 1 1/2" thick foam board in N. Alabama

I got a new Alumacraft 1648 flatbottom last week. It is the model with no center seat and has 4' x 8' open area in the middle with exposed 1 1/2" tall ribs. Until I install a more permanent floor, I am planning on laying down pieces of foam board in between the ribs and then topping it and the ribs with a 4' x 8' piece of rubber stall mat they sell at Tractor Supply.

My issue is that I am having a hard time locating a home improvement store that has the 1 1/2" thick foam boards. Lowes doesn't seem to carry that thickness at any store based on what I saw online and I checked the Cullman location last night just to be sure and they did not have it. Home Depot has it online but doesn't seem to carry it anywhere around here. I'm not sure if that's because we are too far south to need that thick of insulation or what. Anyways, yes, I can sandwich two 3/4" ones together to fit my purpose but that is just extra unnecessary cost seeing how both thicknesses seemed to cost the same online.

I'm just wondering if anybody around Cullman, Decatur, Athens, or Huntsville who is in the construction or handyman business knows where they carry this size.

Pics of the new boat in case anyone wants to see them.

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psmxpfbiyy.jpg

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psgvedhn9u.jpg

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psgeutdegb.jpg

Couple years ago when I done mine I used 2x 3/4 sheets because I couldn't find 1 1/2 either.

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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

Couple years ago when I done mine I used 2x 3/4 sheets because I couldn't find 1 1/2 either.

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I'm betting that's how I will end up having to do it as well. Kind of sucks because it's a waste of $$$ but that's how it goes sometimes.

Do you still have the boat you put them in? What flooring did you cover it with? The rubber mat I'm going with is a temporary solution. I plan to use aluminum soon and cover the decks and floor in hydroturf.

Why don't you check with the one that list's it on line and see if they won't order it for you.

Check with Flannigan or some of the locals in the area. I have bought it from either Gobble-Fite or Littrell in Decatur several years back...for sub slab and perimeter insulation when I built my house.

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Originally Posted by scout-j-m

I'm betting that's how I will end up having to do it as well. Kind of sucks because it's a waste of $$$ but that's how it goes sometimes.

Do you still have the boat you put them in? What flooring did you cover it with? The rubber mat I'm going with is a temporary solution. I plan to use aluminum soon and cover the decks and floor in hydroturf.

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Just use the 3/4 foam. Get a can of the spray adhesive and give it a spray here and there. It will do the trick.
Also, I've purchased thousands of dollars of that foam. If someone quoted you both sheets for the same price, a mistake was made. It is different in all the places where I have bought it.

I am positive that Flanagan's Lumber Company in Athens Al carries it. I bought a few sheets last fall. It fit the ribs perfect and it is high density foam. Thats a good looking sled,

Like the looks of that rig. Show us some pics as the project progresses.

Used 1/2 plywood then carpet solid as a rock still but kelp it in the dry mostly.

Thanks for all of the advice guys!

I'll give Flanagan's a call and see if they still carry it.

My plan is to only use my current idea for a floor as a temporary solution. I just want a semi rigid floor for the time being while I work on rigging the rest of the boat out. I'm trying to keep it simple and save weight as I will be primarily powering it with a 9.9 hp Evinrude tuned to a 15hp to fish Catoma and our new lake in Cullman. But I'm also gonna use it in the skinnier water around Limestone Bay, Flint creek, Cataco Creek, and down around the Sipsey and Locust Fork. When it's all said and done I'd like to use pour foam and cover with the thinnest possible aluminum sheet (maybe 0.080"). The pour foam is pretty rigid when it cures and should help keep the aluminum from flexing much.

I'll post some updates on how it comes along.

If you have a concrete block company close by, they have it. We use it on commercial jog sight to insulate the outside of block walls before brick is laid

if i still worked at my last job i would secure you some packing material. no idea where they got it though.

I called around to a few places and Flanagan's was the only place that carries it at $28/sheet. Better than buying two 3/4" ones at $18 each and having to sandwich them together I guess. I'm going to buy a sheet today and get some of the rubber stall mat from TSC too and try to get a temporary floor in this weekend. I'll post a pic of the finished product.

I had my boat sprayed with Rino in '97. It's still going strong.

That dang stall mat is tough but HEAVY!! Try the put together shop mats from Harbor Frieght. That's what I used on my 17' tunnel hull net boat. Glue em down though..
Reb

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Originally Posted by rebranger

That dang stall mat is tough but HEAVY!! Try the put together shop mats from Harbor Frieght. That's what I used on my 17' tunnel hull net boat. Glue em down though..
Reb

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I ended up going with the stall mat but you were right, it is heavy. However, the floor feels really solid with it. Ideally it could use some small shims on top of each rib as the 1 1/2" foam board is just slightly taller than the ribs themselves. I still have to cut some notches in the mat where the ribs go up the sides which is why I haven't posted any pictures yet. Maybe after that you guys can help me think of a cheap way to cover it because the black rubber gets super hot in the sun.

The floor is installed and feels solid and looks good like I previously mentioned. It gets hotter than a firecracker in the summer sun but not really any hotter than the aluminum boat itself so it's not a huge deal as I'll be wearing shoes for now anyways. I never weighed the stall mat after it was cut but it is probably on par with what a sheet of plywood wood have weighed.

Here are some pics of the results. It also shows the TM which I now have mounted as well as the front pedestal base. Next up I plan to install the Helix 5 SI/GPS unit I got as an anniversary gift a couple of weeks ago and start fishing out of it and slowing doing mods as I go.

Thanks to everyone on the help locating the foam board!

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psw8ktpxmd.jpg

http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/...psefw9tqte.jpg

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Where did u get that base that the TM is mounted on?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by rebranger

Where did u get that base that the TM is mounted on?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

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From the Alumacraft dealer. It's the standard TM mount they offer for flatbottom jon boats. They have a slightly tweaked one for the Mod-v jons too I think. I think it was $30 or $35. It's really basic though. It is plenty sturdy for the torque the TM puts on it running in the water but I'm not sure how well it will hold up to running the trolling motor into things or TM catching ground and that sort of stuff.

I'm probably going bend up some aluminum to mount on each side to help support it and to close it off. Then I'm going to mount the TM receptacle and maybe a 12V outlet in the side of it.

I covered my 1.5" insulation with screwed in stainless steel screws in case I ever needed to get to wiring under ribs of floor. Also you can slide half inch pic water plastic pipe down sides of ribbing and run wires thru it and paint it the color of your boat. If you want, check out Bob,s Trim and tilt plates for your motor also, He makes one that has a 5 yr warantee for mounting a tiller motor on. Nice ride you have there. Mine is a 1648 Jon boat as I love the skinny water boats.

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Originally Posted by cevans

I covered my 1.5" insulation with screwed in stainless steel screws in case I ever needed to get to wiring under ribs of floor. Also you can slide half inch pic water plastic pipe down sides of ribbing and run wires thru it and paint it the color of your boat. If you want, check out Bob,s Trim and tilt plates for your motor also, He makes one that has a 5 yr warantee for mounting a tiller motor on. Nice ride you have there. Mine is a 1648 Jon boat as I love the skinny water boats.

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Thanks for the tips! Some pretty good ones.

Right now the foam with the mat over it is working great. It is super solid, and also very soft and quiet to walk on. The mat is heavy enough too that it doesn't need stuff holding it down when it is trailered.

I have looked at the manual jackplate Bob's machine makes but I also found some online plans I bought for $10 which explain how to make your own. If I decide to go with one, that's what I will do. Looks like it will cost about $75 depending on how cheap I can get 4 pieces of 1/4" thick 3"x3" aluminum angle.

Here lately though I have been fiddling with my motors more than working on the boat. Had a 9.9hp I converted from long to shortshaft plus had to unsieze the driveshaft from the crank due to saltwater use. Then I'm troubleshooting a 15hp which either has a spark or fuel issue. Ran the newly made shortshaft 9.9 last night though and it worked great so I'll probably move back on to the boat now that I have a decent motor to use in the time being.