Check out this custom frame platform

[lhowemt]

With the great help of two "Buzzers" (JBL & Chip - Thank you very much), I've constructed an awesome platform on the gunwale of my 13' NRS otter raft. It was made for the dogs, as you can see. I also made center and front floors, and they love that too. The older dog was afraid of whitewater, but yesterday we did 16 miles including 3 stretches of Class III and by the end of the trip she went through the whitewater with her feet up on the front of the boat! She became a boating dog yesterday, and so did the puppy.

The material is polymax overlapping poultry floor, found at this link:

PolyMax Poultry Overlapping/Kennel Flooring

I used cardboard to make a template, cut it with a jigsaw, and filed it smooth with a panzer file. That is a sort of a file, but I mostly use it for taking off large globs or peelings of ptex on skis. Available at local hardware and actually called a Surfoam Versaplane. Then lots of straps to hold it down, and actually one piece of wood for support next to the cooler.

Hold on, the photo upload isn't working

If anyone wants more information, just PM me and I'll gladly pass it on.

[lhowemt]

Can't get photos to upload, I'll post them later.

[Chip]

dear Laura,

Sort of a butt-cramp to do the photos, but here's one way:

Save your photos to your desktop as jpegs in a medium or low resolution format: there's a limit to the size of the file you can post.

When you post a reply and get the white box, scroll down below to the Additional Options box. Under "Attach Files" click "Manage Attachments." You'll get another box with a series of spaces, under "Upload File from your Computer."

Click the Browse button and you should be able to select the jpeg(s) from your desktop.

Once it loads, return to the white box and key in your message. Place the cursor where you want the photo, then click on the paper clip icon (Attach) in the toolbar.

That should do it. Preview the post to see if it worked.

yrs, Chip

[richp]

Hi,

Can you tell us how thick this stuff is, and give us an idea of its rigidity?

Thanks.

Rich Phillips
VP, GCPBA

[El Flaco]

I'd love to see the photos still, if they'll post. I need to rig up a platform for my two Malamutes.

[lhowemt]

Here are the photos, finally. The stuff is about 3/8" thick, and somewhat sturdy. It spans about 12-14" OK with only 3 sides of support. I was shooting for a bomber platform, with minimum flex. Next to the cooler, I strapped a piece of wood since the frame was only 3 sides there. The area next to the rowing seat was OK with only 3 sides supported. I took some detail photos of the construction, if anyone wants to see them. These pictures are more to convey the idea of what was done.

I also made floors with this stuff, and even a flap that sticks up alongside the tubes of the boat. I did that to keep paws and feet from sliding off the floor and getting stuck down by the bailing holes. I haven't taken pictures of that. The floor isn't fully supported, and in some places I used two layers to beef it up. The purpose of the floor was stability for the dogs, so I didn't see any reason to have to fully hang it.

[Chip]

The PolyMax grid is really useful for boat frames, floors, etc. I posted several photos a while ago, under a thread titled Games with Frames. Here's the link:

<http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/games-with-frames-13726-2.html>

[Chip]

Bugger- the link doesn't work. Instead, go to the search thingie and key in Games with Frames. Just tried it and it goes.

C.