Used Aluminum Road Signs?

**scout-j-m** · 04-20-2018, 10:17 AM

I have been thinking hard this winter over the best ways to add a solid floor into my 1648 jon boat. By brainstorming and online research I have come to believe that a sheet of aluminum about the thickness of the larger road signs would work well. I actually used a small piece of one I got from a friend (not sure where he acquired it...) to make a floor in the aft compartment for my fuel tank and battery box and it works quite well. One of those larger exit signs used on the interstate would be perfect as my open floorplan is just a hair over 8' long and a 48" wide.

I priced a new sheet of aluminum in the past and the cost was way too high. In reality using plywood wouldn't be detrimentally too heavy but this boat is only powered by a 15hp so every extra lb matters plus an aluminum floor would last forever.

Anyone have any ideas or leads I could follow to try to find one? I recall them replacing some on I65 or 565 recently but have no idea if they retire them or resurface them to be reused.

**Coach B** · 04-20-2018, 10:38 AM

Your local county highway Dept might be worth a call. I used to work next door to ours and they sometimes had a pile of the old ones.

**scout-j-m** · 04-20-2018, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Coach B

Your local county highway Dept might be worth a call. I used to work next door to ours and they sometimes had a pile of the old ones.

Thanks! I haven't gotten to that yet but definitely will give them a try.

**try'n hard** · 04-25-2018, 11:42 PM

Consider an aluminum comp. sheet. Thin aluminum top and bottom with plastic in the middle. Like plywood. Check local sign shops. Comes in 1/4” and 1/8”. 4x8, 4x10, and 5x10

**mighty** · 04-26-2018, 07:59 AM

If you live in the Huntsville Madison area it's a sign shop off castle Dr. I bought my 8x48 aluminum sign for 15 bucks. Put some carpet around it a good to go. So check with your local sign company. Also I seen a floor made with horse mat with foam under it.

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**scout-j-m** · 04-30-2018, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by try'n hard

Consider an aluminum comp. sheet. Thin aluminum top and bottom with plastic in the middle. Like plywood. Check local sign shops. Comes in 1/4” and 1/8”. 4x8, 4x10, and 5x10

Haven't considered that. I'll look into it. Thanks.

**scout-j-m** · 04-30-2018, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by mighty

If you live in the Huntsville Madison area it's a sign shop off castle Dr. I bought my 8x48 aluminum sign for 15 bucks. Put some carpet around it a good to go. So check with your local sign company. Also I seen a floor made with horse mat with foam under it.

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I'm in Cullman but work in Huntsville so I can look them up.

I have the foam/horse mat setup right now actually. Works real well when its not too hot. It's very solid but also has a little give which makes it comfortable. But it gets hot as hades in the warmer months and is not resistant to chemicals such as gas. I plan to keep the foam but add the aluminum sheet and then top with Hydroturf. then also add Hydroturf to the decks (which are Alumacraft OD green and also get super hot). Until then I'm going to go buy a piece of cheap gray indoor/outdoor carpet from Lowe's to cover the stall mat.

Do you remember what thickness you got?

**eminart** · 04-30-2018, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by try'n hard

Consider an aluminum comp. sheet. Thin aluminum top and bottom with plastic in the middle. Like plywood. Check local sign shops. Comes in 1/4” and 1/8”. 4x8, 4x10, and 5x10

Also makes a great sled in the snow. Just bend the front up at an angle, and voila! Hours of fun for you and your kids.

**mighty** · 04-30-2018, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by scout-j-m

I'm in Cullman but work in Huntsville so I can look them up.

I have the foam/horse mat setup right now actually. Works real well when its not too hot. It's very solid but also has a little give which makes it comfortable. But it gets hot as hades in the warmer months and is not resistant to chemicals such as gas. I plan to keep the foam but add the aluminum sheet and then top with Hydroturf. then also add Hydroturf to the decks (which are Alumacraft OD green and also get super hot). Until then I'm going to go buy a piece of cheap gray indoor/outdoor carpet from Lowe's to cover the stall mat.

Do you remember what thickness you got?

No not exactly, but maybe a quarter inch.

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**FurFlyin** · 04-30-2018, 09:32 PM

We use aluminum daily in our semi trailer repair shop. If you ditch the road sign plan, I can get you pretty much any size you want.

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