Boat floors - what material?

[Sizzolo]

Good evening folks.

I'm in the middle of building a decent scale pinnace for a heavy frigate, approx 1805 leveraging vanguard models' foundational kit.

 

I've seen some NMM models displaying elaborate chess-board type deck designs but before I plop one into my boat (I like to create unique models based upon recorded evidence) I don't know how they would have produced a 'kitchen floor' type finish for any permanent decking (including cps qtrs, e.g HMS Victory) in a pinnace. I highly doubt any solid floors on a longboat/pinnace would have used tesseral wooden tiles etc so was some kind of patterned sheet used? Can someone direct me to how 'fancy' non-fabric floors were created? I have yet to discover a source for 'linoleum' in 1805 ish! There is a gap in my intel so I'm sure someone here can help (here being my location of info from the absolute best and most experienced sources).

 

Thanks in advance and apologies for my ignorance! I have reviewed my personal copy of May's Boats but haven't seen the answer yet (not to say it isn't in there somewhere!). I'm totally expecting an 8 word, 1 line answer to fill my int gap!

 

[barkeater]

You are talking about the checkerboard pattern floor covering depicted in captain's cabins. This was made from painted sail canvas. 

Richard

[BANYAN]

Hi Sizzolo, are you talking about the gratings/duck boards in the bottom of ship's boats?  These came in two types as far as I am aware, but there are more experienced/knowledgeable people on this forum who may correct this.

 

Type 1 was constructed from widely spaced simple slats/planks laid longitudinally and shaped to conform with the inside of the hull.  This may have required them being made in separate parts, or checke3d in around major ribs, stringers and the like.

 

Type 2 was constructed the same as a ship's hatch covering.  These were made with a smaller grid (smaller battens and crosspieces, and laid the same as the slat type.  Are these what you are talking about?

 

Also some gigs and pinnaces, used as the Admiral/Captain's barge/boat, had more elaborate furnishing and fittings.  It is possible that the oiled canvas mats, similar in decor as the Captain/Admirals cabins, and as suggested by @barkeater were also used in their boats. The mats will simply have been laid/put down over the boat's decking.  Obviously, these will have been of a much smaller size and grid pattern.  I have attached a piccy I took in a fancy heritage house in Hobart, Tasmania which used painted canvas mats which look quite good IMHO.  While this is much fancier than the typical checkerboard pattern it shows what they will have looked like.

 

 

Hope this helps?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Sizzolo]

Perfect! Thank you both. Yes, I saw a pinnace model which indeed represented decorated floors so was thinking of doing that on my model.