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Does anyone know how much of the floor can simply be supported by the frames - or is it wiser to build some sort of brace so that the keel takes some of the weight? Thanks for your advice...

A lot depends on what material you are using for the floor. I used 1X6 oak slats in the cockpit area of my Squirt; but it added too much weight. I would rethink that if I build another one. My Stiletto calls for 3/8 plywood set on the battens and screwed down aft of the seats in order to give more leg room below the rear facing seats, or no floor at all.

I think that most folks run their floor slats lengthwise with a chine to chine support mid way between frames, and most I believe use 3/4" think material to carry that span. Some run the deck boards on top of the frames and some attach a ledger to the side of the frame and run the top of the floor boards flush with the top of the frames.

I went a different route and ran my floor slats side to side, supported on my batten strongbacks/stiffeners (I ran 3 battens per side- to make my center to center spacing between battens about 6"), which allowed me to use 5/16" thick material for a weight saving. This also had the added benefit of making the top of my floor boards 3 1/2" lower than the top of the bottom frame at frame 4, allowing my seats to be lower.

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