Squeaky Floor Boards

[Holding Pattern]

Recently we've had a few floor boards that have gotten squeaky. Any good fixes?

[gonesail]

Originally Posted by Holding Pattern

Recently we've had a few floor boards that have gotten squeaky. Any good fixes?

a squeak usually means the boards are flexing. you need to find a way to stop them from flexing.

[Alan Wheeler]

Good answer Gonesail. Exactly what I would have replied.

[Seaquesta1]

Originally Posted by gonesail

a squeak usually means the boards are flexing. you need to find a way to stop them from flexing.

Or you've got a mouse in the bilge.

remedy, get a cat.

[Morgan Paul]

Put powdered graphite in the cracks between the boards. It's a half-assed fix but it sometimes works.

[Alan Wheeler]

Not so sure I would use Graphite. It would work I guess, but that black stuff goes everywhere.
You can try rubbing a bit of soap or candle wax across the joints. You can spray a little WD40 or Sailglide down the joint. But the initial idea of finding out why it is moving is still best.

[delmarrey]

Mine are screwed down. But if you need to have that access. (Alan's) Candle wax or a pitch, like from trees, even a piece of cloth between the boards that, of course, will need to be replaced once in a while. Then there is thin plactic strips. How about Teflon $$$$$ Shall I go on??????????.............._/)

[SkiprJohn]

Cabin soles are strange beings. Sometimes they stick and you can't get down into the bilge. Sometimes they rattle and shake when your engine is running or they pop up when you least expect. Hopefully they never are floating.
Why don't you tell us more about how they are constructed? I would not use graphite. It does strange stuff to some noble metals and if your bilge water migrates anywhere might cause a problem.
Any chance a little bit of sandpaper on an edge might cure the squeak?
Regards,
JohnL

[Meridian]

Try baby powder. It works to eliminate squeeking in houses; no reason it wouldn't work on board.
John

[GordMay]

As others have suggested, you want to correct the root cause (movement); not just silence the symptom (squeak).
Are the fastenings firmly seated in the stringers? You might have to fill & redrill the pilot holes, for a tight fit.
Are the floorboard assemblies flat? Veneered plywood doesn’t usually suffer from much cupping, but it’s possible. If cupped, the boards will have to be shimmed to provide a full-width interface (‘tween boards & stringers).
Lets all hope that the squeak isn't due to excessive hull flexure.

[svHyLyte]

You guys remind me of an experience I had a while back while dealing with a law firm specializing in Environmental Matters. Tiring of a brain deadening never ending discussion about kangaroo rats on some land we owned and wanted to develop, I excused myself to the men's lavatory. There I came upon three Senor partners in an animated debate about a leaking faucet and the effects such leaks have on the environment which continued exhaustingly while I used the facilities. As I approached an adjoining sink to rinse my hands an office boy also walked in, observed the verbose proceedings for a moment and then impetuously reached out and gave the faucet a slight turn. Leak stopped! Shoot a spritz of Sail Kote between the floorboards and tighten the fasteners a tad! Cheers!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha svHyLyte,
What is Sail Kote made of and how would effect the envoronment? Will it effect kangaroo rats?
JohnL

[svHyLyte]

Applying SailKote (McLube Sailkote Dry Lubricant for Marine Environments) to Kangaroo Rats has no effect on the environment and keeps them from being squeeky!

Cheers,

[Alan Wheeler]

It also keeps them waterproof in the rain, so they won't catch a cold. ;-)

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

It also keeps them waterproof in the rain, so they won't catch a cold. ;-)

I thought Kangaroo Rats lived in the desert to avoid getting wet.

Kangaroo Rats (DesertUSA)