anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

[bobbo268]

So i ordered some nice 26oz tan carpet for my pontoon, and all i'm getting is people saying do it in vinyl.... and now i'm second guessing myself but its in transit so i can't cancel. Does anyone prefer carpets anymore? My wife wants carpet, and i do too, BUT, i don't want to clean it forever and over and over (even though scotchguard helps, and not being a slob). i do a little fishing but when solo i can it pretty mess free, but mostly just parking and swimming. although it seems the majority of mud is usually when putting the boat in the water and tracking it in from the launch/pier.

That being said, i had an idea that I would like some opinions on. Say i use the carpet (because i like the plush, i can't send it back because it would cost too much to ship, and my wife would cringe if i had a $300 roll of carpet and $60 of glue in the shed).... you know how the expensive boats are using vinyl flooring and making a removable carpet or carpet sections with snaps.... what if, i use the carpet for the whole boat and create removal vinyl sections with snaps, like in front of the side door, and the front deck (which is only about 1.5 feet long). It would get the dirt from the shoes, and the front deck would serve as the place to bring in the fish in. It would just be snaps, so i could install/remove as wanted. I was even thinking of doing it for the entire boat if i decide to take a bunch of the guys from work out fishing one night........ wuddayathink? maybe? great? stupid?

 

[MinUph]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Stupid.
The problem with carpet is it doesn't last. If you and your wife like carpet use it. It is your boat and you should enjoy it.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

I like carpet better, its cooler on the feet and non slip and with a lot of grand kids running around I feel its safer, I also fish and fish slim its not a problem its more bait spills or juice boxes lol and ground in fruit and snacks and even that is no big thing, I keep mine on a slip for about 10 mouths of the year and when it gets a bit nasty I will drag the trailer over and take the boat to a car wash and pressure wash the carpet and it looks brand new again.

 

[bobbo268]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Stupid.

staight to the point, well said. Just thinking out loud, but i ordered an extra 4 feet of the carpet, so... what if i make a removal carpet remnant (like the kits that go on top of vinyl flooring) to go in front of the door used most. It will be the same as the carpet, and act as a place to wipe your feet, a door mat. If it gets all messed up, oh well, just un-snap it and either wash it, or replace it...... it sounds better than the vinyl idea....

I like carpet better, its cooler on the feet and non slip and with a lot of grand kids running around I feel its safer, I also fish and fish slim its not a problem its more bait spills or juice boxes lol and ground in fruit and snacks and even that is no big thing, I keep mine on a slip for about 10 mouths of the year and when it gets a bit nasty I will drag the trailer over and take the boat to a car wash and pressure wash the carpet and it looks brand new again.

what color carpet do you have? light or dark?

 

[bennyboy1]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Replacing floor covering on a toon is a BIG job, to do it right, you have to remove all the furniture, console, and railings, also there may be bad spots on the sub floor wood that need repair, you talking many hours of work.

Go with VINYL, no matter what others say. Spills, food crumbs, fish slop, and pet hair rinse right off with a bucket of water, repels bird shiat too. Cool to walk on for the barefoot tots and adults. You can always add a few small throw rugs if you want, and hang them over the rail to drip dry at the end of the day. NO MOLD either.

Did the place you bought the carpet from have vinyl, if so, maybe you can return the carpet for vinyl, or resell the carpet on the web. You may take a loss on shipping charges, but you won't regret it. Too bad you didn't research carpet vs. vinyl opinions before you committed...vinyl wins.

side story/
I have a land lubbing fishing buddy who got sea sick and barfed on my boat floor, uke: got a bucket of water and swished it overboard...did I mention vinyl floor is so easy to clean.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

staight to the point, well said. Just thinking out loud, but i ordered an extra 4 feet of the carpet, so... what if i make a removal carpet remnant (like the kits that go on top of vinyl flooring) to go in front of the door used most. It will be the same as the carpet, and act as a place to wipe your feet, a door mat. If it gets all messed up, oh well, just un-snap it and either wash it, or replace it...... it sounds better than the vinyl idea....



what color carpet do you have? light or dark?

I use a light gray

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

You could use the carpet and then get runner carpet, long vinyl/rubber backed carpet.

 

[OK Toon]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

I know vinyl is easier to clean but if you are in a hot part of the country (like I am here in Oklahoma), I would only have carpet. When it's a 110 in the summer, the last thing I want to do is step on hot vinyl or have my lab try and lay on it. Cleaning carpets is just one of the downfalls to having it but that's one I'll just have to live with.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

here is my take. make mama happy, because if mama isnt happy, you wont be happy.

that being stated, I love carpeting, I hate the cheep feel of vinyl.

a bucket of laundry soap and the pressure washer and I clean my carpeting once a year.

 

[bennyboy1]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

bah,
vinyl doesn't get hot, unless its the dark simulated teak, besides, most mommies have water shoes on their little snowflakes.
who wants to be outside when it's 110 anyhow?

My lab drips his wet dog hair everywhere when he gets back onboard, then (again) I just heave a bucket a of water from the bow, and it all washes off the stern, try that with carpet.

All the boaters I know, (glass boats or toons) that have snap in carpet, took it out and left it out.
why? ...cause it gets FUNKY! that's why I suggest throw rugs or a runner.

vinyl wins.

p.s.
fish hooks don't get snagged in vinyl,
vinyl wins again. LOL.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Put vinyl down on the whole boat. Use the carpet as button down sections leaving open vinyl where there will be lots of sand and water (door ways, front deck, etc). You can then remove the carpet and clean the whole deck. When carpet look dingy, replace it easily. Best of both worlds.

Don't forget to install fence risers if you don't already have them..

 

[KDAVID1]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

I prefer carpet as well--if it is the correct type of carpet and installed properly it will last a good while. Replaced the original carpet on my 91 ranger a few years back and it still looks like new, easy to clean, and doesn't get too hot to walk on barefoot.

 

[OK Toon]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

My lab drips his wet dog hair everywhere when he gets back onboard,

I think I have the only lab that doesn't like water. When we beach the boat, if I leave more than 5' of distance to dry ground, I know he'll never get off the boat. But if I'm in closer than that, he'll clear the water and jump to dry ground. I feel sorry for the guy because I know he gets hot on the boat. We even try to just put water on his head and he gets pissed. We adopted him through Lab Rescue when he was 4 so we don't know what his background was, but somebody must have done some bad things to him around water. I've been trying to get him used to it by walking him on a short leash in shallow water along the shore. But any chance he gets, he bolts out of the water.

Then we just put a towel down on the bow of the boat so when he jumps back on with sand, all of the sand comes off on the towel. We keep a step stool out by the side gate that we step on to clean the sand off our feet before we get back in.

And no fishing is allowed on the boat -- that's what the 2-slip boat dock is for where we bait it out with cedar trees in the empty slip. The boat is for cruising or getting to the local sand bars.

Carpet wins!!!

 

[The Rooster]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

CARPET !!! Feels sooooo nice underfoot, but then fishing poles aren't allowed within 500' of our barge !!!

 

[arntarchie]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

I said I would never carpet another boat, but last winter when we rebuilt ares I wrestled with the same problem. Vinyl was about 3 times the cost and as we spend the weekends on it not vary cumfy. I settled for 12 foot wide indoor outdoor patio carpet and with the extra 4 foot by 24foot I made throw rugs. put 100 days on it this year looks just fine

 

[bobbo268]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

I said I would never carpet another boat, but last winter when we rebuilt ares I wrestled with the same problem. Vinyl was about 3 times the cost and as we spend the weekends on it not vary cumfy. I settled for 12 foot wide indoor outdoor patio carpet and with the extra 4 foot by 24foot I made throw rugs. put 100 days on it this year looks just fine

yeah, unless someone snatches this carpet up from me by next week on craigslist i'm going to use it. Its heavy stuff and i ordered 4 feet extra so i will make some door mats for the entry point and snap them down. i'll bind them so they look professional-ish

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Well we have a carpeted boat with a light tan rear deck and you can't stand on the deck when it's over 80 degrees. I don't know what kind of magical vinyl other people have but ours gets very hot.
Part of the fun of boating is taking off your shoes when on the boat, we all do and enjoy the carpet.

Everyone has their own take on carpeting or vinyl, after owning 3 toons with carpeting the first toon was 13 years old when we sold it and the carpeting was still in very good condition. I guess it just depends on how you use & take care of your stuff.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Vinyl looks cheap and it will never look clean. Every footprint will show.

 

[bennyboy1]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Vinyl looks cheap and it will never look clean. Every footprint will show.

carpet IS cheap, thats why it is standard flooring for boat manufacturers and the fantastic vinyl is an added OPTION, and what do you think happens to those footprints when you walk on carpet?...embedded funk.
It doesn't get hot either, unless you have sensitive little girly feet, that's what throw rugs or Crocs are for.

more vinyl wins:

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topics-questions-not-engine-topics/carpet-vinyl-new-boat-589009.html

 

[The Woo Woo Kid]

Re: anyone prefer carpet over vinyl? and new vinyl idea...... maybe

Crocs ?!!! Talk about girley.