Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

[mike64]

I just bought my first boat! A '71 Saf-T-Mate. It's in suprisingly good condition for its age, so I really only need to do some cosmetic work to get it ready for the season. I guess that "harvest gold" color turned some potential buyers off, but I kinda like it.

My question-- I'm going to replace the carpet. I found some cheap "marine" carpet at Lowes. It only comes in gray and black. I was thinking black because the seats are black and it's the only color that would really look good with the gold, but I'm concerned that it would get too hot in the summer. Anyone else have experience with black carpet in a boat? Also would the Lowes outdoor marine carpet work, or should I buy some more expensive carpet specifically for boats?

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

You don't say where you are from. Black might work in British Columbia, but you will limit your time out to the winter here in the sunny South.

Black is also the second worse color when it comes to showing dirt.

Hold out for a better color if you must have carpet. Quick solutions frequently are poor ones.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

i've no experience with black. however i will note that the lime green uphulstry that i have is certainly warmer than the white fiberglass is when the sun shines on it...... i'd think twice about black. myself, i'd go with a lighter color. dark colors absorb heat, light colors reflect it.......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

the gray works well, black seat are going to be horrible. the ladies, don't like burning their tussy. you can put towels over them, until time to reupholster.

 

[QC]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

black seat are going to be horrible. the ladies, don't like burning their tussy.

I don't know about td, but I don't like burning my "tussy" either . . . Just touching a black Merc I/O is bad enough, let alone sitting on it. I'd have some cheapy seat covers made or go with towels like he mentioned. My last boat had dark blue piping on the edges of white seats. That alone would cause enough pain to get my "tussy" to complainin' . . . In all seriousness, I could imagine some actual burns caused by black seats

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

Nice looking old boat.

Where are you from?

It seems like there are a lot of Saf-T-Mates showing up lately.

I wouldn't go with black carpet. I'm not sure I would go with carpet at all. I used some non-skid paint on a Saf-T-Mate that I restored last year. I liked it better than carpet.

 

[mike64]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

Thanks for the replies! I'm in SE Michigan. Guess I won't go with black carpet then. And maybe I will go with RotaryRacer's non-skid paint idea, since I plan to do some fishing, and that will make for easier cleanup.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

look at hydroturf, used on jet skis. or grizzly grip.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Brand new boater! Also carpet question...

I used that Lowe's carpet on my bow fishing deck and it gets warm but doesn't get that hot where you can't stand on it with your bare feet.