Re: Carpet 87 Bayliner
I just recarpeted a 1983 bayliner capri. i did a lot of research before starting and hope this helps.<br />First i stripped the entire upholstry out of the boat..<br />Bayliner uses carpet everywhere, and the carpet had many cut pieces laid together.. So I removed each piece, took a digital picture of where it came from as they came out and wrote the location down on the back of every piece. (this helps when the project wears on and you need a refrence) <br />I had to rebuild the ski locker area, and repair areas of the deck.<br />I glued (gorilla waterproof) and stainless steel screwed new supports for the ski locker and overlaped them by 5 inches all the way around under the deck to get a good bite as so the pressure of the cantilever edges don't pullout. (marine grade plywood)<br /><br /> I went to the local marine store and purchased a two part penatrating epoxy.. there are several names.(get rot, west marine brand, rot doctor). basicly you drill a bunch of 1/8 in holes in your deck,(stoping before you drill all the way thru) and inject the epoxy into the holes to strength the wood. I then applied fiberglass cloth on the deck and coated the entire deck with several layers of resin.<br /><br />I wire brushed the entire deck, sides and gunwalls with an electric hand grinder with wirebrush attachment. <br />Everyone told me do not use the home depot/lowes indoor outdoor carpet,as it is not made for constant water and mildew..<br />I used marine grade carpet and marine grade glue, you put the glue on with a trowel.. (approx 2 and half gallons were used).<br />Each piece of old carpet was a pattern for the new piece. I placed the new carpet upside down on the driveway, and the old piece on top and marked it with a sharpie marker. Since the marker is traced on the outside edge, it makes each piece a little larger. I used a carpet knife to cut the piece out, and put on the newly glued section.. (one section at a time) Since, i was new at this a did some overlaping, until i was comfortable in makeing some of the more intricate cuts (near the bow and the front seating areas.<br />I took my time, and had my 16 y/o son help me. I stopped when i got tired, (as i tend to lose patience quickly)<br />It was a longer project than i expected, but i did i right so i wouldn't have to do it again in a year or so.. I have gotten lots of complements on how well it turned out..Plus my wife will now ride in the boat. <br />the carpet and the glue was around $500.. but the boat shops wanted $1500 just to carpet it and that did not include rebuilding the deck or ski locker supports and lid.<br />I had never fiberglassed before so it was all new, but it was really pretty simple. Since its all coverd with carpet it didn't have to be pretty..<br />We just got back from a week a lake mojive and all went well. I had six 20 y/o's and the rest of my family wakeboarding and tubing and it held up without any snags. <br />any way i hope this helps.
