Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

[MERIT6419]

Hello everybody I just bought a 19 foot sea ray off my brother he has already done all repairs and tune ups to the motor and replaced the floor. Right now it has no carpet and no seats I have already ordered new sea ray seats. Ok here is where I need your opinions and help the carpet There is alot of different options out there I can go to lowes or home depot and buy the cheep marine grade carpet or I have been looking online at some of the carpet from great lakes skipper and of course from iboats store. I alway believe that you get what you pay for. I have seen glue come right through the backing of cheap carpet. Also what about these snap in carpets are they worth the extra money? Let me know you opinions and recomendations thanks ahead of time.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

I redid the interior on my 'Ray two seasons ago.
I got carpeting delivered from www.marinecarpeting.com for under $100.
Admittedly, it was their cheapest grade as I use the boat for everyhing and didn't want to trash a better grade. It has held up nicely so far.
Best lounge seats from Overton's - $160 each with a 6 year warranty. These are also holding up nicely except that one hinge pin keeps wanting to work it's way out.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

I put the home depot carpet in my MFG Niagara. Boating mostly on salt water and being around sandy beaches has taken its toll on carpet. It is always sandy and is hard to vacume clean. Plus the salt water makes the carpet get real stinky. After 4 years of use, I'm planning on pulling it out.

I also have a pretty mint 1985 Bayliner with the factory carpet intact. It will be removed before use this coming summer. Will either put down marine vinyl or a few more layers of gel coat. Right now I'm leaning toward the gel coat after pulling up some of the carpet and seeing what is under there.

I, like many members here, have discovered that "wall to wall" carpet is not such a good idea in a boat. Just something to think about.

 

[MERIT6419]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

Thanks guys if wall to wall carpet is not the way to go what is the snap in carpet or just gel coat with antislip in it?

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

Carpet harbors moisture which causes rot, promotes mold and who knows what bacteria. I'd opt for a nonslip gelcoat/paint/ or a removable flooring material.
I always liked this stuff but don't have any experience with it. Maybe on my next boat. Lots of threads here on optional deck coating, etc.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

Merit, Snap in carpet is only good if the floor is good-looking enough to take the carpet out. My '88 SeaRay had an ugly floor, so I glued the carpet in.

I never noticed much difference in carpet quality. I would use whatever you think looks the best. There is the turf-style carpet, as well as carpet that looks like the stuff in office buildings(commercial grade) and even homes. Use a latex-based outdoor carpet mastic and slotted trowel to install. Contact cement and spray adhesive will stick the problem areas down.

 

[salty87]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

i think some boats would look pretty bad without carpet.

i bought some online from ingles carpet, textured. i like it so far.

berber would have been my first choice but the price was too high. i'd go snap-in if the price doesn't scare you.

 

[MERIT6419]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN SNAPIN CARPET? BUT THE CARPET CUT IT TO SHAPE HAVE A CARPET SHOP PUT THE TRIM ON (I DONT THINK MY SEWING MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF THE EDGEING) THEN PUT THE SNAPS IN AND GO?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

it most certainly is possible, the carpet places charge about $1.00 per lineal foot to do binding.

my 230 chris craft deckboat, came with snap in carpet, it has been the garage attic since new. carpet is one of the nastiest things in the world. collects nasty water dripped off swim suits, fish droppings and blood, bait dropping. i don't want to be walking on that bare footed.

 

[salty87]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

come on guys, the OP asked about carpet and he's getting lectured about fish blood. not every boat goes fishing. a cleaned up searay with new seats would look pretty stupid with a roughed-in, raw deck.

sounds to me like merit was concerned enough to buy new seats, he probably doesn't want indoor/outdoor carpet from home depot.

i recently bought about 30' of this, very happy with it:

from here: http://inglescarpetinc.com/id67.html

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

My thoughts go with the no carpet group.

I can't even remember the last newer boat I've seen with glued down carpet in the cockpit. Personally I think it dates a boat kind of like the funky green toilet at my brothers house screams 70's.

As for snap in, that's a whole nother story and you could probably measure and order exactly what you want for less then cutting and then paying for binding. Less people worrying about making a profit.

You might even find you can get it embroidered for a good price too.

 

[MERIT6419]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

Nova Ii 260,
I Just Got My Free Sample Of That Stuff Flexiteak Man That Stuff Is The Bomb But They Also Charge Like It Is The Cats Meow I Dont Know If I Will Do The Whole Boat In That Stuf But At Least The Swim Platforms Great Suggestion.

 

[MERIT6419]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

Salty87,
Thanks That Looks Like Nice Stuff And I Will Check Them Out I Am Not Trying To Resell This Boat I Want To Keep This One So I Dont Mind Going The Extra Mile As Long As I Can Afford To And Yes You Are Right I Dont Want The Inside Of The Boat To Look Like A Golf Green.

 

[MERIT6419]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

OK one last time here I found out one of these places that makes that plastic teak is only 30 minutes from my house so i am going to go check them out in person has anyone seen a small boat 18-19 footer with that type of flooring and does it look good or not good on a open bow boat or do you think this stuff only looks good on cabin cruisers and sailboats? the name of that company is plasdeck. oh and why does it take stuff so long once you order it to get to your house man these mail order companys are slow.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Carpet Good Bad And Ugly

After going through a rotted deck replacement, IMHO there are only two good things about carpet, it hides your less than perfect glass work and it's cooler to walk on than gelcoat in the sun. Other than that, on a boat with plywood cored decks, I'd avoid it whenever possible. It's much better to have the deck gelcoated in non skid and make sure that the holes drilled for seat mounts are sealed with 3M 4200. That's what I had done to mine and I am so glad there is no carpet to hold moisture. I used to pull it out of storage even with a well supported cover and water proofed canvas and still the carpet held moisture. The only way it will not cause rot, is if the boat is stored in a garage, with ventilation. Otherwise get rid of carpet. The only place my boat has carpet is on the gunnels since removing it there would have made a lot more work, it looks fine and there is no wood there, just the 'glass hull so it's a non issue.