Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

bonz_d

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

The carpet in my truck never has had a live or dead fish on it and it doesn't get wet, therefore it never smells.

I get a lot of compliments on the way my boat looks with vinyl, at the ramp and on the water:

Suppose in your neck o the woods you never have to deal with snow, road salt and sand! Even the mats don't keep it out. Then takes forever to dry out.
 

jigngrub

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

Suppose in your neck o the woods you never have to deal with snow, road salt and sand! Even the mats don't keep it out. Then takes forever to dry out.

No, not much snow or ice... but we do have red clay mud. I bought BIG rubber mats for the floorboards of my truck.

The red clay mud we have here will stain the snot out of truck and boat carpet, but does not stain the vinyl in my boat... heck, dried fish blood doesn't even stain the vinyl in my boat and I was very happy when I discovered that!

For the people that like to fish bare footed:

http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...18.1408.16j0j1.17.0...0.0...1ac.1.EZlw7J33CGw
 

WIMUSKY

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

Suppose in your neck o the woods you never have to deal with snow, road salt and sand! Even the mats don't keep it out. Then takes forever to dry out.

And I don't think it completely dries out all winter. Thaw/freeze, thaw/freeze etc............
 

southkogs

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

No, not much snow or ice... but we do have red clay mud. I bought BIG rubber mats for the floorboards of my truck.

The red clay mud we have here will stain the snot out of truck and boat carpet, but does not stain the vinyl in my boat...
I have to agree with this part ... having lived in both the snow/ice/winter-slush of the north and the "red mud" down here, I'd rather have the snow/ice/winter-slush from a cleaning standpoint. He ain't kiddin' about "red mud." It stains BAD.
 

bonz_d

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

... boat carpet too eh?!

probably if it's left outside all winter uncovered which isn't something I myself would do. But then I think in that case I'd be more concerned with poped rivets or damaged stringers from ice than I would be about the welfare of some carpet.
 

WIMUSKY

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

... boat carpet too eh?!

I'm sure some peoples boats depending how they're stored. Mine is out of the elements in a pole shed with a cement floor......
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

You don't want carpet anywhere IMO, carpet holds moisture and breeds mildew. Your boat will stay much drier with all vinyl, a dry boat is a long lived boat.

You'll be happier without carpet.

Amen. carpet does not belong in a boat anymore than it does around a pool. Evwen if you don't fish. Unless you are one of these AR guys who would rather spend time cleaning, restoring, covering, replacing and yelling at people than boating.
 

bonz_d

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

... heck, dried fish blood doesn't even stain the vinyl in my boat and I was very happy when I discovered that!

For the people that like to fish bare footed:

fish hook in the foot - YouTube

The only time I ever see a lot of blood in a boat is when on the charters and they are using gaffs to get the fish into the boat. Then again anyone crazy enough to leave exposed hooks laying around anywhere deserves to get stuck.
 

frantically relaxing

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

for what it's worth about carpet on a boat...

The pic is of the upper deck of our houseboat, taken last August. Notice the ratty blue outdoor carpet, and the maroon rug. My kid and I put the blue carpet down (2 year cheap HD outdoor stuff) back in July of 2006, the maroon rug is just a typical, ordinary INSIDE jute-backed 12'x12' rug. We bought it the summer of 2007.

Now, all that carpet has been just been out in the elements, and the rug hasn't even been shaded, it lives right out in the sun. All the carpet gets wet all summer from us and the grandkid's swimming & such, the weather, and I hose it all off about once a month. I DO roll up the rug for winter, but it still gets covered with snow and soaking wet. In the spring I roll it out, it dries out in the sun, I vacuum it, and, as you can see in the pic, it still looks good and is outliving the "outdoor" carpet. If ANY carpet should be moldy, mildewy or stink, that red rug should be the one. Yet there's no mold, mildew, and no smell whatsoever.

And the carpets in our Party Cruiser and Chaparral aren't moldy, mildewy or stinky either...

upperrug.jpg
 

jcminnesota

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Jun 20, 2012
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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

Thanks all for the input and details. The majority favor vinyl for the whole boat. I am most impressed by the great photo by jigngrub of a boat like mine with an all vinyl interior. My last boat was a Boston Whaler which was all fiberglass floor and sides. It was so easy to keep clean...and water just ran off it. I think a few well placed marine carpet runners or snap in variety may soften the interior as needed by my family. I also am not swayed by the comment about resale value being better with carpet. I think vinyl was not readily available and was an expensive option. I think many boaters, especially based on the thread response, would prefer vinyl but don't want to pay extra for it. My dealer is offering vinyl at no extra cost. Yes, I agree carpet "softens" the interior a bit but based on the thread input I don't think that offsets the benefits of vinyl. I also had a Glastron with carpet. It was not much different than the fiberglass of my Boston Whaler in terms of comfort, but it also was much harder to keep clean and mildew free. Also if I am really dissatisfied with the vinyl I can have the boat carpeted....and I think it would be cheaper than removing the carpet to place vinyl. So thanks to all the commenters!
 

bonz_d

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

jc I hope you enjoyed the debate. You received many differing opinions and from that you were able to make an informed decision. What more can you ask for! The hard part about this topic is that many times it comes down to personal taste to which everyone is entitled to their own and if others don't agree then that's too bad for them. Let them do theirs the way they wish.

Best of luck with your project, hopefully it turns out the way you'd like and most of all enjoy yourself while you do it!
 

jcminnesota

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Jun 20, 2012
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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

Hay, thanks bona_d. The forums are very useful to gain additional insight and ideas concerning a boating issue or project. But as you point out it really can come down to personal preference. But this is a great resource that I will increase my participation in. I will post a photo of my new boat once I get it delivered so those that are interested can see the result:)
 

bonz_d

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

Indeed! BTW you didn't tell us which color you chose!
 

sccatfish

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Re: Carpet or Vinyl on New Boat?

I'd actually prefer to not have carpet in my truck also, I'd rather have a spray on bedliner material in there. I always buy the biggest floor liners (not mats) that pretty much cover all of the carpet except for under the seats. If it wouldn't be so much trouble with taking the seats out and everything I probably would have ripped the carpet out and sprayed the interior when I had the bed sprayed the month after I bought it brand new.
 
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