Flooring choice

[DeepCMark58A]

A number of home improvement stores carry a brand of plywood called Araucoply (made by Arauco) that is an very nice grade of exterior-rated plywood. It is much nicer than typical exterior plywood -- it has more plies than normal plywood and very few (if any) voids. Best of all, it isn't that expensive. Menards carries it at $35 a sheet (4'x8'x5/8"). Much cheaper than marine plywood. I used it in my transom and it is a good product.

This is what I am going with, thanks for the info.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Am I better off using a quality contact adhesive or using the indoor outdoor carpet glue?

 

[airshot]

Something to think about.....myself and many others before you have decided to put carpeting in our boats and it looks quite nice....for a while! Carpeting soon discolors, becomes threadbare, shows stains, hard to clean, and if you fish it can be a real hassle. I believe that a very good number of us including myself were to do it over....we would choose NOT to use carpet but go with vinyl flooring. My boat will NOT have carpeting in it again if I have anything to say about it. I think you will find a lot of others with that same opinion.

 

[DeepBlue2010]

I agree 100% with airshot, I personally think that carpets has no business being on a boat deck unless they are snap on and can be taken out and leave the original deck material operational for fishing or wash down or whatever else. I would not have a permanent carpet on y deck no matter what but this is just me.

 

[Woodonglass]

Another option to consider is DuraGrid...http://www.duragrid.com/
It's heavy enuf that it stays in place, won't blow out while under way, UV protected. Allows debris, blood, etc to flow thru and be washed to the bilge. Perfect NON SKID surface. Don't know what else you could ask for. Oh It looks GREAT Too!!!
If I had a fishing boat THIS would be my decking..

 

[bonz_d]

Well I guess I'm the outlier and personal opinions are just that. I happen to like carpet and it's in the boat that I use exclusively for fishing. For some reason I don't seem to have that problem of smells, mold, stains or cleaning. But then I'm not fishing were I have to gaff a fish to get it in the boat so blood is not a factor. Also don't have any salt water to deal with so that eliminates that. I've fished in heavy rains and yes it get wet but I also don't seem to have a problem with it drying out afterwards. I've also fished in freezing rain and have never had a problem with the decks getting slick from them icing up.

As for long term wear. The 1988 Alumacraft Classic that I have started still has some of the original carpet in it. So let's see that would be 27 year old carpet. Granted the deck carpet was pulled out by the previous owner when they replaced the plywood though the carpet covering the rod box, live-well, forward and rear deck are still good looking.

Now I'm not arguing against vinyl. I think the new stuff looks good and is easy to clean but the Admiral and I both rather like carpet on our bare feet or when she stretches out to sunbathe. Not to mention I take comfort in being able to lay a few $3-400.00 rod and reels on the carpet and not have to worry about it.

 

[fishin98]

I agree with Bonz_d, It's a matter of personal choice. The 1988 Alumacraft I'm redoing had the original factory carpeting, didn't look too bad for being almost 30 years old. My brothers 1989 Sylvan Back Troller still has the original carpeting and floor, and it still looks good. It's a matter of taking care of the boat. I've just ordered the Marine Carpeting for my project from Lowe's....I'll be in the ground a long time before it needs to be replaced.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

So no suggestions on adhesive?

 

[JASinIL2006]

I'd use Weldwood All Weather Outdoor Carpet Adhesive. I'd want a solvent based cement, if it were me.

 

[jbcurt00]

.....solvent based cement....

Yep ^^^

Weldwood is a popular choice

Others have been used, but definitely solvent based

 

[bonz_d]

I've used the Roberts 3300 that is available at Home Depot and it has worked very well for me. I apply it with a 1/8" notched trowel and then roll it out with a weighted roller. In most cases that would be a wood rolling pin with all the weight I can exert on it.. I also apply the adhesive as I work along. I spread out about 6 to 8" then lay the carpet and keep repeating that until it's all down.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I was looking at the adhesives and the tools when I was looking at carpet. I am still not going to be ready for carpet for a while Have to mount controls and run new wiring before the floor goes down. Just about done cutting and fitting the plywood still have to seal that too. I appreciate the posts about the alternatives but this is just a runabout I have a fishing boat.