Flooring Update to Four Winns Vista

[mort5029]

Hello All

With the season coming to a close I'm going to take on a winter project and replace the flooring in my 1998 Four Winns Vista 258. My plan is to make paper templates of the two sections of floor, one being in front of the bathroom door and then under the table. From there I was planning on making plywood sections transferred from the floor and put my flooring choice on at home then install in spring.

My question to all is how do I remove the carpeting. Should I just cut along the edges and rip it out, or is there an easier way. I have read where the wood below need to be pried off. I plan on doing the stairs and not sure how they are attached.

Finally I am thinking of using either something like Lonseal ( more of a sheet type floor) or something like planks (Allure). Any advice and help with the removal of the flooring would be great.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

You can make patterns and its a good idea however before cutting things you may run into. First the thickness of your new floor if its at all different this will alter all sizes and shapes and the more progress the more off they will be so trust your patterns only so much. myself im a believer in quality plywood drilled for fasteners counter sink the holes and then two coats of marine wood epoxy. None of this is cheap or easy but none of this is easy to begin with. Your ideas on Allure flooring is great accept these floorings do not perform well in non climate controlled areas. Ask me about one of my shops waiting rooms thats not AC cooled they buckled when they expanded during a 110 degree week Id expect radical changes in your boats temps inside so probably not the best idea I have Allure in several bathrooms that worked fine but that area exposed to high temps had to be replaced and it buckles in a manner that its locks break apart. Marine vinyl is my choice however Im looking at options from the glued down rubberized boat flooring that looks like teak but the brands that hold up are not cheap. This is for my new boat. Large area total exposure to everything. I want to be comfortable bare footed vinyl is not? Im still shopping here.

As far as removing the carpet what ever works if your replacing the flooring below it cut it in what ever sizes you can pull up without it tearing apart if its stuck right your going to love this part. wear a mask theres bad things in an old boat carpet when your exposed to the demolition process. You can figure out the depth of the wood your pulling out and cut 90% through it with a skill saw if your careful and break it into more manageable pieces but make sure you are safe. It doesnt look like a huge area and your pieces may pull out easier than you think.

 

[mort5029]

Thanks for the info. I am leaning towards Lonseal or a similar vinyl partially based on your response and what others have said on other forums. Regarding the flooring my plan was to just remove the carpet then screw the new pieces of flooring I did with the templates over the winter, right on top. Do you see an issue with that?

 

[hvymtl939]

FWIW, I used Menard's sheet vinyl on my pontoon, and it's held up great so far, and it's way more exposed to the elements than your cabin would be.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Id see if the underlying floor will hold screws. Worst case scenario the panels you screw into them will pull free. At which point your not really any worse off than you are now. You may suffer from water logged wood weighs a boat down and can create mold but it probably already exists. I patched two or three areas for a couple years you can probably buy yourself a little time.

As far as the sheet flooring mentioned about were you able to find a texture that isnt super slick when its wet. I did this in a small boat years ago it was a fast cheap solution to a boat that did not have a floor at all but it was pretty slick when it was wet .

 

[hvymtl939]

Id see if the underlying floor will hold screws. Worst case scenario the panels you screw into them will pull free. At which point your not really any worse off than you are now. You may suffer from water logged wood weighs a boat down and can create mold but it probably already exists. I patched two or three areas for a couple years you can probably buy yourself a little time.

As far as the sheet flooring mentioned about were you able to find a texture that isnt super slick when its wet. I did this in a small boat years ago it was a fast cheap solution to a boat that did not have a floor at all but it was pretty slick when it was wet .

Yup, ours is textured like wood grain. Fish off it all the time, and never had an issue.