boat carpet

For anyone who has re-carpered a boat (or the dealer guys out there), is 16 oz marine carpet heavy duty enough, or would I be tossing out money? Boat doesn’t get heavy usage, but original carpet is 17 years old and getting pretty ratty in places. Or would I be better served perhaps by getting 20 oz on the floor and 16 oz on the rest? Somewhat to save money but im also assuming 16 oz will form to all the bends and turns on the walls and console better.

Not ruling out going vinyl on the floor either but not sure yet. Trying to come up with a plan that is in cost range acceptable and then convince the Mrs. that I can keep the boat at the house this winter so I can work on recarpeting as my Christmas gift (normally goes to a friend’s shed and is not overly accessible which gives her a lot more room on her side of garage in winter).

Boat is a 2001 lund pro sport for reference of the scope of the project.

A couple years ago I rehabbed my ’96 Lund (since sold). I installed Cabela’s Premium Marine Carpet at 14 oz per yard. For me, I was concerned that the pile would not be thick enough to hide the carpet backing when going around the exposed edges of decking, such as on hatch covers. 14 oz was enough. Boat looked great and still does. My buddy owns it now.

If I were to do it again, I would seriously consider vinyl. I’m not sure why I didn’t at the time. When I ordered my last 2 fish houses, I had them built with rubber flooring. Why wouldn’t I do something similar in a boat that receives similar abuse?

I do carpet for a living and have done many boats. I would go 20oz its a bigger job then most think. the 16oz is standard on most boats the 20oz will be a nice up grade as long as hatches are not real tight even then edges can be trimmed for fit. Tooth picks from back side to mark screw and rivet holes are your friend.

Seal the marine ply with epoxy, then Seadek foam only the high traffic areas. What I plan on doing this winter. Catfish and northern slime starts to stink after awhile…..not to mention the spilled beer and bloodys.

I just finished restoring and updating an 1981 Lund Pike. I was a whole lot more work than I thought. I used 20oz carpet. It took a little over a year and a half.

here is a link to the complete project

https://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=43801

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uffda, hopefully won’t take me a year and a half. I don’t think I should have much/any wood to replace, it all seems pretty good, at least with old carpet on it still. From what I can tell it appears they carpeted the individual pieces for the most part before installation so I’m thinking I dissassemble it and do the same, the. re-assemble. Also breaks it down into small enough portions I can take them to the basement to allow me to do it regardless of temperature outside (garage not heated).
So far biggest hurdle is determining exactly what I need and if I can get needed material of good enough quality to fit in the budget i have to do this.

Any one have experience with Nautolex vinyl? I like the idea of vinyl, in the floor if. nothing else, my wife’s first concern was how slippery it would be?

If you’re going carpet, go with the best you can afford. Redide my boat this spring with cheapo menards. It looks good but after one summer I can tell it will only last a few years based on wear and stink.

If you fish big water reconsider carpet in my opinion. My trip to Mille lacs this year would’ve been considerably more comfortable if the water from the waves I took over my bow ran to the back and hit the bilge instead of soaking into every square inch of carpet on the boat.

I’ll go the opposite way. Go carpet. If I’m not mistaken you have a little boy? Little safer in my mind having him on carpet. You can do vinyl in 10 years.

nhamm wrote:

Catfish and northern slime starts to stink after awhile…..not to mention the spilled beer and bloodys.

Ah…but is that not the symbol of a true and successful fishing boat?

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nhamm wrote:</div>
Catfish and northern slime starts to stink after awhile…..not to mention the spilled beer and bloodys.

Ah…but is that not the symbol of a true and successful fishing boat?

While true Andy, opening the garage door the next day to swarms of flies gets real old real fast.

Vinyl gets pretty darned hot in the sun I believe, if the little guy likes to go barefoot like my kids might be worth a thought.

Carpet just stains too easily. Vinyl for easy cleaning and carpet runner or foam walk pads over the top for days that folks are barefoot.

SuperDave1959 wrote:

Carpet just stains too easily. Vinyl for easy cleaning and carpet runner or foam walk pads over the top for days that folks are barefoot.

Those foam puzzle pieces was something I was thinking about too, even for now if I decide against recarpeting for now. My biggest concern though is how to keep them in place so they don’t blow away when cruising across the lake (moreso on the front deck).

I do fish barefoot quite often, didn’t think about the heat factor. Slippery-ness was my wife’s concern on vinyl, for her and our boy.

I did some more snooping around in the boat last night and discovered the main ‘cabin’ floor/walls up to the the side locker covers is one big piece that would need to be glued in place (most the rest of the panels were carpeted prior to installing into boat). That throws a big monkey into the plan of doing in the winter as I was thinking I could take it apart panel by panel and re-carpet/cure in the warmth of the basement.