Amazing boat carpet

[Bobc]

Thought some of you out there might like to know about this.

A customer of ours who has a flooring shop was showing me some carpet the other day which is made from recycled plastic bottles.

It's waterproof, stainproof, you can scrub it, wash it, and everything. It's guaranteed for something like 30 years, and it's got a grippy sort of silicone-like gel backing so you don't need to glue it down.

It's not cheap (I think he said about £40/sq.m ), but it's bloody brilliant stuff, and I'm going to get him to do my boat out with it.

It's American stuff, called Mohawk Everstrand. Video and brochure here http://oxflooring.co.uk/We_love_our_planet.htm

 

[KristiferColumbus]

I'm looking for some new carpet for my old wreck but 40 quid a square meter! Come on you'd have to be pretty green to fall for that :ambivalence:

 

[prv]

Well, at least your average boat has a very small "floor area" compared to any room ashore. Kindred Spirit (ok, a smallish boat) probably had under a square metre, and I used a large doormat as a carpet.

Have to say though, I can't really see any reason to have carpets on most boats. I had the mat on KS because the cabin sole was otherwise bare gelcoat and always cold because it was the top of the cast-in ballast, but with more conventional wooden boards and either real wood or laminate finish, it looks and feels fine as it is.

What does this plastic-bottle carpet stuff feel like? from the description it sounds something like astro-turf, but I assume it's not.

Pete

 

[sarabande]

I had not realised that so many products were being made from recycling bottles, etc.

Here's a UK company doing a large range of items.



http://ecospun.org.uk/

 

[NormanS]

£40 / sq metre?

I use two cheap carpet runners which have a non- slip backing, 1000 x 660. Cost next to nothing from a German store. So easy to roll up and shake over the side, and easily replaceable.

 

[Bobc]

What does this plastic-bottle carpet stuff feel like? from the description it sounds something like astro-turf, but I assume it's not.

Pete

He had 2 types. There was a deep pile one (like bedroom carpet) which felt like a really nice quality wool carpet, and a shorter pile (more of a living room carpet), which felt again like a good quality wool twist pile. You would never guess what it was made from by the look or feel.

And yes, £40 is a lot, but as has been said you don't need a lot for a boat, and if it's going to last forever without getting mouldy and smelly, it's probably not bad value in the long-run.

I took a photo of it.

View attachment 47514

 

[rob2]

It's not too surprising that it should be tough and comfortable, after all fleece jackets are made from recycled bottles too. It's a question of getting the staple size right to offer the wear to comfort balance required.

I too use an off the shelf runner in the saloon and that may well be of similar composition, though without the pile, and I expect it to outlast me.

Rob.

 

[Cloven]

For washable hardwearing rugs, can't do better than Turtle Mats:

Mats

http://www.turtlemat.co.uk/classic-door-mats/m

We have them on the floor of our caravan just to take away from the coldness of the vinyl flooring.

On the boat, we have one of these at the base of the companionway steps

http://www.turtlemat.co.uk/boat-mats/

 

[yerffoeg]

Carpet

Boat saloon carpets, whatever they are made of, always get stained and destroyed after a few years. What I do is get offcuts of the stuff used to carpet kitchens. When it wears out I simply cut another piece using the old one as a pattern. Copydex the edges to stop fraying.

 

[nigelmercier]

For washable hardwearing rugs, can't do better than Turtle Mats ...

+1

 

[KristiferColumbus]

Boat saloon carpets, whatever they are made of, always get stained and destroyed after a few years.

I don't think that's true.I don't think the current ones in my boat are the original (there is another set under them) but I doubt they have been replaced anytime soon.
They seem to be some sort of short pile industrial carpet & I easily removed one cleaned it then reglued it & it came up good as new.
Two sets in 35 years ai'nt bad is it!

 

[Searush]

Boat saloon carpets, whatever they are made of, always get stained and destroyed after a few years. What I do is get offcuts of the stuff used to carpet kitchens. When it wears out I simply cut another piece using the old one as a pattern. Copydex the edges to stop fraying.

I thought that - & SR had a shag pile bedroom carpet in the saloon that I thought wouldn't last the season. But it did, it lasted over 10 years & was lovely & warm to walk on with bare feet. It did need regular shaking over the side, but that's not hard as it is small.

When it finally wouldn't come clean I replaced it with a roll end of bathroom carpet. While it isn't as warm & comfy, it is fine & has lasted another 15 years so far & I am now looking out for a replacement scrap.

 

[Billjratt]

Our boat is fully carpeted with offcuts from an inn, so good quality (previous owner). I thought we'd have to replace after an almost-sinking/ total inundation a few seasons ago, but they survived a pressure hosing and dry-out, and are as good as ever. As usual, quality lasts, cheapo is disposable.

 

[William_H]

He had 2 types. There was a deep pile one (like bedroom carpet) which felt like a really nice quality wool carpet, and a shorter pile (more of a living room carpet), which felt again like a good quality wool twist pile. You would never guess what it was made from by the look or feel.

And yes, £40 is a lot, but as has been said you don't need a lot for a boat, and if it's going to last forever without getting mouldy and smelly, it's probably not bad value in the long-run.

I took a photo of it.

View attachment 47514

Sorry I can't let that go. Obviously any synthetic carpet is not going to go moldy or smelly in itself. It is dirt and food type stuff dropped and walked in that will cause smell and mold I can't see this carpet being any better than any other synthetic. I use indoor/outdoor carpet which seems like the same sort of stuff at about 15 squid per meter 2 metres wide is much cheaper. It is easy to wash and dry. olewill

 

[SHUG]

It may have already been mentioned but FLOWTEX carpet ( or carpet tiles) has been on the go as a waterproof carpet for a long time. Prices range from £12.99 on e-bay. Excellent stuff