Carpet Tiles

[Anwen]

Hi All,

Was thinking about fitting carpet to the boat this winter as I think it would make it more cosy. A friend at work had carpet fitted to his Moody 31 and it certainly seems to be OK.

I had a good look at the posh boats at Southampton, and their carpets are attached with press studs to the floor boards, presumably, they can be quickly lifted for access to the bilges and the log paddlewheel etc. So my thinking has been along the lines of making cardboard templates to the required shapes on the boat and then getting carpet cut and bound at the edges at a local supplier and then fitting on the boat with press studs etc.

However, during a wander around B&Q yesterday, I came across the shelves of carpet tiles which on reflection could be the way to go. They will lie flat, are rubber backed, and should be very easy to cut to shape and fit on the boat by me.

Has anyone tried carpet tiles on their boat? How did it go?

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[tugboat]

I inherited carpet tiles with a boat some years ago and found them quite hard under bare feet and difficult to clean after the inevitable accidents. Also if you need to remove one in the middle to access something it can be difficult to get a grip, and tools tend to damage the edges. I got some of those mats like you see inside shop doorways - rubber backed with a pile on top. They come in different sizes and colours. They are easy to trim to fit round table legs, galley furniture etc and are comfortable to walk on. They can even be carefully pressure washed or shampooed and are very hardwearing.

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[stephenmartin]

just fitted some posh ex office water damaged tiles throughout my boat.....the were a doddle to fit dried out without any smell and look the biz after a good shake and vac

They are much easier to walk on than the wooden floor......haven't tried to remove any to access the underneath yet.....

<hr width=100% size=1>Don't make the same mistake twice...Make a different one

 

[nordic_ranger]

Why not consider 'Flowtex' ( I think thats the name ) kitchen carpet. It's very easy to clean and does not absorb water is mostly stain resistant and is comfortable under foot.

Jim.

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[ShipsWoofy]

have you seen the price of flotex

I was going down that road in the begining, ouch!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>

 

[tcm]

Re: Carpet/Tiles

Hi,

we're motorboaty, hence very carpety! But i got the boat made with teak holly cabin sole so it's just like a sailing boat at the start.

I started with dity cheap carpet, from a roll in a fr supermarket, just cutto shape and then a carpet co did the edging.

Fact is carpet doesn't last very long really, and in the confines of a boat gets quite (very) heavy wear with lots of moisture, and lots of feet twisting on it.

I've seen the (HR?) carpets with their pres studs, but ouch if you ever land onnem. Our carpet has never slipped, i don't think press stud are needed.

Not considered carpet tiles, and i wd be wary: the carpet can't slip cos it is one big carpet tile, whereas individual carpet tiles can slip if not stuck a bit. I want regular access underneath - if carpet tiles are done properly, you shdn't be abel to to see joins - but lifting and repaklcing will mean you can see joins, and slip will be a posibility.

I'd get cheap (or even not cheap) carpet, and replace fairly regularly. Nothing beats the new carpet smell - "new boat" smell is actually new carpet smell!

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[sjohn_gibson]

I have had carpet tiles down for 4 years - excellent. There are a few boards that I lift frequently (access to sea cocks, electric bilge pump and shower sump). The boards have a lifting hole and the tile over these holes as a corresponding hole - no problem lifting them.
However, some tiles lift and slide under foot when the boat is well heeled over. I have some low tack carpet tile adhesive that should overcome this problem but have not got around to using it.

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[Guest]

Yep ..... and can be replaced in sections / etc.

Forget press studs - unless you have stainless or ally - they are prone to gunging up and being an absolute pain.
Use Industrial strength Velcro from Maplins etc. One piece central on each tile is enough.


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/

 

[Althorne]

I take it you do the dance when you "shake and vac" and have a good sing song.

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[dickh]

Be careful of some of the rubber backed carpet tiles - they will stick like anything if they get wet! Make sure the backing is waterproof........

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Rohorn]

Hi...I've got carpet tiles all over the inside of my cat, fitted from new 14 years ago. floors, bulkheads, headtrim, and mostly they've held up and looked good. After a severe flooding in one hull, which ruined one motor, the cabling, various pumps and a lot more, I Karchered the carpeting with anti-oil and anti-salt detergent, then immediately sucked them dry with a garage vac. The carpet tiles didn't budge, and now look brilliant on that side, so I'll have to do the other side to make it the same!
On the floor in the galley and other much used areas they've worn a bit and I've taken to laying out some cheap highly coloured cotton mats which can be shaken over the stern after picnics etc, or taken home and put through the washer if heavily soiled. I bought 16 of these mats as a job lot and keep four or so in reserve when some are at home.
That takes the "heat" off the tiles so they'll last longer yet.
Cheers.......R


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[Anwen]

Thanks everyone for their input. I am planning on measuring up this week, with a view to purchasing the necessary number of tiles and fitting in a couple of weeks time.

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[BrendanChandler]

We have fitted carpet tiles in our boat.
Advantages -
easier to cut and fit as you only handle one tile at a time,
looks like carpet

Disadvantages -
not so cosy underfoot
need to treat the underside with anti-mildew stuff.

Brendan

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http://hometown.aol.co.uk/brendanchandler/index.html

 

[snowleopard]

industrial type carpet tiles usually have waterproof backing which will tend to trap moisture underneath.

after a lot of trial and error i discovered a relatively new type of carpet which is 100% polypropylene and is backed with a white felt-like material. it breathes and doesn't rot. it is also very cheap from the discount warehouses. the present lot has been in use for 4 years including 18 months liveaboard and is still in good nick. i edged it by running a hot knife round the cut edges.

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