Fitted carpets in a boat

[CelebrityScandel]

We have always had carpet and wouldn't have anything else. I would not recommend it if one has a wet manky boat though

Unless one has a very big boat with wide expansive open sole areas then we have found that with fitted carpet having the sole under the carpet painted and then a sparse sprinkling of non skid particles in it removes any need for studs, etc to hold the carpet from moving.

Had it laid it in smallish sections so they are easy to lift to get at hatches in the sole and for cleaning.

Of course, if one has an existing varnished holly and rosewood sole one may not feel inclined to paint it before fitting the carpet .

 

[clyst]

Carpet tiles without doubt. Buy a few extra then any damage /dirty ones can be exchanged and washed etc and stored for future use . We use two complimenting colours and alternate them. looks good and easy to lay/lift .

 

[PeterGibbs]

Had carpets throughout my boat (except heads) for the last 18 years. Rubber-backed (gel back usually) bathroom type.

Mine only seem to last a max of 5 years & in the final year the backs go to powder & the carpets start to slide despite the studs. I thought at first it was the heat (in the tropics) that caused the backing to break down but they've done the same in this (sh*t) climate.

.

Regular synthetic carpet is fine for general use. Wool is good too but is less tolerant of wet conditions. All carpet is useless in frequently wetted areas such as the hatchway if open to the sky. Cover this area with a scatter rug that can be hung out to dry. Plastic backed carpet will shed white powder over time - avoid if possible, but not lethal. Hessian backing is more durable.

Make a template out of paper or use old carpet. Overcut and finish carefully when in position. Carpet edge buts straight against wall/fixture etc. Decide carefully where your joints will be - eg round table legs etc. Use tape only on joints. Access to bilges?

Lengths of anti slip backing (from a caravan shop) will secure the carpet from moving - no need for studs or other fixtures.

This has worked for me over 13 seasons - now into second carpets.

PWG

 

[Searush]

FWIW
Measure up & go to your local carpet shop. The sizes are usuall so small for boats (even big ones) that they will have offcuts of bathroom carpet (hard rubber backed & able to take a bit of water now & then) which you should get for under a tenner each.

Cut to fit with a sharp Stanley knife & then seal the edges with Copydex to prevent any fraying. If you want to be really flash get them edged with tape at an upholsterer as well so they look like bespoke fitted ones at 10x the price, but that could double or triple the cost!

They are easy to lift out after a hard day on the beach (or a load of muddy paw & foot prints) & shake over the side, then a good brush down outside & refit, looking like new. Cheap enough to renew every 5 years or so, but will probably last much longer. If they do get REALLY wet, hang 'em out to dry, at home in the garage or attic if necessary & they will not smell. They do not generally need any fastening down if they are fitted well as there are usually lots of little irregularities thay keep them in place. Do not put any mats over the top as they will "walk" with the knap & become a tripping hazzard.

When I bought SR she had a really long shag pile in her & I thought it would be really stupid. But it was sooo lovely & warm to put bare feet on in the morning I kept it. It lasted about 12 years or so & the more practical bathroom style I replaced it with is still going strong another 15 years on.

Do NOT get anything with a foam back under any circumstances, the foam crumbles to powder in a year or two. Plain hessian or a hard rubber coating is fine. If you want to be ultra luxurious, you could try underfelt, but I wouldn't recommend it TBH.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Just been looking at the HR website.

I notice that they tend to leave a few cm around the edge with no carpet.

What is the reason for this?

I can see that it would make them easier to fit perhaps, but you would loose the advantage fo the carpets being wedged in and would therefore have to rely on the studs and backing for non-slip.

Any other pro's and con's?

 

[johnalison]

This seems to have changed since my year 2000 boat. I imagine it is an economy measure. You need studs or some fixing anyway.

 

[pvb]

Just been looking at the HR website.

I notice that they tend to leave a few cm around the edge with no carpet.

I saw that too. My boat isn't like that, so it's obviously a change of approach for some reason. I can't imagine it's an "economy measure"!

 

[rob2]

I consider myself lucky in having a laid solid wood cabin sole. As the cabin has a dinette arrangement, the area to carpet is long and narrow - one of those ribbed runners fits a treat and being rubber backed it doesn't slip. I sailed once on a Co32 "Chaos" and the owner had a sheepskin which he threw down for that luxurious moment as his bare feet hit the floor.

Rob.

 

[Searush]

Gap around the edge? - Bloody fashionistas! How daft is that! Just the place for all the sand, dust & hair to gather.

If it fits properly no fastenings whatsoever are required, which makes them easy to pick up & shake over the side.

Whatever happened to commonsense?

 

[Stork_III]

Just been looking at the HR website.

I notice that they tend to leave a few cm around the edge with no carpet.

What is the reason for this?

I can see that it would make them easier to fit perhaps, but you would loose the advantage fo the carpets being wedged in and would therefore have to rely on the studs and backing for non-slip.

Any other pro's and con's?

Changed in about 2006 from full fit to gap round edge. Explained to me by HR man at SIBS so as to allow easier cleaning, sweep to edge for collection, and asthetics? I was not convinced, more likely for easier fitting as all HR dims are slightly different, with a slight material saving (5%?) Does also show HR still provide Teak/holly flooring under carpets unlike some manufacturers.

 

[LittleSister]

I bought a small boat many years ago (Hurley 22) with carpet fitted by a previous owner. Like others, I first thought 'That will have to go, it'll be impractical'. But it wasn't, and I'd readily have the same again.

Comfy, reasonably grippy to walk on when you're heeled/bouncing about. Absorbs some dirt and moisture, so you don't end up tramping grit or water about. Coped fine with getting water through the hatch or dripping off oilies (the floor was the 'wet locker'!). I swept it regularly with dustpan and brush, usually just insitu, or lifting out the floor panel if it had got really dirty, and once a year or so cleaned with some carpet shampoo.

It was just ordinary bog standard short pile synthetic domestic carpet on a rubbery backing, as far as I could see. It was just cut to fit each of the varnished plywood floor panels and glued with Bostik or something like that. Stayed put, but would be easy enough to rip away if you wanted to replace it.

I think I replaced it once, but it must have been an easy job because I can't remember much about it. I can second the trick Searush mentioned of sealing the edge with Copydex. Stops it unravelling, and dries pretty much invisible.

 

[alahol2]

I have used various carpets over the years but the current one seems ideal. It's about 10mm thick and looks a bit like the green scrubbing pads that you use for washing up. It has about the same 'density' too so any water that falls on it goes straight through but can equally well evaporate. The reverse side has got small rubber dots that prevent slip, it doesn't unravel on cut edges and it feels very nice on bare feet. Annual maintenance consists of hanging on a line and blasting all the dirt through with a power washer.
I got it from Kayospruce as an end of reel but they don't seem to stock it anymore and I can't find it on the interweb. Does anyone know what I'm talking about because I'd like to get some more?

 

[prv]

Kindred Spirit has a "fitted carpet" that's actually one of these:



(though in a light brown colour they no longer seem to do). By coincidence, the cabin sole is exactly the size and shape of the 60x180cm version.

The mat is ideal for a small boat where it does get wet occasionally, and although it is a doormat it's a soft furry one which is comfortable on bare feet. The rubber backing keeps it firmly in place, and if it does get grubby we lay it on the pontoon, squirt some washing-up liquid on it, wet it with the hose, and have at it with the deck scrubber. Bit more hosing to get the soap off, then it dries quickly and goes back on board.

When we got the boat she had thin ply decorative "sole boards" (the real sole is solid resin). The mat instead is way better.

Pete

 

[Hoolie]

at the lower end of the scale, we bought a cheapie offcut of fairly durable looking carpet and cut to size using the old one as a template.

secured in place with industrial strength 'dabs' of velcro so its easy to lift but doesn't slide around

our trapper had a carpet fitted when we bought it and as she's a dry boat - no mustiness or dampness it does make the inside a bit nicer and user friendly

+1
We used polypropylene carpet with poly felt backing. Only cost £42 for enough carpet to do the boat two and a half times!
Agree that fraying is a minor problem, so I'll use latex round the edges when I do it again.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I have spoken to several boat carpet supplier/fitters and they tell me that on many large boats they fit 100% wool berber type carpets. Anyone ever done this? The problem is that all the carpets we have seen and liked so far were wool! Not sure it is a good idea though, as the spaniel will probably eat it.

Anyone know what the material mix or composition of the HR ones is?

Thanks.

 

[pvb]

Anyone know what the material mix or composition of the HR ones is?

I'm pretty sure mine aren't wool. Some sort of artificial fibre.

 

[Stork_III]

I have spoken to several boat carpet supplier/fitters and they tell me that on many large boats they fit 100% wool berber type carpets. Anyone ever done this? The problem is that all the carpets we have seen and liked so far were wool! Not sure it is a good idea though, as the spaniel will probably eat it.

Anyone know what the material mix or composition of the HR ones is?

Thanks.

HR carpets are synthetic pile with waterproof sponge backing. Designed to take on to the pontoon and scrub down with deck brush & hose, then drip dry.

 

[Anwen]

I carpeted Deep Joy a few years ago, for similar reasons as the OP - our springer spaniel. I used felt backed synthetic wool blend and this has worked very well. I deliberately avoided rubber backed carpet, as I had read that this encouraged damp to sit between the carpet and the cabin sole, so opted for something which is breathable. I made cardboard templates for the carpet sections, and split the saloon in two to allow easy access to the log for cleaning etc. It was then easy to cut the carpet using the templates off the boat. I found a local company who bound and fringed carpets, and they machine bound the edges with wool which matched the carpet colour exactly. I then fixed the carpets in place with velcro type carpet tape,which has straight "tines" rather than the hooks. This sticks into the felt backing and hold the carpet in place really well, and is removable if a future owner wants to do away with the carpets.

I take the carpets up from time to time to clean the bilges, and they stay a lot cleaner with the carpet down. No hair, grit or other detritus accumulates. However, with the dog, we needed a handheld vacuum cleaner, and bought an Electrolux job with a rotary brush which gets the dog hair up.

 

[kyleview]

I carpeted Deep Joy a few years ago, for similar reasons as the OP - our springer spaniel. I used felt backed synthetic wool blend and this has worked very well. I deliberately avoided rubber backed carpet, as I had read that this encouraged damp to sit between the carpet and the cabin sole, so opted for something which is breathable. I made cardboard templates for the carpet sections, and split the saloon in two to allow easy access to the log for cleaning etc. It was then easy to cut the carpet using the templates off the boat. I found a local company who bound and fringed carpets, and they machine bound the edges with wool which matched the carpet colour exactly. I then fixed the carpets in place with velcro type carpet tape,which has straight "tines" rather than the hooks. This sticks into the felt backing and hold the carpet in place really well, and is removable if a future owner wants to do away with the carpets.

I take the carpets up from time to time to clean the bilges, and they stay a lot cleaner with the carpet down. No hair, grit or other detritus accumulates. However, with the dog, we needed a handheld vacuum cleaner, and bought an Electrolux job with a rotary brush which gets the dog hair up.

We use a handheld Dyson every so often to get the hairs up - works very well. Another bonus of the carpet is that the hairs stay on the carpet and don't get on the seating, shelves, etc.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Have carpet on my HR now 13 years old and still good for another 13 years I guess. They do have securing studs. Fitted same foam backed and stitched to my last boat initially without the push studs but fitted the push studs later when the carpet had stretched a bit. Make sure they are 100% synthetic so you can hose them off at the end of the season if they do get salty. Also use good quality 316 studs. We purchased the carpet and got it hemmed/stitched in our local carpet shop in Plymouth.

Any idea where we can get 316 studs? I have drawn a blank with carpet shops.