Vinyl or sidelining carpet?

[lustyd]

I'm about to replace the manky old carpet which was sidelining on Live Magic (I plan to write this up on the blog if anyone is interested).
I need to decide though whether I should go for foam backed vinyl or foam and sidelining "carpet". Both of these are the Hawke House variety (if I can convince them to sell me anything, doesn't seem to be their forte!).

I have reasons for both, the vinyl will be easier to wipe clean and keep dry but the carpet will probably be warmer. Both would have 6mm foam backing.

Does anyone have any experience, comments or suggestions on either covering?
Cheers
Dave

 

[Searush]

My view is avoid ANYTHING with a a foam backing - it has a limited life of 8-10 years. Unless you are planning to sel the boat.

I used rubber backed carpet off cuts that I got free from a carpet shop (customer had already paid for them but wanted the "scraps" taking away). Shop owner was glad to be shut as he could never use them for anything bigger than a cupboard!

If you MUST use foam for insulation, I might try polystyrene foam rolls as used under wallpaper, but be aware of the additional fire hazard.

 

[VicS]

I'm about to replace the manky old carpet which was sidelining on Live Magic (I plan to write this up on the blog if anyone is interested).
I need to decide though whether I should go for foam backed vinyl or foam and sidelining "carpet". Both of these are the Hawke House variety (if I can convince them to sell me anything, doesn't seem to be their forte!).

I have reasons for both, the vinyl will be easier to wipe clean and keep dry but the carpet will probably be warmer. Both would have 6mm foam backing.

Does anyone have any experience, comments or suggestions on either covering?
Cheers
Dave

I stayed with the foam backed vinyl because I prefer the idea of a wipe clean/dry surface. Degradation of the foam backing is a long term drawback.


When I considered it I thought the carpet lining that HH were offering was expensive... It's a bit dearer per metre and is only 100cm wide!

I was not considering foam backing for the carpet ... that will increase the cost even more ... is it necessary?

 

[lustyd]

I stayed with the foam backed vinyl because I prefer the idea of a wipe clean/dry surface. Degradation of the foam backing is a long term drawback.


When I considered it I thought the carpet lining that HH were offering was expensive... It's a bit dearer per metre and is only 100cm wide!

I was not considering foam backing for the carpet ... that will increase the cost even more ... is it necessary?

I'm happy with a 10 year life span too. Hadn't noticed the width difference, perhaps I should investigate.

I think the foam is necessary for comfort, the HH carpet (P80) is very thin indeed and they have a black foam (Self Adhesive One SideClosed Cell Foam (6mm Charcoal Grey)) which goes underneath I had samples from the boat show and when used together they offer a nice lining but I think I'm leaning more for the wipe clean vinyl.

 

[lustyd]

Thanks Vic you're quite right the vinyl is 137cm wide so much better value. Luckily my little boat isn't big enough for price to be a big factor in this but always good to know!

Does anyone have any tips for applying it?

 

[VicS]

Thanks Vic you're quite right the vinyl is 137cm wide so much better value. Luckily my little boat isn't big enough for price to be a big factor in this but always good to know!

Does anyone have any tips for applying it?

I'd done it before following the instructions in the building manual. Hawke House sent me a useful leaflet which helped a bit second time round.

useful to consider how to make neat edges. You can cut the foam off a strip round the edge so that just a strip of vinyl laps laps round corners (like wallpapering) then the over lying vinyl can be hemmed by stripping off the foam along the edge and folding the vinyl under helps hide cut edges. Easier to do than describe!

I used the brush on contact adhesive from Hawke House on the grp and the spray on stuff on the back of the foam.

Good ventilation and the correct mask both essential when working in the boat with solvent based adhesives

I did the roof lining second time round on ply panels. Stuck on with waterproof PVA wood glue ... Hawke House again. I fixed the panels up with screws and covered button caps at strategic positions with Velcro where needed in between ( Put Velcro on in double strips like ampersands so that the positioning is not critical)
That avoided a bit of solvent glue and the panels hid the top edges of the side lining

... ... there's a curtain track hidden in the join between main roof and focsl sections

Mistake, but does not show in the pictures, was fitting the lights on the roof panels parrallel with the cabin sides ... should have been parallel with the centre line and the line of buttons

 

[lustyd]

Thanks again, all very useful info

 

[lustyd]

Well I went with Ivory vinyl in the end with double sided self adhesive closed cell foam. The boat interior is totally transformed and looks almost new, well worth the investment. Now just a bit of painting and a new sail cover and the whole thing will be finished!

 

[planteater]

I've used van lining carpet from ebay. Inexpensive and easy to apply.

Very happy with the results.

 

[akyaka]

We have used the cheapest cord carpet from Carpetright for the sides and it has been excellent.This was after its recommendation from the lady assistant who had used it in her caravan. We found it particularly easy to fit as when offering it up roughly cut to shape it adopted the curves without falling down so we could cut and fit in situ