Home stores outdoor carpet

[Mark42]

I was vacuuming out the debris from doing the gas tank this past weekend and I noticed that the indoor/outdoor carpet was not looking as nice as expected after one seasons use. It matted down more than I thought it should. This carpet was from Home Depot. I can't see it lasting more than a few years before having to remove it. Luckily for me, it's not hard to replace, just remove the seats and the whole floor is accessible. It was not expensive, and it's not a very dense weave, but darn, I thought that it would be fine for light duty use in this little boat. <br /><br />Anyone else think their home store carpet isn't holding up as well as expected? <br /><br />Next time I'll buy a good marine grade carpet. Any recomendations on brand or grades?

 

[karrick]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

I bought some "bass-boat" carpet from Lowes and it seems to be mashed flat after about a season and a half. I thought that since it had the marine backing and claimed to be replacement for bass boats that it was marine carpet. I feel your pain.<br /><br />Good Luck<br />K

 

[bnk999]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

I bought a 6 x 8 roll of indoor/outdoor carpet from walmart for 15$ I didn't even have to cut it It works fine and looks good, but I don't expect it to last more than 2 years - next time will get better quality

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Mark, what were you using to vacuum the carpet with? I had installed mine (the carcol grey fish and ski from home depot), but still had a bunch of work to do on the boat and even after that it looked pretty matted. Vacuumed with just the nozzle and still didn't look to good so I used a powerhead on it and it massaged everything back and fluffy again. Just a thought.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

I was using a common household canister vac, Mity Mite I think. <br /><br />I thought of buying some vinyl floor runner in clear, but that might make it look like my dear departed Grandma built the boat!

 

[gewf631]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Heading into my 3rd season. A little matted, but not really 'worn', so hopefully another year or two.<br /><br />I've still got some pretty big scraps, so I might even just put a piece or two down in the really bad areas (maybe with a strip or 2 of Velcro to hold them).<br /><br />It's already been pointed out, but for what it costs, it's probably cheaper to just replace it every few years.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Take this for what it's worth. I have come to hate carpet and fabrics on a boat. They are hard to keep dry, clean, smelling good and looking good. I ripped out everything I could, finished the surfaces and painted or used finished wood to replace vinyl padded trim. Now it is easy to keep clean and looking good. Worst case, I take a hose and wash it right out. It made a big difference in maintenance last season. <br /><br />I'm now toying with the idea of ripping out the headliner of my cudy even though I broke my back a few seasons ago putting it in. I wish I just painted it...

 

[Pun]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Yeah, I bought a bunch of home depot carpeting as well. I put some of it in the ski locker before putting the floor and, and while working on it, decided that it's junk and wont go in my boat. For the average size boat, you're probably talking about a price difference of 50 or 60 dollars. I brought my boat to the upholsterer today and looked at his marine carpet samples. 120 bucks is gonna do my boat from gunwale to gunwale. And, by looking at the samples, it's obvious that his carpet is very much superior to the stuff I bought. So yeah, I'll put the stuff I bought in my shop office and use the better stuff for my boat.

 

[sincraft]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

The special order stuff at lowes is overpriced and inferior...they make about 45% margin on that stuff.<br /><br />The stuff on the rolls that has a rubber backing to it is ok for 2 years use and they only make about 15% margin on that stuff. There is also more stuff that has a rubber backing to it - but you can feel teh different between the two.<br /><br />The stuff that is cheap and flimsy and MOST people go with because it says 'for marine use and swimming pool decks..' is JUNK. Take the stuff that is more expensive and seems a bit thicker..even then it's only worth 2 years and won't look that great afterwards.<br /><br />I can't imagine people picking up much in the way of a long term nice carpet that can be scrubbed often and doesnt show wear at a home store - even the special order stuff is EH.<br /><br />The local marinas have nice stuff that is about the same price x2 but will last 4 times as long and look 10 x better..worth the dough in my opinion <br /><br />Unfortunately my knowledge of boats and boating is rather limited but I did much research on carpeting for a friend and the stuff we got worked nice for a long time...<br /><br />S

 

[Realgun]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Well maybe it will look good for a few years. by then I will probably replace it. But first I have to install what I got.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

On my last boat I ponied up and bought the good stuff. Got several seasons out of it and it looked as good the day I sold as when I installed it. Now I go with non-skid coatings. Works like a charm, still have some in a can. If I ever need a touchup, I can go at it with a brush. Or I can just redo the whole thing again...

 

[KaGee]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Next time I'll buy a good marine grade carpet. Any recomendations on brand or grades?<br />

Hi Mark...<br /><br />I don't see any differnce between the outdoor carpet at my Lowe's store, and the "marine" carpet sold at the local West Marine store. <br />Personally, when it comes to carpet anyway... the "marine" label only adds IMHO 100% markup.<br /><br />I bought... from stock... a real nice out door grade from Lowe's for under $3.00/lft. The manufacturer's info rated it for all outdoor applications... including marine. They had several styles to choose from, not just the grass or turf types often found on most boats. <br />BEFORE<br />

<br /><br />AFTER<br />

<br /><br />Went down super easy, only using 3M upolstery spray adhesive. The original gunnel was a teak vernier plywood, with two access doors. It was rotted. I used a premium exterior grade plywood for the backing with 3 coats of West System, painted with polyurathene (sp).

 

[Mark42]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Keneth,<br /><br />You sure did a nice job there. I like the access ports. Are they snap on vinyl covers? The carpet look like what I used too. I forget if it was Lowes or Depot, but it was cheap. That is some detail work you did on the motor. Does it run as good as it looks?

 

[Realgun]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

KaGee how do you get the carpet bent around the back and looking that good?

 

[pfistey1]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Mark42, I saw you yesterday on the L.I.E heading westbound around exit 53 around the 10:30-11:00am timeframe. Was that you. Boat looks sharp if it was you. Rich

 

[Mark42]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

pfistey1,<br /><br />I was there about that time. Towing with the Town Car. I often wonder if someone from these boards will recognize my boat.<br /><br />I had a blast on the water. Weather was so good I didn't want to come home, but me and my daughter were missing the wife and other kids. I'm going to try to get to Wallenpaupack in PA Thursday or Friday just to check it out.<br /><br />Were you coming or going on the island?

 

[pfistey1]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Hey Mark, I live on the Island. I alway's keep my eye's open when boats are going by. Just drawn to boats. I was shocked when I recognized yours. Glad you had fun out on the Long Island waterways. Maybe we'll see you out there sometime. Rich

 

[KaGee]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

Thanks for the compliments Mark. The motor runs fine when the manifold doesn't leak! (Waiting on them now... tried to order from Iboats, but they did not have). Yes , those are are just snap access covers I made myself. Had enough material left over to make a cover for my compass too!<br /><br />FYI Fella's: Minnesotta Fabrics stocks "Marine" grade vinyl in several selections.<br /><br />REALGUN: How? Patience! LOL <br />The 3M spray on contact glue is killer. The carpet had some stretch to it. Rolled it out left to right, flipped it over and folded the carpet over the edges, occasionally tacking with a staple. You have to spray both surfaces, so it can get messy... used alot of newspaper!

 

[cart7]

Re: Home stores outdoor carpet

I bought some of that OD carpet from Home Depot a few years ago. After year 1 the stuff was matted flat. By year 2 it was fraying and the backing was showing through. Complete junk and it also was like a fish hook magnet. If a hook just laid on the stuff it was tangled.<br /><br />Go to Cabela's, they've got an excellant variety of carpet grades from low cost to that real plush thick stuff.