Best flooring options?

[HoosierHacker89]

That vinyl Marideck stuff looks super nice. It will either be that or Eva foam.

 

[JimS123]

That vinyl Marideck stuff looks super nice. It will either be that or Eva foam.

My family boat has EVA foam and we love it. It's cool and does good things to the feet. But keeping it clean from foot mud and fish blood is a chore. It CAN be done but not fun. Also it cost a pretty penny.

My fishing boat has Marideck. Easy to clean in ALL circumstances, but when I'm fishing I'm not usually in bare feet so it doesn't matter.

The choice depends on the end use.

 

[HoosierHacker89]

I fish barefoot all season. A factor well worth considering.

 

[cyclops222]

WE have had fisty medium Bluefish get a front treble hook into a sneaker. Pure luck he was not barefoot.

 

[Lou C]

If you’re replacing the deck why not have it glassed & then gel coated in non skid gel coat?
Pretty durable and nothing to hold moisture against the wood…

 

[Jeff J]

The EVA foam looks like the flooring that came on the new Sea Rays at work. It must be tasty because the birds sure like it. Same birds have started digging at upholstery seams to get at the foam underneath.

 

[Pmt133]

I like the EVA. I will admit that most of the quotes I got they told me to expect 10 years at best out of it. The good stuff installed isn't cheap. The nautolex/marideck products last about forever. They do get warm if you like being barefoot is about the only drawback I can think of.

 

[HoosierHacker89]

If you’re replacing the deck why not have it glassed & then gel coated in non skid gel coat?
Pretty durable and nothing to hold moisture against the wood…

I didn’t even know this was a thing. I’ll check it out!

 

[HoosierHacker89]

This is realistically a 2-3 year repair need for me. I’ll update to a newer boat after that.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

This is realistically a 2-3 year repair need for me. I’ll update to a newer boat after that.

Why? Something wrong with yours?

If you’re replacing the deck why not have it glassed & then gel coated in non skid gel coat?
Pretty durable and nothing to hold moisture against the wood…

That's not very practical for an aluminum boat. You would have lots of exposed screw heads, and still need to cover the gaps and hull sides at the edges.

 

[HoosierHacker89]

Why? Something wrong with yours?



That's not very practical for an aluminum boat. You would have lots of exposed screw heads, and still need to cover the gaps and hull sides at

Nothing wrong with it at all. I’m just sure I’ll buy a newer hull in the next few years. It’s want more than a need for a new boat

 

[Lou C]

Why? Something wrong with yours?



That's not very practical for an aluminum boat. You would have lots of exposed screw heads, and still need to cover the gaps and hull sides at the edges.

I see your point I was thinking more in the realm of ‘glass boats…..

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I see your point I was thinking more in the realm of ‘glass boats…

His is a Smokercraft, so aluminum. The textured gel floors you described are also usually on ones where the cap comes down the sides and becomes the floor.

Those suck when the floor rots.

 

[Lou C]

I’d imagine that would be a huge amount of work to restore. Mine was simpler like a conventional bow rider and I had the deck glassed & coated in non skid gel coat back in 2007 & it’s still in good shape now….

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I’d imagine that would be a huge amount of work to restore. Mine was simpler like a conventional bow rider and I had the deck glassed & coated in non skid gel coat back in 2007 & it’s still in good shape now….

Actually, a floor job on an aluminum is way easier than fiberglass. The hardest part is dealing with all of the rusted screws. I usually end up having to pull the wood through a few of them.

 

[Lou C]

If an alu boat was practical here I’d like to have one! But mooring in salt water has to be hard on them like it is on outdrives…