Best flooring options?

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HoosierHacker89

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Feb 5, 2024
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I have a 1987 smoker craft magnum 165. It’s a nice boat and I only paid $500 for it. I’ve fished it all summer and It is a good boat for my needs. I have been looking at Lund fury 1600 and boats similar but I can’t justify 20k when my boat now works just fine.

My boat is in need of new flooring in the back. I’ll probably replace entire deck. I am wondering what options yall like the best? I have used Home Depot carpet: it was awful for Marine applications. I now know there is marine carpet. I have used Eva in the past as well and really like it. I just learned about the vinyl flooring being offered in most modern boats being a viable option. What would yall use as the cover for flooring in a fishing boat? I’m not cost sensitive since I can justify putting good money into a used boat and still being way ahead of a new one.
 
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MikeSchinlaub

Chief Petty Officer
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I would go with the vinyl.

Pros.
1. It doesn't absorb water like carpet or foam.
2. It's easier to clean.
3. it won't stain as bad.

Cons.
1. It shows imperfections in the floor worse than carpet or foam.
2. It's much harder to hide a bad cut when installing.
3. If water does get under it, it can't evaporate through the vinyl.
 
redneck joe

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
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Messages
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If you want a cover, nautelex aka vinyl. I just painted mine with texture added. Only change i would have made is gone medium grey to hide dirt.
 
dingbat

dingbat

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I would take a look at Eva foam flooring. SeaDek is nice, but expensive. Lots of competitive products now on the market
 
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HoosierHacker89

Seaman
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Feb 5, 2024
Messages
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My primary concern isn’t noise. Really just want to fish. I put some 3/4 inch plywood over the top of the back of the boat so I could just fish this year and not worry about redoing flooring in summer. It’s worked out so well I’ve really considered not redoing floors. That being said I want interior of boat to work well and look nice. It doesn’t leak a drop, fits well in my garage, I love tillers and I have a nice outboard for it, the seats are all removable. It really checks all my boxes. The new trailer I got for it is a 2019:
 
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MikeSchinlaub

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HoosierHacker89 said:
It’s worked out so well I’ve really considered not redoing floors.
Click to expand...

I would suggest doing it. I don't know if smoker craft did this, but lunds screw a metal plate on the under side of the floor where the pedestal seat bases go. This helps keep the seats from ripping through a rotten floor when the boat is in use, but that won't work forever.

So even if you are fine with just putting a sheet on top, it's still a safety issue.
 
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Jeff J

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 23, 2021
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My first couple of fishing boats had carpet. The one I own now has vinyl. I don’t think I would buy another fishing boat that has carpet.

Some of the boats at work (rental type abuse) have carpet. They look like crap compared to the vinyl floors that are the same age and/or number of hours.

I don’t know what kind of fishing you do. Hooks and carpet never worked well for me. Treble hooks in particular always seemed to be snagged in the carpet.
 
dingbat

dingbat

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cyclops222 said:
Is Eva Foam open or closed cell foam ?
Click to expand...
SeaDek is made from UV-resistant closed-cell PE/EVA foam that will not absorb water, and provides exceptional traction when wet or dry. SeaDek’s shock absorbing qualities deliver maximum comfort on the water, and fishermen appreciate its sound-dampening properties.

www.seadek.com

Shop SeaDek | Boat Flooring, Cooler Pads, & More

Discover SeaDek’s premium boat flooring, custom boat kits, cooler pads, and marine accessories. Shop online for durable products tailored for boats and RVs.
www.seadek.com www.seadek.com
 
JimS123

JimS123

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Jul 27, 2007
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My last 3 boats had Marideck. That was OEM for Starcraft and others. It wears like iron and cleans up easy peasy. On one boat I bought a roll of kit and did it myself.

The competition is Nautolex.
 
redneck joe

redneck joe

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JimS123 said:
My last 3 boats had Marideck. That was OEM for Starcraft and others. It wears like iron and cleans up easy peasy. On one boat I bought a roll of kit and did it myself.

The competition is Nautolex.
Click to expand...
If that was what was in my 42 year old starcraft it was in near perfect condition last year when I pulled mine up.
 
JimS123

JimS123

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redneck joe said:
If that was what was in my 42 year old starcraft it was in near perfect condition last year when I pulled mine up.
Click to expand...
A few years ago I saw my old Silverline at the side of the road with a for sale sign. It was a 1971. I had to look at it, but boy did I have to shed a tear. When I sold it she had been garage kept since new.

It was obvious the last owner had kept it outside summer and winter. The glass was dull, the upholstery was shot and the trailer was all rust. It was also obvious that the deck was rotten.

However, the Marideck looked so good that you could have removed it and used it again.
 
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