Interior floor options?

[iboaterlurker5]

I have a older jet boat, 2 captains chair + 1 rear bench. Right now just smoothed fiberglass covering composite floor.

Trying to decide what material and attachment method to use for flooring of boat?

1. Should I put down some type of deck paint first over the fiberglass regardless of floor covering material? If so, any recommendations on deck paint?

2. Mostly lake boat, I want to minimize having to constantly remove whatever floor covering after each day on the lake but I do want it to be removable occasionally for winter-lay up or really dirty days. Ideally I would just wash out the floor interior after each lake day with a hose and not have to remove the floor material except occasionally.

3. I have been leaning towards snap in marine carpet (a little concerned about water leaking around the snaps, maybe I could use velcro or magnets with 3m tape/suction without having to permanently install snaps into the floor?) Other options I have been looking at are seadek (EVA foam) or duradek (vinyl) floor coverings?

 

[Chris1956]

Carpet is not waterproof. Water will get under it or go thru it, depending on which kind you get. If you plan to have snap in carpet, and leave it in most of the time, get a porous backing so it will dry out between uses.

Snap in carpet is pretty convenient. Marine vinyl is waterproof and permanent mount.

Deck paint over fiberglass under carpet of vinyl will peel. No way around it, due to the moisture. It is also unnecessary.

So, if you are getting snap in carpet, choose one with a porous backing. if carpet or vinyl is permanent, use indoor/outdoor carpet cement and a notched trowel to install it. The carpet backing makes no difference.

You can use any kind of indoor/outdoor carpet, and there are many choices of color and texture. Also, you can get it pretty cheap if you look around. In my speedboat I install the carpet permanently, and rip it out to replace it when it fades or stains. So it usually lasts 5-8 years or so.

You could paint the bare fiberglass with good marine paint with a non stick (sand) additive. I have never used seadeck or duradeck.

 

[GSX455]

What about gel coat? Add some wax to get it shiny? Or is deck paint better?

 

[Chris1956]

Gel coat will be fine under the carpet or exposed as the finished deck. it is hard to get a good finish with gel coat unless you spray it.

An Imron or Awlgrip 2 part polyurethane paint may not peel under carpet, but I am not sure how it would be as a deck paint. It would probably be good, but it is costly and should be professionally applied.

Of course, if you use permanent carpet, the raw fiberglass deck he has now is just fine.

 

[iboaterlurker5]

You think a 3m double sided tape with velcro instead of carpet snaps would work? I want to minimize holes in my floor, just had it replaced because of water leaking into some holes under the floor. 3m to hold velcro straps to fiberglass, then velcro strips sewn into the carpet.

I mainly only plan on removing the carpet during winter storage, as I want to use permeable carpet during normal use.

 

[Scott Danforth]

no, doublesided tape and velcro wont work unless you put a screw thru it.

I would rhino line or line-X the floor or add a non-skid gel surface if you dont want carpet.

if you want carpet, screw in snaps. just seal the holes with 3M 4000 UV