Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

[LiveToFishFishToLive]

Hi everyone,
I'm brand new to owning a boat and was looking for some advice. About 2 weeks ago I bought a 1988 Seanymph Fish N Ski primarily for inshore saltwater fishing. The entire floor and walls are carpeted and as with all fishing boats, if your catching fish the floor is going to get dirty and often plenty of saltwater too. The back gets a fair bit of spray while riding too. I've always lived by the rule that anything that touches saltwater NEEDS to be rinsed as soon as it's not being used but I feel like rinsing carpet will just leave a soggy floor for 3 days while the boat sits which could equally take its toll. Does anyone out there have a carpeted boat that they rinse? It this a bad idea? I'm planning at some point to remove the carpet and gelcoat the entire thing but probably won't get around to it before going fishing a few more times.

Really appreciate the help!!

 

[joelybob]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

DO NOT SPRAY CARPET. if spray carpet it will migrate down and get foam wet. if you need to wipe down sides of boat you can use mild cleaner and a rag. shop vac or maybe portable carpet cleaner may help on carpet. I got a big rubber mat and cover up area that I will be catching fish from after you are done take out matt hose it off let it dry. helps keep carpet clean

 

[pckeen]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Hmmmm. I always rinsed down the old carpeted boat we had. Boats are designed to get wet. I don't see any problem. Just make sure it is well ventilated so can dry afterwards.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

I always rinsed mine down-- only had 1 with carpet. Not a heavy spray-- wanted to get the salt out so it was 1 of the 1st things done. Rinsed and squeegee then cleaned the rest. Left it open to dry before covering.

 

[joelybob]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Hmmmm. I always rinsed down the old carpeted boat we had. Boats are designed to get wet. I don't see any problem. Just make sure it is well ventilated so can dry afterwards.

if they were meant to get wet on the inside they wouldn't use plywood for floors. they wouldn't make boat covers and they wouldn't make bilge pumps.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Joely, Boat decks are not bare plywood. They have resin and fiberglass cloth over them to make them waterproof. It is perfectly fine to wash down the carpet, heck even scrub it with soap and water to get it clean. Boats will have indoor-outdoor carpet which holds up to the washing.

 

[joelybob]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Joely, Boat decks are not bare plywood. They have resin and fiberglass cloth over them to make them waterproof. It is perfectly fine to wash down the carpet, heck even scrub it with soap and water to get it clean. Boats will have indoor-outdoor carpet which holds up to the washing.

This is true but a lot of boat makers never put down resin. and people that put in new floors there are quite a few that don't put resin on new plywood. Didnt think they had to. I always hear. I don't care if somebody hoses down there carpet. I just know I wont mine

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

I would doubt that any professional boatbuilding company would fail to waterproof the boat deck. I would expect the USCG would require it as part of the floatation requirement. As for a DIU replacement deck, I would hope they would seek some advice on how to do it.

 

[joelybob]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Boatbuilder's Handbook

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Saw one restoration,plywood laid in,tabbed and carpeted. No sealer....? Rotted in 3 years,the dude could not grasp the theory,that it had to be sealed when ya use marine plywood. I just quit trying to explain it...... Anyway,I alway's hose em out,let dry and good to go. If it rot's because of a bit of water,it wasn't built reight to begin with. I've never had any trouble hosing them.
Grub

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

As most are saying it's fine to hose it down. Also, you'll find the carpet is a type that will dry quickly.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

if they were meant to get wet on the inside they wouldn't use plywood for floors. they wouldn't make boat covers and they wouldn't make bilge pumps.

What do you do when you're out and it starts raining?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

I would rinse it off. What happens when it rains on the boat.???

 

[joelybob]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

I would rinse it off. What happens when it rains on the boat.???

I don't take the boat out in the rain

 

[pckeen]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Hi Joley - I hear what you are saying, but where I use the boat, rain is common, boats get wet, and a heavy wind can get significant amounts of spray in the boat. Some of the best fishing you can do is in....the rain. I can say that leaving it wet is a really bad idea - you'll get moss growing - but I've not had a problem when my boat has been able to dry.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

If you have a boat that can not get wet on the inside then the carpet is the least of your worries. I wash mine when ever its dirty and If its raining and has got wet then I leave it uncovered until it has dryed out.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

When washing carpeted decking, raise the trailer jack as high as it will go to drain the water off quickly and make sure the plug is removed in the transom.

The bad things about hosing off a carpeted deck are if the laminated fiberglass has been compromised with cracks or holes and the type of adhesive the carpet is glued down with. If the carpet was glued down with a latex based adhesive water will weaken it, but it'll regain it's strength when it dries out.

I made the fatal mistake of using the indoor outdoor carpet adhesive on my first boat resto, then using the shop vac to suck most of the water out of the carpet. This eventually sucked the carpet lifted the carpet off the deck due to the weakened adhesive and it looked like refried rat crap.

If you're going to remove the carpet anyway, go ahead and hose it down.

IMO, carpet is the worst thing you can put in a boat because it absorbs and retains water. Wet carpet promotes mildew growth and will eventually breakdown and deteriorate the inside of your boat if not dried as quickly as possible. One of the main reasons we see so many rotten boats in the restoration forum is because boats are left unprotected to the elements like rain, snow, and ice. Keeping the inside of your boat as dry as possible when not in use will greatly extend it's life.

... but hosing a boat out to clean it and then drying it before covering it shouldn't hurt it if everything is in good shape.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

Hoseit down, suck up what you can with a wet/dry shop vac, then let it dry out with the bow raised. When the carpet gets too ratty or you just get sick and tired of the cleaning routine, rip out the carpet, ensure the plywood is properly sealed, and use something like Skid-No-More - iboats to paint it.

 

[LiveToFishFishToLive]

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

Really helpful info and opinions! Thanks everyone!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is rinsing a carpeted boat floor okay?

if they were meant to get wet on the inside they wouldn't use plywood for floors. they wouldn't make boat covers and they wouldn't make bilge pumps.

no, if they were made to get wet, they wouldn't have carpeting at all--and then you don't need covers, shop vacs, hair dryers, mold killers, drying rags and replacement floors. But...boats get wet.

take out the carpet and leave it in the den where it belongs. You don't put carpet around your pool, do you?