Keeping boat interior (carpeting / fabric) "nice"

[ryno1234]

My new (to me) boat has snap-in carpeting that is lighter in color (light tan). I also have a cabin with fabric seats, headliner, etc.

In my old boat, I had indoor / outdoor dark charcoal colored carpeting. Because of the color, you'd never be able to see any discoloration. Additionally, I did not have a cabin, it was an open bow.

Two questions:

1. With lighter colored carpeting, is it idea to put down towels, etc. around the deck or is that a loss cause? I don't want to find out a year from now, I should have implemented processes or "rules" for being on the boat to maintain the look as best as possible. By the way, I realize it's a boat and it will get dirty and ultimately things needs to be cleaned or replaced, but for now I'd like to keep it as nice as possible.
2. I've never owned a boat with cabin before. Is it typical to not let anyone down there if they're wet as to prevent mildew? That's the last thing I want and I'm thinking of just generally saying "If you're wet, stay out of the cabin" type of thing.

Thoughts? What "rules" do you have on your boat that helps keep it in great physical shape?

 

[roscoe]

I thought the idea of snap in carpet was so you could easily replace it when needed.
Or to remove it when it could get real dirty, like when fishing.

Remove it before taking it in for service, or the tech will probably get it greasy from his hands.

Yeah, remove it before going boating, cover the deck with towels.
Then put the carpet back in when you put the boat in the garage.

 

[JimS123]

After use, if the carpet is dirty, remove it, clean it with carpet cleaner and then let it dry indoors.

After the cabin gets wet, dry it our with a sponge or towel, and then leave the cabin door open to vent it. Same goes with the bilge.

After doing the maintenance, store the boat indoors. If you don't have the room, pay for indoor storage. Otherwise, learn to live with mildew.

 

[ryno1234]

I thought the idea of snap in carpet was so you could easily replace it when needed.
Or to remove it when it could get real dirty, like when fishing.

Remove it before taking it in for service, or the tech will probably get it greasy from his hands.

Yeah, remove it before going boating, cover the deck with towels.
Then put the carpet back in when you put the boat in the garage.

This is all new to me and I spent (what I feel) is a large amount of money on something. Keeping it nice is important to me, even if my question is ignorant.

 

[tpenfield]

Pressure washer will take care of the carpet.

I have no rules regarding the physical shape of the boat.

 

[roscoe]

This is all new to me and I spent (what I feel) is a large amount of money on something. Keeping it nice is important to me, even if my question is ignorant.

Sorry, No offense intended. Sarcasm and humor just don't translate well in a forum.

I just figure snap in carpet is the easiest and least expensive part of the boat to replace or worry about.
Much bigger things to worry about.

 

[tpenfield]

This is the boat with the stinky toilet/head (right?), which I believe you fixed.

The boat must be 20+ years old , being a Maxum 2400 SCR (right ?) How's the vinyl seating? Good shape?

The original cockpit carpet on my previous boat lasted 25+ years . . . I got the boat when it was 16 years old, and I would shampoo & power wash the cockpit carpet (with a somewhat mild nozzle) to really drive all of the dirt & sand out of the pile.

With family boating . . . stuff happens . . . Your boat will get wet, the cabin will get wet. Carpet in the cabin gets ratty. Lots of folks have converted the carpet in the cabin to a vinyl plank type of flooring. Bleach will be your friend. I use about 5 gallons of bleach throughout the year, mostly during pre-season prep and post-season layup.

You may be able to find some non-skid type of mats or 'carpet savers' to use in the cabin to minimize the amount of water that gets into the carpet.

Try not to have too many rules - they will be broken - As you use the boat, you will see what works and what doesn't.

I just spent crazy money on a boat, but that's boating . . .

 

[racerone]

I see fishing boats with every inch covered in carpet.-----I am thinking the carpet hides a lot of things.------Boats are meant to be enjoyed, with few rules..-----

 

[Scott Danforth]

My new (to me) boat has snap-in carpeting that is lighter in color (light tan). I also have a cabin with fabric seats, headliner, etc.

In my old boat, I had indoor / outdoor dark charcoal colored carpeting. Because of the color, you'd never be able to see any discoloration. Additionally, I did not have a cabin, it was an open bow.

Two questions:

1. With lighter colored carpeting, is it idea to put down towels, etc. around the deck or is that a loss cause? I don't want to find out a year from now, I should have implemented processes or "rules" for being on the boat to maintain the look as best as possible. By the way, I realize it's a boat and it will get dirty and ultimately things needs to be cleaned or replaced, but for now I'd like to keep it as nice as possible.
2. I've never owned a boat with cabin before. Is it typical to not let anyone down there if they're wet as to prevent mildew? That's the last thing I want and I'm thinking of just generally saying "If you're wet, stay out of the cabin" type of thing.

Thoughts? What "rules" do you have on your boat that helps keep it in great physical shape?

you store the boat in a garage, not outside

you make people take off their shoes

every few trips if the carpet gets dirty, lets say from a spilled blender of strawberry margaritas, you unsnap the carpet, lay it in the driveway and use some laundry detergent and a brush, you scrub the carpet and rinse with a hose.

if the carpet gets really bad, you replace it.

 

[ryno1234]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

And yes

This is the boat with the stinky toilet/head (right?), which I believe you fixed.

The boat must be 20+ years old , being a Maxum 2400 SCR (right ?) How's the vinyl seating? Good shape?

Yup! You got it. The Vinyl is in pretty decent shape all things considered. There is some minor tearing around some hard corners and some slight discoloration, but all in all they're pretty good.

Like I said above, I get it is a boat and it's meant to be used. After a drink or two, I don't care so much

What are you using the bleach for?

Good point about the "carpet savers", I'll take a look at that.

Congrats on your new boat, by the way!

 

[Lou C]

I am probably the worst for cosmetic maintenance but very good on the mechanical...so...
carpet belongs in your house, in a boat you should have nonskid gel coat. On boats with wood cored decks (95% of boats more than 20 years old) carpet causes rot because it holds moisture. When I redid the deck on this boat 15 years ago I threw out all the old carpet.
The cabin, just keep it ventilated.

 

[KJM]

I thought the idea of snap in carpet was so you could easily replace it when needed.
Or to remove it when it could get real dirty, like when fishing.

Remove it before taking it in for service, or the tech will probably get it greasy from his hands.

Yeah, remove it before going boating, cover the deck with towels.
Then put the carpet back in when you put the boat in the garage.

I missed the sarcasm as well! I thought you were serious, I was thinking "whats the point of carpet if you remove it everytime you use the boat!"

 

[tpenfield]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

And yes


Yup! You got it. The Vinyl is in pretty decent shape all things considered. There is some minor tearing around some hard corners and some slight discoloration, but all in all they're pretty good.

Like I said above, I get it is a boat and it's meant to be used. After a drink or two, I don't care so much

What are you using the bleach for?

I use bleach to kill mold, which tends to be everywhere. In the post-season I wipe down the bathroom and counter surfaces, etc and the same in the spring prep

 

[JimS123]

I use bleach to kill mold, which tends to be everywhere. In the post-season I wipe down the bathroom and counter surfaces, etc and the same in the spring prep

Our boats are all garage kept and always dry, so mold is never a problem. Our RV is kept outdoors. Last Summer it was unusually wet and we had massive mold every time we used the trailer. We used bleach several times and it always came back. Then, I switched to a specialty product specifically for mold and we got thru the last half of the Summer mold free.

Sorry, I can't remember the name of the stuff and its in the trailer now. Regardless, bleach is not good on boat fabric because it could discolor it, plus its bad on the stitching.

 

[matt167]

I got my fresh carpet and brand new seats dirty while doing various things on my boat for maint/ restoration... Blue Magic stain lifter has been my go to for years. . Grease on the vinyl. Dawn dish soap is about all you want or need as anything harsh will destroy the UV layer

 

[briangcc]

Snap in light colored carpet on my Chap and Four Winns. Got dirty...take it out, lay it in the driveway, scrub, dry, reinstall. Easy Peasy. No need to over think this.

 

[Stinnett21]

This is my 20th season with my boat. It still has the original non-removable carpet. I keep and can of spray foam carpet cleaner, scrub brush and rag on board and spot clean as needed. No better place to clean than when you're out on the water (fresh water that is). It still looks decent. although matted down flat in areas.

 

[isaacs]

If it gets dirty: remove it, lay it on your driveway, scrub it with a push broom and some Simple Green, hose it off with a garden hose, hang it on a fence to dry. A small mat or piece of carpet at the bottom of your steps will give people a place to wipe their feet upon entry.

Stay clean, stay safe!