Re-carpeting 18.5 Bowrider Need advice

[karayj]

I have a 1989. 18.5 regal bowrider and I plan on putting in new carpeting. Basically the carpeting is original. The water is seeping through, causing two soft spots. I guess my question is, what is the best way? to carpet a boat I'm buying 8 1/2 foot wide carpeting. So obviously it's not gonna reach all the way up the sides in the rear of the boat.
Up near the steering wheel area I have those compartments underneath. Should I bother re carpeting those areas or just cut the carpet down low and seam it together? I don't like to have to seam is but there is a seam glue making the job easier. I just don't want to complicate this. I plan on removing the carpet and lay it down on the ground and make a templet . After I Patch up the two holes I will lay down the glue not to thick because the rug is 16 oz and I heard it may seep through. Any suggestions or tips would be great

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, the soft spots are from the wood rotting from underneath (wet stringers, transom and foam). not from your carpet

boats only last about 15 years, yours is 33 years old

prior to worrying about carpet, you have a hull restoration to do.

 

[karayj]

The 2 soft spots are small 6 in dia maybe. I plan on using wood putty.
There is one area (battery compartment ) I will be adding a 12x12 section that's it. The rest is solid .

 

[Scott Danforth]

The 2 soft spots are small 6 in dia maybe. I plan on using wood putty.
There is one area (battery compartment ) I will be adding a 12x12 section that's it. The rest is solid .

good luck, you will be the only one out of tens of thousands of restorations on iboats

 

[Stinnett21]

Karayj, take to heart what Scott is telling you. I wouldn't be surprised when you pull up the carpet it will become evident what he's talking about. Once you pull it up, report back. Bare in mind, it's highly likely that your stringers, transom, motor mounts, etc. are in worse shape than your floor. Water runs down hill.

 

[TankerDan]

What Scott and Stinnett said, I only had 2 soft spots in the floor. Further checking found a rotting transom, stringers half the length of the boat and black mold on the underside of the deck up near the bow

 

[karayj]

OK I get it. I will post pics later. BUT any carpet install help would be nice AFTER I fix the floors. We kind of got off topic for the rug install

 

[Kev Paley]

I have a 1989. 18.5 regal bowrider and I plan on putting in new carpeting. Basically the carpeting is original. The water is seeping through, causing two soft spots. I guess my question is, what is the best way? to carpet a boat I'm buying 8 1/2 foot wide carpeting. So obviously it's not gonna reach all the way up the sides in the rear of the boat.
Up near the steering wheel area I have those compartments underneath. Should I bother re carpeting those areas or just cut the carpet down low and seam it together? I don't like to have to seam is but there is a seam glue making the job easier. I just don't want to complicate this. I plan on removing the carpet and lay it down on the ground and make a templet . After I Patch up the two holes I will lay down the glue not to thick because the rug is 16 oz and I heard it may seep through. Any suggestions or tips would be great

Ive rebuilt a few old boats mainly because of the hull design(eg deep rise and heavy chine) and i found soft patches in most of them,please dont kidd yourself if there is rott in one spot rip up the deck in that area then check your bearers and stringer you might find that you will have to replace them as well ok the job isnt hard depending on your wood work and fibre glass skills for peace of mind this is a must then worry about aesthetics like carpets

 

[Scott Danforth]

I personally like snap-in carpet. however I have owned more than a few boats with glued in carpet.

 

[chevymaher]

I had no soft sports in the floor. My stringers and transom were wasted. Worth looking into.

 

[todhunter]

I personally like snap-in carpet. however I have owned more than a few boats with glued in carpet.

For snap in, I'm guessing you still glue in the carpet on the sides and other vertical surfaces, and then just snap in the horizontal surfaces? Gelcoat the fiberglass underneath the snapped in carpet? 3M 4000 UV on the snap hardware?

If my guess about gluing in the sides is correct, how does the transition from glued carpet to snap carpet look?

 

[PC on the Bayou]

Karayj, take to heart what Scott is telling you. I wouldn't be surprised when you pull up the carpet it will become evident what he's talking about. Once you pull it up, report back. Bare in mind, it's highly likely that your stringers, transom, motor mounts, etc. are in worse shape than your floor. Water runs down hill.

Same advice here. In mine, I was hoping for a floor patch-up only, but quickly turned into a year-long stringer, transom, floor replacement. Inspect it good and make sure the boat is structurally sound before putting yourself or others in danger.