Using bedliner in a boat...

campcook

Cadet
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
22
I picked up a project boat a few days ago, okay maybe more than a few. Back when I first signed up.LOL
(Let the wise cracks begin) I?ve been a little busy.
Anyway, has anyone used a spray or roll on bed liner to coat the inside of an aluminum boat. My project is a little v-bottom with some plywood. I am thinking about coating the floors and inside sides of it with the liner. Has anyone else used the bed liner this way? If so, are you happy with it? Did you fiberglass the plywood first or simply apply the liner? How?s it holding up? Any tips on things to avoid or things you wish you had done first before applying it?
Any tips would be great; thanks!
 

Hydra-sport_Road-kill

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jun 15, 2011
Messages
123
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

Wow, I don't know where to begin . . . Can we assume you have been able to use the boat in it's diminished capacity since '07? Have you a wife with the patience of Job (biblical reference)? We have to hear this story.
As for the answer to this often asked question, using the bed liner would make trying to do any needed repair under the deck a real huge messy and needles pain.
 

campcook

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Sep 10, 2007
Messages
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Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

"Have you a wife with the patience of Job (biblical reference)? I know, Great Book! We have to hear this story."
I'll try to be brief!

Yes I have an awesome wife. My plan was to coat all of the wood before reinstalling it. Anywhere the edges of the wood met the aluminum I had planned to tape off.
As far as what delayed my project: My third and fourth heart attacks, I flat lined on the third one briefly (a few minutes), Cardiac Angioplasties 14-22, a pseudo aneurysm in my femoral artery from one of the angioplasties, also known as a false aneurysm (it is a hematoma that forms as the result of a leaking hole in an artery) and then throw in a double by-pass between Cardiac Angioplasties #?s 17 &18. Plus in 2009 I decided that I can no longer do construction work and I went back to school to pursue a degree in crisis counseling.
 

Hydra-sport_Road-kill

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Messages
123
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

Well I'd go for the laugh and say that was my second guess if I didn't know how serious your procedures were. I'd have expected a sterling tail of procrastination fit to take notes from for use in my own domestic bliss. It was not ten minutes ago that I was bringing the dogs in from the yard thinking I better get a screen door on the back door or my wife will hit the roof. I suspect she thinks I spend too much time working on the boat restore. But I digress, you have indeed been busy. Welcome back and I'm sure others will be along to wish you the best and help where possible. The answer I gave about the bed liner was parroting one of the iboat restore gurus. Stay healthy and strong and I'll look to your upcoming progress postings.
 

jigngrub

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Mar 19, 2011
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8,155
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

What kind of boat do you have CC?

Putting the liner on the decking before installing it wouldn't be so bad because your fasteners would be exposed.

Post some pics of it when you get done, I'd like to see it.
 

Teamster

Lieutenant Commander
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Nov 8, 2010
Messages
1,923
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

I think the common thinking is that bed liner will get brittle and crack as a boat flexes,..

I would not use it,....
 

campcook

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Sep 10, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

Hydra-Sport_Roadkill,
The laughs were what I was going for more than not. Most everyone that is in direct contact with me give me the impression that they think I?ll break if I smile or laugh. I guess if I look at it through their eyes, it must be hard wondering if I?m going to make it through again and again and again. I think it drives them all crazy that I won?t stop and lay around doing nothing. The thing is I refuse to stop living my life just because it might end. I think we all have to face that but I?m not going to sit and wait for it.
Just remember that taking half a day to do something for someone who might have to sit beside you and spoon feed you; then clean you when it comes out the other end, because you can?t do it at the moment, is priceless. Not that I?m trying to get into your business I?m just putting it out there because stool happens!
Thanks for the welcome back!
Jigngrub,
It?s a little 15' Northwood: Aluminum V Bottom Boat
I will post some pictures but it might take a while because I am actually facing two more surgeries. When you?re born susceptible to circulatory system problems it has a tendency to affect other areas in your body, especially areas that receive their blood flow through capillaries. I have one of seven discs in my neck that is normal. The other six are in various stages of deterioration, three have totally collapsed. They are thinking that they can go in and remove what is pressing on the spinal cord and give me enough relief to avoid them having to totally fuse my neck. My second is for my lower back; same problem, only one disc but it is the one above my last fusion. It?s hard to tell right now how that will turn out.
Teamster,
As far as it not being flexible goes you can avoid that problem by adding a flex-agent just like when painting a plastic bumper on a car. To give you an idea how flexible you can make paint, I'll share an experience that I have had with flex-agents.
I once worked for a company that repaired car interiors. I went from dealer to dealer, repairing vinyl and leather and then spraying a paint based dye to bring the part back to factory fresh, dying carpets was also very big. Anyway to keep this short; multiple colors on your white sneakers make you look like you are starting a clown outfit. When I had enough laughs I would wipe them down with lacquer thinner, give them a even coat of adhesion promoter and then double up on the flex agent when I mixed the fresh white paint. I wore the soles off of them and the paint never cracked or peeled.

I was looking more to see if anyone had tried it and liked it. I could have never imagine painting it over fasteners because I know for sure if I did, I would find that I needed to get to something I just covered and of course it would be while it was still wet.
Anyway it looks like I?m getting ready to have some free time on my hands so I was trying to get things together. I?ll take pictures and post as I can.
Thanks for the replies!
 

sschefer

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
4,530
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

The biggest problem I've heard of is the added weight. Guy's were doing it a lot in the past to stop leaking rivets but then the fad fell off and now most just goth with a coat of GluVit and a good bilge paint. I'm not sure if there were other problems but it certainly lost it's popularity quick.
 

chriscraft254

Commander
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
2,445
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

The biggest thing you have to worry about is the prep work. If you are using a roll on or a spray, the surface has to be roughed up so it will adhere properly to it. There have even been offshore boats that have used it on the entire boat. If you do it, do it in a light color,so it doesn't get hot. Also, I will say, it will be very slick when wet. Thats the one reason I wouldn't consider it.
 

Blake0912

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 31, 2010
Messages
313
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

I have used Durabak on two of my boats the non slip textured UV resistant one and I am very happy with it. I just recently as in last night put some in the rear of my 14 aluminum Mirro craft where the gas tank sits and on the transom area and the supports I had 1/4 of a gallon laying around the figured what the heck..no it looks so good that ive been motvated to re-do my carpet and paint the boat..heres some pics of both my boats with the durabak..the first one is a fiberglass fish and ski but you can still see how good the stuff looks. On a side note the stuff gets pretty hot with bare feet when the suns shineing brights thats why I only added it to the "cockpit deck" of my fish and ski and front and back decks are carpet and also the rest of the mirro craft is carpet.

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Mirro craft
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jigngrub

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8,155
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

Bedliner for the decking of your 15' tinny should be fine CC.



The biggest problem I've heard of is the added weight. Guy's were doing it a lot in the past to stop leaking rivets but then the fad fell off and now most just goth with a coat of GluVit and a good bilge paint. I'm not sure if there were other problems but it certainly lost it's popularity quick.

The roll on bed liner isn't any heavier than glue and a good carpet or vinyl.

The bedliners on the inside and outside of boat hulls to stop leaking rivets lost it's popularity because it doesn't stop the leaks permanantly, then you gotta remove that crap to fix the leak properly.
 

sschefer

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
4,530
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

Bedliner for the decking of your 15' tinny should be fine CC.





The roll on bed liner isn't any heavier than glue and a good carpet or vinyl.

The bedliners on the inside and outside of boat hulls to stop leaking rivets lost it's popularity because it doesn't stop the leaks permanantly, then you gotta remove that crap to fix the leak properly.

I have to agree with that. A real marine grade carpet is heavy stuff. That, I have done. The idea sounded good when I heard about guy's doing it but I never tried it. Probably because I've spent hours with MEK cleaning up the messes that others left behind in used boats I've restored.
 

fngboater

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 9, 2011
Messages
181
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

well i can say that the p/o of my boat used the roll on bedliner. I dont like it. Its black, so it gets pretty hot on your feet, and seems to radiate heat up at you. of course the black doesnt look that clean either as opposed to white IMO. as far as flexibility its fine. it doesnt seem slippery when its wet . thats just my $.02
 

campcook

Cadet
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

sschefer,
I wasn?t really looking to use it for leaking rivets. Thankfully that is not a problem. I was looking for something that will outlast carpet with the added benefit of it being a product that my hooks won?t snag. Easy maintenance would also a bonus in using something like a bed liner.

chriscraft254,
The proper prep work always pays off for sure. I firmly believe in doing things right the first time. That?s one of the reasons I have come back to this forum for advice. It looks like there are lots of good people here to learn from.

Blake0912,
It looks like it turned out real nice. Nice job.

Fngboater,
The product I will be using is Over____ at another merchant TuffCoat. In white and the proper primers for the wood and aluminum.



I am hoping that if I use something like this it might prevent any rivets from beginning to leak. Is this something that will occur regardless of what I do? I do not plan on letting this boat sit in water longer than I plan to fish. My father-in-law was the p/o and he never took it out of the water, covered it or cleaned it. That?s why I have to go through all of this anyway.
Thanks for all the replies!
 
Last edited:

jigngrub

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8,155
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

I am hoping that if I use something like this it might prevent any rivets from beginning to leak. Is this something that will occur regardless of what I do? I do not plan on letting this boat sit in water longer than I plan to fish. My father-in-law was the p/o and he never took it out of the water, covered it or cleaned it. That?s why I have to go through all of this anyway.
Thanks for all the replies!

Gluvit would be a much better option to keep leaks from happening. Apply it before applying the Tuff coat, the Gluvit needs something to be painted over it anyway to protect it from the sun.
 

campcook

Cadet
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

Gluvit would be a much better option to keep leaks from happening. Apply it before applying the Tuff coat, the Gluvit needs something to be painted over it anyway to protect it from the sun.

Perfect! Will do!
How much do you think I'll need?
 

sschefer

Rear Admiral
Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
4,530
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

I definitely agree with the use of GluVit. I have used it with good success on every tinny restoration I've done. You might want to look into marine vinyl as an easy clean up and snag proof solution. I used it on the deck aft of the helm on my last resto and my new boat came with it from the factory. I glued it in on my resto but I noticed that JetCraft simply stretches it over the plywood and staples it with stainless staples. I will do the same when the time comes since it's so simple and theres no radical cleanup work required.
 

Bamaman1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
1,895
Re: Using bedliner in a boat...

All of the major cities have Line X and Rhino Lining franchises that spray coatings in pickup trucks--and they now into many other applications.

A sprayed textured surface will not be slick, and a number of different colors are available. A lighter color would be preferable and easier on the feet. These coatings are also extremely long lasting and durable.
 
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