Boat Carpet Replacement

Every boat owner at some point of time or another has had to go through the ordeal of changing their boat's carpet. If you are about to do so, then the following brief note may help you in your task of replacing them simpler.

Color of Carpets
The color can be a decisive factor, when it comes to the appearance of your boat. You can decide to buy suitable light-colored or a dark-colored ones for your boat. Light-colored carpets will give a pleasant sobering look to your boat and can help keep it cool on a sunny day. On the other hand, satins will be easily noticeable. Stains are not noticeable on fabrics that are dark-colored, making it retain the clean look and in turn, serve you over a long period of time.

Measuring the Carpet for Cost
A variety of boat carpets are available in the market and are sold in pieces that are 6, 7.5 and 12 feet wide. The length is measured in 'units' where one unit is equal to three feet. If you place an order for 3 units, you will have a piece that is 9 feet in length and the width you mentioned while ordering it. For a boat measuring 20-feet in length approximately 25 feet (length) of carpet is necessary, and for a bigger boat, the length of the boat plus an extra five feet is required. The additional length gives you enough room for adjustments to be made in case you decide to extend the carpeted area of your boat. It also saves you from placing a rush order for extra units which is required now, due to the inadequate length that allowed no room for error. The dimensions of a boat change from the bow to the stern. It is necessary to adjust the width of the carpets accordingly. It needs to be laid on the companionway which is of different width, than the carpet laid on the open deck or in the saloon of the boat. The cost is calculated per square foot or square yard, like so:

Cost of carpet = length x width x price per square foot

If you are left with any extra pieces after the job, then there's no need to blame yourself for wasting money. The extra units can be used for bulkheads, lid-covers or lid cut-outs which will further enhance the look of your boat.

Which Carpets to Buy
Different types of carpets made using natural as well as artificial fibers and are widely available in the market. Marine carpets are made using artificial fibers such as nylon for extra durability.

Marine carpets are intended to last for 3 to 5 years. They can withstand the tough marine environment and conditions without fading or degrading. If, it is properly used and cared for, they can last up to 10 years. It is produced using nylon fibers which are solution dyed. These fibers are enhanced with UV stabilizers which protect it from extreme sun, corrosive salts and moisture, which prevents them from fading. These fibers are well-known for resisting stains, mold and mildew that are associated with moisture and thus, are preferred. Laying all the pieces in the same direction is important because of its grain. The colors vary from shade to shade if the carpets are laid haphazardly, in the bargain, affecting the look of your boat.

Stain removal is a tedious job and requires some effort, hence to make your work easier, you can opt for fabrics that not only hide stains but also make stain removal easier. If the worn out carpets on your boat are removable, it eases the task of replacing them with the newly ordered one. However, if they are glued to the floorboards of the boat, then they will have to be torn out in order to glue in the new carpet. The tearing out will be an added expense. On the other hand you can save the extra expense by simply deciding to lay the new carpets on the top of the old and worn-out ones. This will not only speed up the renovation of the boat, but will also give you an option of removing the newly laid carpets and use the old ones if needed. The job is now easy and a lot simpler than what it used to be due to the softness and yet durability of the fabric that is available nowadays.