Boat Carpet Replacement - Replacing Boat Carpet

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

Color of Carpets
The color of the carpets you are going to install in your boat 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 carpets 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 the carpet retain its clean look and in turn, serve you over a long period of time.

How to Measure a Boat Carpet
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 of a carpet 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 of carpet 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 of carpet 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 the those extra pieces which is required now, due to the inadequate length of the carpet 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. The carpet that needs to be laid on the companionway is of different width, than the carpet laid on the open deck or in the saloon of the boat. The cost of boat carpets is calculated per square foot or square yard. The cost of the carpet can be arrived at by using a simple formula as follows:

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

After replacing the carpets in your boat, if you are left with any extra pieces carpet, then there's no need to blame yourself for wasting money. The extra carpet 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. These carpets can withstand the tough marine environment and conditions without fading or degrading. If, it is properly used and cared for, the carpet 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 while replacing boat carpets. Laying all the pieces of carpets in the same direction is important because of the carpet's grain. The color of the carpets vary from shade to shade if the carpets are laid haphazardly, in the bargain, affecting the look of your boat.

Carpet 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 boat carpet replacement with the newly ordered carpets. However, if they are glued to the floorboards of the boat, then the carpets will have to be torn out in order to glue in the new carpet. The tearing out of worn carpets 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. Replacing boat carpets is now easy and a lot simpler than what it used to be due to the softness and yet durability of the carpet fabric that is available nowadays.