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New owner of 18 dauntless. Also new to this forum. Does anyone ever carpet deck floor? If so, who sells it? Thanks

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Welcome to Whaler Central,
Not many on people that I know carpet their whalers. Gelcoat may be a bit tough on the feel, but it's much easier to keep clean. This is especially true if you use your boat to fish.
If you are set on adding carpet, may I suggest the snap in kind. You should be able to find it a most marine stores or you could use indoor/outdoor carpet. The idea is that you run snaps around the edges of the floor and then add snaps to the carpet. That way you can snap it in and pull it out when you want to clean.

Since your new to the boat, I would suggest you use it for a season or two and decide if you really need/want carpet. Whatever you do, please don't glue carpet down on the deck. Getting the glue off the non-skid is no easy task and it makes the carpet almost impossible to replace easily when it starts to get dirty and wear out.

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THANKS FOR THE PROMPT REPLY. I've only used the boat a few times and it seems the deck gets foot marks easily. I'd rather not have to wash it down after every use. Snap down carpet may work. I'll use the boat some more then decide. Thanks, George

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Carpet is for bass boats. Sorry to be so blunt.:p

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There is a product that Boaters World and West Marine stock called Dri Deck. It can be installed to almost any configuration that you desire. With carpet you are going to have porblems with mildew, dirt, etc and not to mention odor. Click Below for info

Dri Deck

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I recommend you also look at the foot apparel you and visitors are wearing. There are some shoe soles that leave nasty marks. These should not be worn on the boat.

A good deck brush (medium stiff bristles) on a threaded pole is a wise investment. You can store it in the rod holder under the gunnel.

If you do decide you need something on the floor I urge you NOT to attach anything with glue or fastners. There are many mats, flooring options available.

I use Dri Dek. It is not attached and removes in 10 minutes. I don't worry about anything. All dirt falls through. Can rinse the floor without removing it.

Scroll through photos on my Personal Page. Cost approximately $150 to do the entire deck.

I have more detailed photos I can post if you want.

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Whatever you do, don`t glue carpet to the floor. Major devalue of the boat. As said above. for bass boats.

rich

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Thanks for the ideas. The dri-dek product sounds great for the anchor locker area as well as other compartment bottoms. I've ordered some to try out. You convinced me against carpet.

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George,

try washing the desk with starbrite non-skid deck cleaner. it leaves a non-slip coating that makes the decks easier to clean. Dri-Dek is good, I have it in the splashwell and in my anchor locker and it really does a nice job.

As CBO said, look at the footwear your using on the boat. light color soles will not leave marks so you shouldn't have to clean the boat every time.

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Dri-dek is a great product and can be removed easily.

Carpet.... NO

I always ask the people that are coming aboard my Whaler to wear Non-Marring soled shoes.
Many tennis and running shoes these days have non marring soles.
If someone does have a big black sole tennis shoe that makes marks, I ask them to take them off. Really....

I look at it like this:
You wouldn't let someone come into your house with golf shoes on with cleats... Would you?
Or baseball shoes with cleats...
Same way with a boat in my mind. Proper sandals or shoes and preferably with non skid soles too.

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How do you all feel the Dri-dek is under a bare foot? I was at a pool at a marina in CT last season and they had it all around the pool. It seems alittle tough on my bare feet. Maybe is was an older style?

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I do notice it can be a bit rough on virgin feet due to the grippy nubs. Temperature makes a big difference. In the early spring and late fall (50 degrees) the floor is stiff. In the sun/warmer temperatures, it material softens up a lot. Many swimmers/barefooted riders have been on the boats. No negative comments.

For the best price, I ordered it through Dri-Dek directly. I recall it was ~50 squares and covers the entire floor, even under the console and cooler. I picked Almond for the desert tan gelcoat color.

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I use Dri-Deck on my boat under my console and around the RPS. I find it very comfortable to stand on. I am wondering if anyone can recomend a good cleaner or method to brighten it up when it gets dingy? I have tried everything from power washing to straight bleach and find it hard to get new looking...

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I use a large, rubber backed, entry door carpet like you see in commercial buildings. It is not attached to the floor and stays in place real well. The non skid under the carpet does turn a bit black, but cleans off easily with Starbrite non skid cleaner. I got the carpet from a service company that rents out carpets and uniforms. John

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Food service or industrial rubber mats work good too. Graingers sells them. My friend has a tan color food service mat on his Montauk and it works great especially when it is rough and you are standing as it provides some cushion.

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Carpet is kind of a "no-no" on "Whaler's" because, it lower's the value of the boat, and the boat does not wash down easily (ever try hosing down bait on carpet), as mentioned "Foot wear" is important. I prefer an old pair of sneakers (complete with holes, so they are self-bailing) and untied short laces ( you won't trip over them, and more importantly, you can kick the "skip's" off your feet quickly if you end up in the water). Bare foot is O.K. but, not recommended if you are fishing, and hook's are around.
mw