Aft Deck Covering?

[DCMY #92]

For the last 25 years I have covered the aft deck on our 41DC with indoor/outdoor carpet of one type or another.

What I like about carpet is that it surpresses sound, is comfortable underfoot, prevents the furniture from sliding around, is not marred by equipment and maybe provides a little thermal insulation to the master stateroom below.

What I don't like about it is the way it stays wet for a long period after washing the boat or after a rain and in the last few years the pain it is to remove it from the boat to prepare for a hurricane.

I have often contemplated and occationally investigated using a different material, but have been put off by concerns over long term UV performance, durability, appearance or cost.

I am at the point of needing to replace the current carpet and would like the experiences and opinions of this group. What aft deck or cockpit coverings do you use and how do you like it?

 

[Angela]

I, too, am scratching my head over this one. I like carpet for the same reasons you do, but don't care for how the wetness can linger. The sound of a chair dragging across the floor when you're in the master stateroom below is really loud down there. There is no way anyone could sleep through someone taking a seat at the table on the aft deck. I think carpet would help to deafen some of that.

Just thinking here, but what about a cork flooring? I have no idea how that would hold up to chairs being dragged across it, but I would think it would not absorb and hold water. Don't they make that stuff in sheets? I'm not sure I'd like the look of it though. Maybe a cork underlay for the noise issue with carpet over top? I don't intend to tack down my carpet, if that's what I ultimately use, so I guess I could lift the corners to dry. I think the back corners would be the only part that would get wet and it's not much anymore since I made an aft deck enclosure.

I'm anxious to hear what others have done.

 

[egaito]

I, too, am scratching my head over this one. I like carpet for the same reasons you do, but don't care for how the wetness can linger. The sound of a chair dragging across the floor when you're in the master stateroom below is really loud down there. There is no way anyone could sleep through someone taking a seat at the table on the aft deck. I think carpet would help to deafen some of that.

Just thinking here, but what about a cork flooring? I have no idea how that would hold up to chairs being dragged across it, but I would think it would not absorb and hold water. Don't they make that stuff in sheets? I'm not sure I'd like the look of it though. Maybe a cork underlay for the noise issue with carpet over top? I don't intend to tack down my carpet, if that's what I ultimately use, so I guess I could lift the corners to dry. I think the back corners would be the only part that would get wet and it's not much anymore since I made an aft deck enclosure.

I'm anxious to hear what others have done.

I can't attest to its endurance on a boat, but I remodeled a kitchen with cork flooring and was very happy with the results. Nice look, quited everything down as expected.

That said, cork is a glue-down material. While it held up well in my kitchen, its lifespan will be reduced on a boat, and it will be hell to replace when it goes bad. To be at all practical, it would have to be the "thick" grade of cork, and finished with a hard, UV resistant varnish or poly.

Real teak planking (not laminate) would offer some of the sound deadening properties, and also offer multiple re-finishes before requiring replacement.

 

[MikeP]

We replaced the outdoor carpet with a carpet of a sisal-type product (like hemp rope). It dries very rapidly. The style we got is:

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Like Mike, we put "marine carpeting" in our cockpit 3 years ago. ( I did a one day boat delivery for a friend of his so the cost was zero)

The carpet that was there pretty much sucked.....

This one dries "fairly fast" (like in 3 hrs) and the ADMIRAL is happy with it...

AND IF THE ADMIRAL IS HAPPY............

 

[MikeP]

For some reason I can't get the pic to attach...

 

[MikeP]

here it is:

 

[steve940]

I appreciate this forum greatly and am often silent as I'm not that technically inclined. On this matter, though, I have some friendly advice...

On my aft deck, the p.o.'s carpet had dry rotted and had to be removed.

To my surprise, Home Depot - of all places - had a selection of high quality heat-set polypropylene area rugs (Arman and Heriz patterns by Mahdavis) with very rich-looking traditional designs for less than $250 which covered most of the aft salon (large on a 56MY). In addition, they had matching and contrasting smaller area rugs and runners that I use as shoe scrapers before entering the main salon from the aft salon and before entering the lower helm area from the dock.

I was told the only drawback of polypropylened is sun bleaching, but the rug has been in place one season without notable deterioration or discoloration. As well, if windows and wing doors are closed and flybridge access hatch is shut, the rug remains dry. This does require that the drains in front of the wing doors are kept open.

The look is really flattering to the aft deck and much less cost and maintenance than cork or teak in addition to great sound/temperature insulation over the master stateroom.

Thank you all again for participating in such a rich source of Hatteras information!

Steve

 

[Boss Lady]

I wonder if any of the UV sprays available today would help keep the color from fading? Anyone tried this?

 

[Capt Ratty]

My boat, a 41 TC, had carpet of the indoor - outdoor type when I bought it, but I removed it for the same reasons you did. I then sanded and painted with a non-skid paint. All furniture has small rubber pads attached to the legs. Works great. Teak will cost about $44 per square foot.

 

[SeaEric]

Teak will cost about $44 per square foot.

Intsalled and finished? That seems low to me.

 

[DCMY #92]

Capt Ratty

What kind of non skid coating did you use? Lateley I have been wondering if the thick ones with ground rubber or sprayon material like that used in truck beds might work well. Some of them come in colors other than black.

 

[Capt Ratty]

I used West Marine deck paint and added their nonskid material to it. I have heard of people using the truck bed material, but I feel it would be rather course, and if you didn't like it, wouldn' it be difficult to correct?

The teak flooring @ $44 per sq ft is for material only.

 

[Boss Lady]

I have a buddy who rhino linered the whole deck and gunnels of his 25 foot Center Console. The stuff is awesome, the only problem he has is that white turned yellow in the sun. The finished surface is controlled by how it is sprayed. You can have textured or smooth. It is very quiet too. The problem will be getting someone to the boat to do the job should you decide to do it. I don't know how good some of the do it yourself products look. The ones I have seen do not compare well to the LineX and Rhino products.

 

[Starman]

The rhino spray stuff , IMO, would be great for something like a shrimp boat, or a beat around fishing boat where value upkeep is not important. But on a yacht, I think there would be a huge survey hit.

Can you imagine trying to remove that stuff ?


Aside from that, there are only 3 acceptable choices, IMO, as to covering.

Solid teak either left to grey, or use teak oil.

Carpet that is bound on the edges and uses snaps to hold it down , so it can be lifted to dry or removed during the monsoon season.

And last is a decent non skid job, which of course can be covered with the carpet for dinner parties or left uncovered for the fishing trips !!!