Flooring: laminate or carpet?

[Sailor John]

Hello all,
We are looking to replace the salon carpet on Mad Hatter, (38 dcfb) and were wondering if there were thoughts on carpet
vs laminate.
While laminate is in many new boats and easier to clean, carpet is warmer and provides some sound
insulation.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Carpet colour suggestions (to go with the teak walls) are welcome too.

Thank you all,
Sailor John

 

[MikeP]

Just what you said - flooring is easier to clean, far less to worry about; carpet isn't but provides some sound insulation and feels "warmer." What we did on our 53 was install Amtico simulated teak/holly and use an area rug in the salon and a small one in the galley.

If we had to choose totally between carpet or flooring - it would be flooring. Another advantage to flooring is at resale time. I have never seen anyone who disliked the wood-simulated flooring but there will always be people who don't like whatever kind of carpet you have. When we were looking at 53's back in '04, we looked at one where the broker pointed out the brand new carpet as a selling point...but it was the opposite because the Admiral hated the color so we would have had to tear it out anyway...

 

[lake of the woods]

I have carpet in my salon and it looks great. Carpet provides some sound insulation and balances off the wood that is on every wall. Soft goods like carpet, curtains / blinds, headliners, upholstery, pillows, and valances help mute the "rooms of wood" that most boats are. Just get a good quality carpet and underlay and have it professionally installed. I also bought a large painters drop cloth and had cut and seam sewn to fit over the carpets so whenever we were working on the boat I could cover the carpets to keep them from being damaged.

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[bobk]

This is a purely personal choice. I favor carpet and installed a very light sand color 11 years ago and it still looks good in spite of having black used motor oil and other spills getting on it several times. My advice, and Peterk will disagree, is to choose a high fiber weight, short pile polyester and a firm underlay. Polyester is more resistant to staining than nylon and cleans up well. Even in the condo, we have no problem with guests eating and drinking red wine in our near white carpeted rooms. The spills simply wipe up with a bit of water and Windex.

I put real wood in the galley and it has become dented from dropped utensils and bottles etc. If I were to do it again, I'd use a good quality resilient sheet product instead.

Bobk

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Carpet man. You'll never slip or slide. TV sound systems do a lot better to. It helps if you have a carpet cleaning machine handy. I do mine 3-4 times a year. The water doesn't come out nasty like it did when I got the boat.

 

[Top Hatt Craig]

Does your boat have the sliding hatch over the port engine? Our '78 43' DC has one that would not be easy to make into a carpeted hatch or cover with flooring due to the tight fit under the ice maker enclosure. I couldn't get it in or out without tearing or scuffing carpet/flooring. Someone with more skill than I could cut the bottom of the enclosure but I wouldn't recommend it.Our boat has 1/4 round molding all around that the carpet tucks under - no tack strips.If your boat is the same I'd recommend non-tacked wall to wall carpet and furniture you can move as needed to access hatches.

 

[Scarlett]

Interesting alternative, look at my thread on the 3rd page of everything else, about Infinity flooring. Crazy expensive but we are really enjoying it, kind of a cross between carpet and solid flooring. John

 

[jim rosenthal]

Flooring with area carpets. And one of these days, my boat will get exactly that. But not this year.

 

[PeterK]

This is a purely personal choice. I favor carpet and installed a very light sand color 11 years ago and it still looks good in spite of having black used motor oil and other spills getting on it several times. My advice, and Peterk will disagree, is to choose a high fiber weight, short pile polyester and a firm underlay. Polyester is more resistant to staining than nylon and cleans up well. Even in the condo, we have no problem with guests eating and drinking red wine in our near white carpeted rooms. The spills simply wipe up with a bit of water and Windex.

I put real wood in the galley and it has become dented from dropped utensils and bottles etc. If I were to do it again, I'd use a good quality resilient sheet product instead.

Bobk

Flattered to be mentioned Agree with lower pile height, higher weight- density will matter for slowing down the appearance of traffic lanes, i.e. pile crush. I do firmly disagree with polyester as it is oleophilic meaning if LOVES oil. Polyester is also lower in resilience than nylon (the pile crush I mentioned before). Polyesters (and smartstrand, triexta and sorona ARE polyesters. Way too many carpet dealers will tell consumers it is not. If anyone really needs the nitty-gritty on this, send me a PM) are by nature (far less moisture absorbtion), more stain resistant but the treatments available on nylon today virtually eliminate this as a concern.

Laminate floor was mentioned by the OP. I would suggest serious caution be excerized before using these typ[e of products. The core materials are fiberboard which do not like water any to much. Regardless of what manufacturers will tout, high humidty areas can be problematic. They are better than 30 years ago when Pergo first hit the market using low and medium density cores, but I have seen lieterally hundreds of these floors fail. Being a forensic flooring person, my favorite line is: What do I caln HPL (high pressure laminate) floors? Job sercurity...

I, like BobK, am a fan of resilient floors for boats, particullary vinly sheet or tiles. That said, we have had few issues with the enigineered wood a PO installed on our vessel. Though we do not have it in our galley so indentations are not a concern..

 

[Jay]

I just made this decision and have ordered amtico. It will be going in at the end of the month. For me, the issue came down to maintenance and long term viability. I looked at hundreds of hatteras photos and actual samples--the Amtico is possibly the gold standard in vinyl--and the cost is $7.50/sq foot. What I will be giving up in sound insulation will be somewhat mitigated by area rug and pad over the main salon and ER hatch. Good luck with your decision.

 

[SEVEN]

I have both and love both. Galley and heads have teak and holy. Balance of the boat is carpeted. We don't wear shoes indoors so carpet is softer and warmer on the feet. Best advice, do what your wife wants.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Best advice, do what your wife wants.

Very sound advice.

 

[MikeP]

It's actually the ONLY advice that matters!

 

[rsmith]

Carpet hides a lot of sins. But if your the type that leaves your boat shoes on the dock and spends your time on the boat with a swifter in one hand and a mini Dyson in the other wood might be for you. Plus the Admiral prolly likes your maids costume

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Did you say maid?? This is life aboard ASLAN!*


www.hatterashangtags.com

* Well it ought to.

 

[Sailor John]

You guys are too funny.
I appreciate all the advise. (The good and the well-intended).
No decisions yet but I will keep you posted as we move ahead.
Wood or laminate with an area rug seems favoured.
From a colour perspective, the best looking seems to be the lighter shades. They really set off the teak walls.
Now we are even thinking about replacing the parquet floor in the galley.
One thing leads to another...
Sailor John

 

[bobk]

You guys are too funny.
I appreciate all the advise. (The good and the well-intended).
No decisions yet but I will keep you posted as we move ahead.
Wood or laminate with an area rug seems favoured.
From a colour perspective, the best looking seems to be the lighter shades. They really set off the teak walls.
Now we are even thinking about replacing the parquet floor in the galley.
One thing leads to another...
Sailor John

While you are in there......

But remember if sound abatement is a goal, you need to cover all the sole. Partial will not help much.

Bobk

 

[krush]

.... and spends your time on the boat with a swifter in one hand and a mini Dyson in the other wood might be for you....

I bought a cordless dyson because of this forum. It's great for the RV and boat LOL

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Is that the one that runs on high for six minutes after a three hour charge? I hope yours is newer and improved.