Installing Flooring in Carver Mariner

[amanphoto]

I want to replace the carpet in the Salon of my Carver Mariner. I've seen lots of boats posted with "wood" flooring. My questions are..... Is it real wood, laminate or vinyl that looks like wood? Does the flooring hold up to the dampness of being on a boat? Is it nailed down or glued? What has worked? Thickness of flooring, I don't think you would want to put 3/4" hardwoods in?

Here are a couple of pics I found. I want to Salon and Galley to match, being that it's an open area.

[mjk1040]

The possibilities are endless. Mike

[Viper]

Qr Bbpost The possibilities are endless. Mike

++1
I think you'd be surprised at how much of what you see is vinyl. Some products look so real even I have to double check. The thing to remember about thin vinyl products is that they will show just about every surface imperfection of the floor you're laying them on, so make sure your substrate is clean and smooth with no pumps or cavities or they will eventually be noticeable. If the current floor is very uneven for some reason such as old glue, you can either remove with a sander or sometimes it's easier to lay a 1/4" sub floor over top. Use fillers to fill joints and low spots. Don't use solvents to remove old glue, the residue they leave behind may affect the new glue you use to apply your new product. The vinyls are typically glued down.

Wood products have been used for years with much success though they have their cons as well. One is that wood by it's very nature doesn't remain stable through varying conditions such as temperature, humidity, etc. Under some conditions, dimensions change, cracks can appear, finishes fade, etc. There is also a weight consideration. The only way I would go with wood is with an actual marine product like teak and holly. If I were in a climate where I wouldn't need to worry about climate, I may consider regular hardwood flooring but only if it were 1/4" thick. These are actually more expensive than the 3/4" variety (too much weight). Or I'd go with an engineered wood product. These tend to be more stable than solid wood. You can get this in teak and holly sheets. Pricier but the look is timeless.

Laminates are becoming more popular with DYIers such as in your second picture. Its cost makes it an attractive material to change an interior's look but keep in mind that if it's a traffic area getting wet at times, it may not be the best choice unless you're always on the ready to dry it up. Having said that, there are some waterproof ones, and some made of plastic. While these can float on the substrate, there will be areas that you'll have to mechanically fasten with glue or nails (hatches) depending on the material your substrate is made of.

If you're installing a product where carpet used to be, and the carpet wrapped around a hatch, you'll find quite a gap between the hatch top and surrounding floor to accommodate the thickness of the carpet. You'll need to fill this gap in somehow so that there is no cavity under your new flooring around openings.

Check out Google, boat shows, home shows, etc. Check out RV places too. They sometimes have product that doesn't always make it into the marine scene for a while. Pics from boats for sale are good for design ideas but it can be difficult to tell what product it actually is.

[Viper]

I forgot to mention, I have seen some cork flooring installations and I must say I was impressed. Looked great, and from what I know, it is a very comfortable material to walk on, has natural antibacterial properties, and is fairly easy to install. I think there may be some regular coating maintenance to ensure the product remains sealed but don't quote me on that, newer products may have changed in that respect. I know there is also a product called Stazo Marinedeck 2000 (I think) that is sold in strips and looks like teak deck planking for decks.

[feeez]

I am really liking the look in the second picture. The "all in one" has a really nice flow. Our 2001 has the floor hatch layout as shown in the first picture which complicates the job. One of our past marina mates took on this job and did have quite the task getting the carpet and glue residue removed to a point where the surface was flat. If I tackle this job I am liking Viper's suggestion of laying the sub floor down before the finished deck product chosen. IMHO I think this is very a worthwhile project as it add a touch of class to the interior of the boat and is WAY, WAY easier to keep clean over the carpet.

Cheers
Fraser

[Viper]

If you want a cleaner look, don't frame in the hatches as in the pics. It takes a little more woodworking skill and time but if you frame the perimeter of the hatch and the opening in solid wood strips that are a close match (or stain it) to the flooring, it'll be the same level as the new floor and look way better than having it framed out with metal trim IMO. The following gives you an idea of what I'm talking about. It's teak and holly but you can do it with any flooring.
http://www.powerboat-services.co.uk/?lightbox=dataItem-itd2hmq8

[SanJuanDreamer]

I have a 98 Mariner with carpeting and it can get nasty.
When were out in the San Juans, it gets bad with two kids, dog, crabbing and fishing.
After some research, I'll be using PlasTeak with a 3/16 floor cover padding with a Teak\Holly vinyl flooring.
I'm sure my boats floor is not even and it does have protruding screws, so I'll need a better base floor.

[SanJuanDreamer]

I agree the metal frames around the hatches take away from the looks.

[TonyC]

I also like the second photo. May need to lighten it up a bit (wife can make this call) but having the galley and salon floor area one continuous layout looks good. I will need to have the holding tank hatch which does not appear in the second photo. The carpet does get grungy easily and I may be able to shampoo the carpet one last time. I do have a soft area of the floor at the bottom of the steps. I believe that there is an aluminum brace underneath that needs attention. Will have to wait till next winter's layup for this issue and replacing the carpet.

[SanJuanDreamer]

Let me know what you find on the softspot.
Mine is in front of the stairs/salon table.
Don't notice it until I'm standing in front of the table and someone walks by.