Carpet Backing

[mawyatt]

Our 2008 SeaRay 38DA cockpit carpet backing is deterorating. Basically the black backing is crumbing and making a mess, and some has stuck to the cockpit fiberglass floor. The front of the carpet is Ok and don't really want to buy new carpet.

Any suggestions on if one can "recoat" the back of the carpet, I recall from somewhere that someone had used truck liner paint/coating. Also, any ideas other than getting a pressure washer (my electric washer didn't work...not enough pressure), on how to remove the backing stuck to the floor?

Thanks,

 

[pdecat]

I would not have rubber backed carpet on a boat. Terrible stuff. Acetone other solvent should remove it. Try WD40 first. Truck liner might melt into the deck also and be worse.

 

[Gregory S]

If it were me, i would replace it with carpet without a backing to avoid the problem you now have. Agree with trying solvents to remove.

 

[meide]

I have had the same thing happen on a couple of boats. Replacing the carpeting was not in the budget. So I bought a thin canvas drop cloth (from Lowes), cut it to shape and glued it to the back of the carpeting using spray contact adhesive. This prevents any further problems with the rubber backing sticking to the boat.

Without the rubber backing I guess the carpeting could move around a bit. But this has never been a problem since they all had snaps around the edges.

I have not yet found an easy way to remove the stuck-on rubber. I tried soap, WD-40, mineral spirits and acetone; nothing seemed to work except scrubbing with a wire brush.

Mike

 

[rawidman]

Acetone would be the product to use to remove the stuck rubber. You are using acetone as a solvent so if it doesn't seem to work, let it sit longer. It needs to get between the rubber and the deck surface. Wash the area with soap and water as soon as you're done with the acetone.

A heat gun and a plastic scraper is another possibility.