Carpet Removal and Replacement

[BillM2]

I need to remove the carpet on the floor section above my gas tank. The floor is soft but I can't find the exact match carpet. Would like to remove the existing carpet and re-apply to the new wood. Can I use a heat gun or hair dryer to soften the glue holding the carpet to the wood, peel away, then re-glue the old one on?

I have an '88 Sea Ray and though many of the carpet samples I've received come close to matching, they're all different somewhat in color and pile.

Any advice?

 

[Mike Ryan]

just pulling it off should remove it w/o damage

 

[arks1]

A boat that age needs new carpet.
Glue-down carpet removal can be a tough job, but I've found that soaking the old carpet with hot water helps soften the old glue. Cut it in narrow strips with a utility knife and use visegrips to hold the end while pulling. After the carpet is gone and the deck is dry, a razor scraper can be used (carefully) to get rid of the glue residue.
When I renovated my Wellcraft, I painted the wood deck with epoxy paint and added some sand for traction when wet. The new carpet was installed with snaps around the perimeter and made it much easier to clean.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!