Carpet Care? How to dry and store during the week...

[jhillard]

In looking to buy a used v-drive, I noticed that most of them (and all Tige's, which is how I am leaning) have carpet in the interior.

Our previous boats have all had snap in carpet, which we promptly took out and never used. At the end of the weekend, wash the boat, give it a wipe down, put the cover on it, and we are good to go next weekend.

How does that work with carpet? How long does it take the carpet to dry? Is there a way to dry it quicker? I would hate to only use the boat Saturday so it could dry out Sunday before we put the cover on it.

Or does everyone have a garage to put their boats in? (that's not an option for us). Will those silica things that absorb water work? Or use a vented cover with a fan running all week?

Leaving the cover off just invites birds or other critters to use the boat, not a good idea where we are.

Or is it wet carpet not a big deal in the summer as long as it gets uncovered and aired out every weekend?

Let me know what folks do, somebody must have solved this problem already.

[Ruger761]

I personally let mine dry a day or 2 before putting the cover on. But I have it under a lean-to on my shop so its basically covered from most stuff. When I had it inside my garage I put fans in it to dry it faster especially the compartments. Out in the full sun it will dry quickly espeically when its 90+ deg. Main thing is get wet lifejackets/tubes or what ever out of the boat and open any compartments that got wet including motor cover. Wet carpet and a non-vented cover your asking for mold in the summer.

[IDBoating]

I share your hatred of carpet in boats. This topic has come up here quite a few times. One solution several (including me) are considering is ripping out the carpet in favor of a new product called Deckadence. Do a search here on that word to find a few threads discussing it.

[Duncan]

Non-snap-out carpet in our 09 RZ2.

In some ways, glued in carpet is better than snap-out because it will actually dry out underneath. Rubber-bottomed snap out is not able evaporate out water from underneath as easily -- you can take it out of course, but then you have to do so.

We use our RZ2 heavy on the weekends and it is usually pretty wet. The boat is stored under a roof and the cover is breathable. West Marine Dri-Dek panels are placed under the ballast sacks. I use a silica-drying unit (plugs in to heat the silica and drive off water for recharge during the day when boat in use) in each compartment. The boat is usually dry by the next weekend.

If areas are really soaked, I will use a small wet/dry vac to get up some of it. I also drape wet jackets over a wakeboard on the floor. If I had access to electric where it was stored, I would put in a cover vent and small fan.

All that said, I would go with the Deckadence product WABoating mentioned but for the incredible PIA to get up all the carpet and glue and gel coat the floor.

[jhillard]

Thanks for the info. I always pull all the stuff off the boat (boards, vests, towels, wetsuits, etc). So at least I won't have that moisture to deal with.

Sounds like a wet vac, a fan, open lockers/seats, and some "Damp-Rid" is the way to go.

[konajay]

A mildew block product on your vinyl is not a bad idea either, especially if you have the kind of damp air we have here in western Oregon.

[SBM1234]

We live in Houston (humidity 90% or above on average) so we have to vacuum the carpets everytime we use it - they won't dry out by themselves.

I also use Damp Rid - I put one of the canisters in the bow and one near the captain's chair before I put the cover on. I have to say it works really well. Whatever moisture is left gets sucked up by them.

Good luck!

[Burton007]

Well I don't have carpet in my boat but I think you can use Deckadence on the carpet area because it soak the water and never let it go the under the Deckadence sheet. the other way is you can vacuum the water from the carpet and then dry it with dryer or park the boat under the sunlight.

[kmkramer71]

slice open a bag of charcoal and lay the bag (slit up ) and the charcoal will absorb moisture and part of any smells. the charcoal will be useless afterwards

[Burton007]

Well I don't have carpet in my boat but I think you can use Deckadence on the carpet area because it soak the water and never let it go the under the Deckadence sheet. the other way is you can vacuum the water from the carpet and then dry it with dryer or park the boat under the sunlight.

Any comments???

PHJ Services

[M&M]

2000 20CI, Missouri, ozarks. My boat sits on a Hydra Hoist all week under a cover. I bought a heater from West Marine. Whisper quiet operation. I leave it plugged in all week, carpet is dry when I come back. M&M

[chpthril]

Well I don't have carpet in my boat but I think you can use Deckadence on the carpet area because it soak the water and never let it go the under the Deckadence sheet. the other way is you can vacuum the water from the carpet and then dry it with dryer or park the boat under the sunlight.

Any comments???

PHJ Services

Yeah, I'll bit.

I am either misreading your statement about the material marketed as "Deckadence" and a couple of other brand names and similar materials, or I have missed the mark on what the materials are and why they are used in boats. Its my understanding that by the very nature of the materials they are constructed with, they do not absorb or hold water. These mats are basically thick nylon loops bonded with a rubber backing, correct? Whats there to soak up water?