Boat Trailer Carpet

[Jordan Tremblay]

While fishing this weekend, I realized that the carpet is coming off of the 2X4s that the boat sits on at the bottom of my boat trailer. I have never done boat or marine carpet before. I think you can just buy regular carpet at home depot or lowe's and just glue and staple it down. Any recommendations or tips before I go buy the carpet tonight in hopes to work on it this weekend. I am going to replace all of the 2X4s while I have the boat off of the trailer so that I can carpet them here at home and bring the final product to the camp so that all I have to do is replace the boards and bolt them in.



The thing that sucks about this project is that I have to take the boat off of the trailer to work on the slats that support the boat. So I have to drive to a boat launch to do all the work. Oh well, the price you pay owning a boat.

 

[Todd Z]

Most people use out door carpet or soft astro turf. Wrap the 2x4 and staple it on the bottom...

I also have used short wood screws with washers on the bottom...



Any thing on the top may scratch the boat...



Todd Z

 

[KentheREALone Z]

They sell specific carpet for this. Check out Overtons. com, boatersworld or West marine. I believe they all sell it. I've used it in the past to recover trailer bunks. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll get you a link.

Ken

 

[KentheREALone Z]

And it shouldn't suck. It is very easy, as Todd states, just get a staple gun. If you want it to last more than a few years, buy stainless steel staples for your gun.

 

[EddieS'04]

My dad figured out a way to jack up one side at a time, of his 24 footer. He pulled the rails and repaired one side at a time, with some kind of astro-turf..

 

[Dingo]

Uh, Eddie... The easiest way is to put the boat in some water instead of jacking it up.

 

[Jordan Tremblay]

With the boat being put in water constantly and the wood being receptive to rotting, should I put a layer of glue down on the wood before I staple the carpet on to hold it tight in place and try and keep water from gathering between the carpet and the wood?

 

[Dingo]

You should actually replace the wood. Get new wood, cut it to size, and wrap it in 2 layers of fiberglass. Then carpet.

 

[Jordan Tremblay]

I am going to replace all of the 2X4s while I have the boat off of the trailer so that I can carpet them here at home and bring the final product to the camp so that all I have to do is replace the boards and bolt them in.

Does the figerglass just waterproof the wood? I have never done fiberglass, is it hard to do? Can I still put a bolt through it when attaching it to the trailer? The current 2X4s do not have a layer of fiberglass around them, but I guess that is why one of them has rotted out.

 

[Dingo]

It makes the wood more water-resistant. Water can still get in through bolt holes, staple holes, etc.

It's easy. There are many tutorials online about fiberglassing.

 

[EddieS'04]

Dingo,,,when the water is too far away. I think using a jack is your only choice..



Of course dads is a pontoon. Might have been easier..

 

[Rich Stern]

Skip the fiberglass. Not worth the effort, mess and expense. Use pressure-treated lumber.



The glue is not necessary if you use good fastners and do a thorough job. You want to use stainless steel staples of adequate length, and a good quality staple gun to fasten them securely through the carpet and deep into the wood.

 

[Jordan Tremblay]

I am planning on using pressure treated lumber and stainless steel staples. I am going to Low'e tonight, what is the adequate length for staples you think? I am using my brother's staple gun and he is a subcontractor so I assume it is pretty good. What should the distance between staples be?

 

[Dingo]

If you're going to get treated lumber, specifically request the yellow (arsenic) treated, not the new stuff.

 

[Mark Grumpy]

We used to have 1X6's on our trailer, consider using composite decking boards. I believe they have those in 4X4 and 2X4 as well now.

 

[Jordan Tremblay]

That is a great idea Grumpy. If I got those, then rotting would no longer be an issue. Are they as strong and treated lumber because the boat is pretty big and heavy. I am also concerned with whether I could staple carpet onto the composite board.

If you're going to get treated lumber, specifically request the yellow (arsenic) treated, not the new stuff.

Why use the yellow treated lumber instead of the new stuff?

 

[Mark Grumpy]

Are they as strong?? Honestly, I would expect so but I DON'T REALLY KNOW. If you are not comfortable with it, please, don't take my word for it.



The boards are on the trailer to guide the boat and distribute the weight accross the hull, no single point should be bearing a substantial amount of weight. Me personally, I have and would use them again. You can staple and screw into them just like wood and you can counter sink the bolt heads too.

 

[Jordan Tremblay]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to go to Lowe's tonight after work and take a look at all of my options. I think they sell outdoor carpet at Lowe's that will be a hell of a lot cheaper than going to a marine and boat store. But I have to go by the local boat dealer and shop to pick up a new engine cover that Academy did not carry and our Bass Pro is still being constructed, so I will just take a look at their options while I am there. i will try and remember to give you guys an update tomorrow after I am done.

 

[Dingo]

They're not as strong. They're designed for small o.c. spacing like on decks, etc.



I say to use the yellow, because it lasts longer (and is approved) in marine environments.



And do put carpet on whatever you use. It's there to prevent harm to the boat.

 

[Don Hay]

I don't think that the composit deck board will hold up over the road. Composite deck boards are OK for a deck , but they have to be supported by treated framing when building a deck. Composit deck boards don't have the integrety that treated lumber will have. I think if you use the composite deck board for a structual support on the boat trailer where you fastnen it with bolts, its GOING TO FAIL under the load of the boat & the road conditions (Bumps & holes) .I would make the new bunks out of the treated lumber & wrap them with the marine grade carpet & use the stainless steel staples attached under the bunk away from the boat. Have them made up ahead of time so when you get to the ramp, swap out the old with the new. Good luck & have a happy summer