Carpet Backing falling Apart/Disintegrating

R

ras737

Member
Feb 7, 2010
32
Westerly,RI
Boat Info
2008 44 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins
I own a 340 Sundancer that I purchased new in 2004. At the start of my third season I noticed that the black rubberized backing of the carpet was beginning to breakdown. I am curious as to how many people are having similiar issues with their carpet backing. What frustrates me the most is that the top sides are still like new. Like most of us on this forum I take great pride in keeping my boat looking new. Unfortunatly the disintegrating rubber makes such a mess that the carpets are unusable. :smt013 I know that this is not an isolated case,my marina alone has four SeaRays with the same issue. Has anyone been able to get them replaced by SeaRay? What can cause this to happen on such a large scale? Any info would help. Also as a side note I have been getting pink blotches all over my cockpit vinyl. This is impossible to remove and it gets worst with time. I am not alone with this one either. Many SeaRays at my marina started to experience this in the fourth or fifth season of ownership. Anyone having this issue?
 
Along with Honda portable generators, this is one of the most common discussions on the board. Search the subject and you will see how many of us have dealt with this problem.
 
The Sea Ray carpets are known to have cheap backing and there is nothing you can do about it. It's the nature of the product that they used and they most likely won't replace them. Your best option is to go to snapincarpet.com and get new carpet with upgraded backing. Cost is roughly $500-$700 range for new carpet.
 
I have used black rubberized roof coating applied with a brush to renew my carpets. It worked well, is cheap and has lasted three years now.
 
Being aware of this problem I coated my 'new to me' carpets, on the back, with a rubber protectant. I'll let you all know in a few years if it worked!
 
ras737 said:
I own a 340 Sundancer that I purchased new in 2004. At the start of my third season I noticed that the black rubberized backing of the carpet was beginning to breakdown. I am curious as to how many people are having similiar issues with their carpet backing. What frustrates me the most is that the top sides are still like new. Like most of us on this forum I take great pride in keeping my boat looking new. Unfortunatly the disintegrating rubber makes such a mess that the carpets are unusable. :smt013 I know that this is not an isolated case,my marina alone has four SeaRays with the same issue. Has anyone been able to get them replaced by SeaRay? What can cause this to happen on such a large scale? Any info would help. Also as a side note I have been getting pink blotches all over my cockpit vinyl. This is impossible to remove and it gets worst with time. I am not alone with this one either. Many SeaRays at my marina started to experience this in the fourth or fifth season of ownership. Anyone having this issue?
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Here's one of the threads on this subject, http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showpost.php?p=71753&postcount=9, starting at post 9. There's a product from Durabak that get's discussed. Follow the thread further down to post 18 and there are photos and instructions on using it.
 
ras737 said:
Also as a side note I have been getting pink blotches all over my cockpit vinyl. This is impossible to remove and it gets worst with time. I am not alone with this one either. Many SeaRays at my marina started to experience this in the fourth or fifth season of ownership. Anyone having this issue?
Click to expand...
I can't help with the carpet backing since mine are fine. But with the pink blotches? Are you using the cheap life jackets that the dealers give you? They tend to bleed into the vinyl. Actually I have had plastic bags (like the shopping bags with writing on it) also leave marks on the vinyl.
 
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ras737 said:
Also as a side note I have been getting pink blotches all over my cockpit vinyl. This is impossible to remove and it gets worst with time. I am not alone with this one either. Many SeaRays at my marina started to experience this in the fourth or fifth season of ownership. Anyone having this issue?
Click to expand...

Is it only Sea Rays in your marina? It might be a local environmental issue that's not obvious.....bird or insect droppings, leaves landing on the seat, etc.
 
I replaced mine last year, my boats a 2004. The originals are still serviceable but were leaving black rubber each time I pulled them up so just replaced them. The upgraded backing from Snap-In-Carpet seem like it should last longer.
 
This is a very common issue in almost every Sea Ray with removable carpet (as well as numerous other boat builders). Some boats seem to be affected more adversely than others, depending on environmental conditions. The factory carpet that Sea Ray uses has a carbon-based rubber backing that is prone to disintegration within a short period of time. I'm not familiar with the 'rubber protecant' approach, but it might be worth a try to start with. Aside from that, your only real solution is to completely replace it. There are several other marine carpet manufacturers that use different compounds in their backings to avoid this break down, I'd suggest going with one of their products.
 
Has anyone tried the type that does not have the rubber backing? I bought mine new 3 years ago and it is coming apart. I'm ready to try something new

What purpose does the rubber backing provide? It seems to hold more water when wet. Like stepping on a sponge
 
We replaced out carpet when we bought the boat. The original was not good, that backing is terrible!

The pink spots on your vinyl are probably mildew. I've talked to a lot of boat owners and no one seems to be able to get rid of it. Sorry.
 
KayKook said:
Much more subdued sales pitch this time around from "Corinthey" :smt038:grin:
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LOL KayKook:wink:...I just wanted to throw my two cents in about the ol' 'black rubber backed carpet issue'...
 
I want to thank everyone for their input on this issue. If I decide to spend 500 to 700 dollars it will be a different product. Its to bad that the manufacturer is still putting out an inferior product. SeaRay should be ashamed for not demanding better from this vendor. The Durabak product also looks like it might be an option for me. As for the pink blotches its most likely red marker that is used to mark the vinyl before it is cut. After a few years this ink eventualy seeps thru the vinyl and of course that makes it impossible to remove.
 
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