Seadek/Marinemat/Aquamarine Protective Top-coat

[baktasht]

EVA foam is used for Boat/Marine flooring often these days. I have installed it on our last 3 boats and love the look and feel.

It's a great choice, and much more resistant to staining than typical marine carpet. But sometimes EVA stains as well. All of the marine flooring manufacturers have told me that there is not a good option for coating to protect EVA. I'm going to do my own research and am starting testing different water/stain proofing products on the EVA foam. I've got it narrowed down to 3 different products I want to test. If you have any you're curious about let me know and I'll add it to my test side by side with the others.

EDIT: Added a few more products to the test lineup based on feedback from folks. Up to 5 different ones to test so far.

EDIT Again:
Up to 7 products I'm testing now. Here's the current list:
* 303 fabric guard
* starbrite water proofer
* Trinova marine protectant
* Bayes High performance fabric protectant (indoor/outdoor)
* Nikwax TX-direct
* Scotchgard water & sun
* 303 Aerospace

EDIT Again Again:
Added 2 more products to the test list:
* Dr Beasleys LeatherLock
* Dr Beasleys LeatherLock Pro

UPDATE - VIDEO UPLOADED!!!
Video testing 9 different coatings on EVA foam (aka seadek, aqua marine deck, gatorstep, marinemat, etc...) is finally up. Its a long one, but worth the watch. I'm going to do two more followup videos as well, one to test durability of the coatings once left out in the sun for a couple weeks, and another to test the relevant coatings on canvas and vinyl.

If you want to skip to the final results watch the last 8 minutes. But I would encourage you to skim through the rest of the video, as the results are somewhat different for each coating and each stain test. Let me know if you have any questions,

Here it is:

 

[Lazy Daze]

I would use the 303 UV protectant stuff (different than what you have there). But seeing as how this stuff is wearing well to begin with, I wonder if it's necessary. But at the same time, it can't hurt to use something like that 303 stuff.

 

[baktasht]

I would use the 303 UV protectant stuff (different than what you have there). But seeing as how this stuff is wearing well to begin with, I wonder if it's necessary. But at the same time, it can't hurt to use something like that 303 stuff.

Up to 7 products I'm testing now. Here's the current list:

* 303 fabric guard
* starbrite water proofer
* Trinova marine protectant
* Bayes High performance fabric protectant (indoor/outdoor)
* Nikwax TX-direct
* Scotchgard water & sun
* 303 Aerospace

 

[Stee6043]

I've found that Simple Green will take just about anything off EVA foam. So...I'd spend your money on cleaner, not pre-treatment? My two cents only of course

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

Getting ready to purchase the new flooring. It is for a 1998 290 dancer. It will be on the entire floor and swim platform. My big concern is that i keep the grill in a pole holder off the back and grill alot. Sometimes grease and crap falls onto the swim platform. I always wash right away but with the platform now being done should i be concerned about stains?

 

[kvduff]

I’ve had some decent luck using sandpaper to lightly sand out stains. I used cheap eBay rolls of Eva foam. Looked good for two seasons and I am now in the process of templating for aquamarinedeck.
Only because of the professional cutting and edges. Looking forward to your test results? What kinds of stains are you going to test the products with? If you need some ideas I’m sure my kids of spilled it all!
Just for others who may want to know, removing Eva foam is no joke. The 3m backing is solid and required a lot of mineral spirits, citric adhesive remover, and acetone in conjunction with a scraper On my 450 I put in at Least 8 hours removing the flooring and residue from the cockpit. Still have the platforms to clean up but waiting to be in the water before removing in those areas
For anyone wondering removing that Eva foam is a bear. The 3m backing required multiple cleaners. Citric adhesive remover, mineral spirits and acetone in conjunction with a scraper. On my 450 , the helm and seating area took around 8 hours of work.

 

[Lazy Daze]

FYI, you can make SeaDek snap in, just like carpets.

 

[Chris-380]

FYI, you can make SeaDek snap in, just like carpets.

I think this would be nice

I have seen it, what do they do, install the sea dek to a backing? And is that something you do after you get it, or does seadek do that?

 

[Lazy Daze]

I think this would be nice

I have seen it, what do they do, install the sea dek to a backing? And is that something you do after you get it, or does seadek do that?

You'd definitely have to install the snaps in place, Chris, so it matches up to the existing ones - or to the placement of the male snaps that you decide. Seadek comes in multiple thicknesses. For the Sport boats, at least, Sea Ray uses 6mm for the swimdeck and 9mm for the cockpit. They use a piece of clear vinyl, cut in a circle, to be used as a backer (top and bottom) - there's no additional/special backer.

 

[baktasht]

I've found that Simple Green will take just about anything off EVA foam. So...I'd spend your money on cleaner, not pre-treatment? My two cents only of course

Agreed on simple green.On the last boat we had some food grease stains that would just not come off with anything. And shoes/flipflops always leave dirt that can be cleaned. But if I can find something that can help keep the flooring clean longer, and also resist stains I'm all for it. I've got around $400 into materials and products to test, I don't mind going through the work with thorough testing if I can find results that are worthwhile. Fingers crossed.

 

[baktasht]

Looking forward to your test results? What kinds of stains are you going to test the products with? If you need some ideas I’m sure my kids of spilled it all!

Give me suggestions. So far the list is:

coffee
red wine
sausage grease
beef grease
chicken grease
bbq sauce
rum & bourbon
cheese puffs
chocolate

 

[baktasht]

You'd definitely have to install the snaps in place, Chris, so it matches up to the existing ones - or to the placement of the male snaps that you decide. Seadek comes in multiple thicknesses. For the Sport boats, at least, Sea Ray uses 6mm for the swimdeck and 9mm for the cockpit. They use a piece of clear vinyl, cut in a circle, to be used as a backer (top and bottom) - there's no additional/special backer.

I saw one friends boat with snap-in EVA and he had non-stop problems with the snaps pulling out of the EVA+backing. i think it was a 2 layer backing, some sort of nylon and then some sort of mesh like you find on the back of carpeting. Personally, I would never do EVA with snap-ins, just do seagrass instead or something similar.

 

[Chris-380]

You'd definitely have to install the snaps in place, Chris, so it matches up to the existing ones - or to the placement of the male snaps that you decide. Seadek comes in multiple thicknesses. For the Sport boats, at least, Sea Ray uses 6mm for the swimdeck and 9mm for the cockpit. They use a piece of clear vinyl, cut in a circle, to be used as a backer (top and bottom) - there's no additional/special backer.

Thank you!

 

[Chris-380]

I saw one friends boat with snap-in EVA and he had non-stop problems with the snaps pulling out of the EVA+backing. i think it was a 2 layer backing, some sort of nylon and then some sort of mesh like you find on the back of carpeting. Personally, I would never do EVA with snap-ins, just do seagrass instead or something similar.

A friend has snaps with seadek in his Yamaha 24’. Not one issue in 4 years. Came with the boat from the factory, so it’s not the product, it must be how they secured the snaps

 

[Stee6043]

I feel like Sea Dek loses it's appeal in the snap-in scenario? Why not go for a marine weave that is thicker, more durable and nearly impossible to stain for about the same cost?

 

[Chris-380]

I feel like Sea Dek loses it's appeal in the snap-in scenario? Why not go for a marine weave that is thicker, more durable and nearly impossible to stain for about the same cost?

The marine we’ve I have, which is probably a cheap version gets HOT, I dread the day I would have to remove the seadek to replace

 

[Stee6043]

The marine we’ve I have, which is probably a cheap version gets HOT, I dread the day I would have to remove the seadek to replace

Mine too...mine too. The dark gray I have looks sooo nice (IMO) but the heat is a pain sometimes. But I have to say it's really quite nice to have zero worries about kids with juice boxes, or wives with wine, in that area of the boat. Rinse, repeat. I've spilled just about everything on that marine weave and never more than a rinse with the hose. I have to simple green and scrub my EVA when it gets dirty.

First world problems to be sure...

 

[Lazy Daze]

A friend has snaps with seadek in his Yamaha 24’. Not one issue in 4 years. Came with the boat from the factory, so it’s not the product, it must be how they secured the snaps

Agree.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I feel like Sea Dek loses it's appeal in the snap-in scenario? Why not go for a marine weave that is thicker, more durable and nearly impossible to stain for about the same cost?

If the Seadek is fit really tight, it blends together - but I can understand why you mentioned that... it's still going to have breaks between the panels.

SeaDek is actually much thicker than the weave. That 9mm stuff is SO nice to walk on. It does warm up, but not to the same extent that the weave stuff does. That said, I do like the weave, as well - light years ahead of regular carpet!

 

[baktasht]

A friend has snaps with seadek in his Yamaha 24’. Not one issue in 4 years. Came with the boat from the factory, so it’s not the product, it must be how they secured the snaps

Does he remove it often to clean? Two main issues I've seen with the snap in EVA products is warping oddly with temperature variation since they're only held in by snaps. And snaps pulling out of the EVA when being removed often. But I'm sure there are success stories out there too. If it were me personally, I would go with a different product if I wanted snap-in.