So You're Thinking About Tearing Up Your Cabin Carpet?

midexp

midexp

Active Member
Oct 5, 2016
424
Harrison Township, Michigan Lake St.Clair
Boat Info
1999 40' Sundancer
Engines
454 merc
So I started this about a week ago and made a video on YouTube to document it. Hopefully it gives anyone thinking about tearing up their cabin carpet an idea of how hard it is. But don't get discouraged, it's not impossible. Just very labor intensive. BTW, I did try the oscillating tool with the flat blade and that just doesn't cut it if the glue is heavy like mine. But others have had good luck using it. I just bought a steel floor scraper from Lowes and grunted it out. I would spend about an hour at a time and will finish in about a week (everyday). Below is the video link and the link for the scraper.

Enjoy.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PERSONNA-6-in-Black-Steel-Floor-Scraper/1002575980
 
Did ya try a heat gun? I had to remove the carpet on the stairs on my old 400DA and used a heat gun waving it across the glue bond line after peeling back an edge and it came up rather easily as well as did much of the glue.... Might also want to think about removing the door before that brut force tool puts a hole in it....
 
My first thought after watching that video - there are some things worth paying others to do :)

That looks painful. Inch at a time kinds of painful.

I'm sure it's going to be worth it though. Good for the ole heart too. Keeps us active during these winter months...
 
Yeah, no. Best option is to just cover it with the marine weave stuff. :)
 
midexp said:
So I started this about a week ago and made a video on YouTube to document it. Hopefully it gives anyone thinking about tearing up their cabin carpet an idea of how hard it is. But don't get discouraged, it's not impossible. Just very labor intensive. BTW, I did try the oscillating tool with the flat blade and that just doesn't cut it if the glue is heavy like mine. But others have had good luck using it. I just bought a steel floor scraper from Lowes and grunted it out. I would spend about an hour at a time and will finish in about a week (everyday). Below is the video link and the link for the scraper.

Enjoy.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PERSONNA-6-in-Black-Steel-Floor-Scraper/1002575980
Click to expand...

Was this the same boat from the 410 Facebook group posted the other day?

edit: NM I just went and looked and his was a 2002. He made the same comment about the glue though, total PIA. My old boat the carpet came up in one piece and had shiny gelcoat underneath, so much easier
 
I had given some thought to doing this myself until I realized how labor intensive this job is. I have a bad back so this is definitely out of the question for me. I recently had some canvas work done on my boat and that company also does marine carpet. I have asked them on three separate occasions to come to my boat to give me an estimate to pull up the carpet and replace it. Each time my requests were ignored. Now I know why.
 
The term 'Sweat Equity' comes to mind. Now I'm glad I only replaced the carpet in the salon that was a snap in carpet over the engine hatches. The new owner is planning a total hardwood install however but he is young so he will be ok.
Carpe Diem
 
Could you take a carpet layer sharp knife and cut from top down 6" strips and then pull up the strips individually? I can't imagine the knife would do any real damage to the underlay.
 
copb8tx said:
Could you take a carpet layer sharp knife and cut from top down 6" strips and then pull up the strips individually? I can't imagine the knife would do any real damage to the underlay.
Click to expand...

No don't think that will work. I tried just pulling a small section of an edge by grabbing on to hit with pliers and it basically comes up in inch sections. You need to get under a section with the blade of the scraper and jab and lift many times. It's not impossible, just takes a lot of hard work. Hopefully I won't screw up installing the floor and it will be worth it.
 
All the power to you guys. I decided this week not to take this project on .....again :( ...death by a thousand cuts is no way to spend the next few weeks
 
copb8tx said:
The trick isn't to commit to pulling up all your carpet. It's too just commit to pulling up a corner to see how it goes. And then before you know it you're knee deep in it and can't turn back.
Click to expand...

With my luck I'd pick the corner that was mysteriously under-adhered from the factory. Full of confidence I'd proceed with the project only to learn of my folly, that the rest of the carpet is properly secured as shown in the video here. I'd spend the next 8 trips to the boat complaining, working my arse off, drinking heavily, caring for my breaking back. All to finish the project two months later and have my admiral point out that three of the new trim pieces don't line up perfectly :)
 
Last edited:
Stee6043 said:
With my luck I'd pick the corner than was mysteriously under-adhered from the factory. Full of confidence I'd proceed with the project only to learn of my folly, that the rest of the carpet is properly secured as shown in the video here. I'd spend the next 8 trips to the boat complaining, working my arse off, drinking heavily, caring for my breaking back. All to finish the project two months later and have my admiral point out that three of the new trim pieces don't line up perfectly :)
Click to expand...
ding ding ding, we have a winner, Ditto for me and my luck.
I am going to tackle this, just not any sooner than i have to
 
midexp said:
So I started this about a week ago and made a video on YouTube to document it. Hopefully it gives anyone thinking about tearing up their cabin carpet an idea of how hard it is. But don't get discouraged, it's not impossible. Just very labor intensive. BTW, I did try the oscillating tool with the flat blade and that just doesn't cut it if the glue is heavy like mine. But others have had good luck using it. I just bought a steel floor scraper from Lowes and grunted it out. I would spend about an hour at a time and will finish in about a week (everyday). Below is the video link and the link for the scraper.

Enjoy.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PERSONNA-6-in-Black-Steel-Floor-Scraper/1002575980
Click to expand...

How many hours did you have to remove the carpet? looking for an approximation
 
Stee6043, I love your comment. I know we have the same boat and if the same jackass who laid my carpet did yours every section your try will be glued solid. BUT, it will come up.

Chris-380, not sure how old you are, I'm almost 61 and in the best shape of my life. But it is very labor intensive and I could only do about an hour at a time of really scrapping away without worrying about my marina finding me dead of a heart attack. But to answer your question, for your 38, it could be done in 4 - 6 hours with just one person. I like the heat gun suggestion someone made, but that would most likely take 2 people? I did find power at a close well and was able to use my oscillating tool which worked fairly well. I had all the carpet up, but used this to remove some of the heavy glue that remained on the floor. I will take video of this tomorrow.

Dock O Rock, I'm glad someone asked this as I'd like input. My leading candidate is the Cherry and Black Joint Nautik. It's sold by several names (i.e. Nautik, PlasTEAK). It will be about a grand for my 40 cabin floor, including aft cabin and 3 steps. I plan on screwing down plywood and this will glue done to it. BTW, I am told it would cost about 10 grand to pay a flooring company to rip out the old carpet, sand the floor smooth and install a marine floor for a 40DA.
upload_2021-1-1_20-12-19.png



I also found this flooring from HD that the Cherry matches fairly well with the SR cabinets, but the Cherry is only about 1/3 of the floor and the rest is the darker color, so I' afraid that may not look right? Being it's "regular flooring", not marine, it's way cheaper. It's glue down and fairly thin, so I can cut it with a razor knife.
upload_2021-1-1_20-13-1.png



I have some other samples of regular, thin glue down flooring that I am trying to match with our Cherry cabinets so I may use them. But the Nautik is in the lead. I also am considering a light color similar to the color of the original carpet. The forties are dark inside as we don't have the windows the other boats do so a light color laminate flooring may look good? Most are Oak and can you mix Oak with Cherry?

As I say in my video, with this COVID crap, I have all the time in the world, so I will spend the next 2 months getting the floor prepped for what every I decide. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts on the flooring I have here.
 
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