Boat Flooring Options

Say Goodbye to Astro-Turf

To say that the flooring options available in boats have recently improved would be a great understatement. One of the most simple, yet important upgrades found in boats in recent years is the new generation of flooring options. For many decades, most boats had wood floors and that greatly limited the flooring options available. Most had some form of boat carpet or astro-turf and it was typically glued onto the wood subfloor. This caused many headaches for boaters. The boat carpet would get wet, and once it is wet, it’s very hard to dry out. The carpet could not be removed, and the moisture it holds would potentially lead to mildew forming on the interior of the boat. This was a vicious cycle that seemed to be never ending. In addition to holding water, if the boat carpet would become stained or soiled, you would be stuck with trying to clean the stains, or possibly living with did not clean up. To make things worse, the wooden subfloors which are not made with marine-grade wood could begin to rot over time. This was a natural effect of having carpet which holds water fixed to the floor. Many old boats developed “squishy” floors which compromised the entire structure of the deck.

Enter: Fiberglass Floors

In the 90’s, boat manufacturers began replacing the wood floors in boats with fiberglass floors that were molded into the top deck. This opened up a great variety of flooring options, and took care of many of the problems that wood floors created. Fiberglass does not rot or hold water. It can be washed down with a hose for easy cleanup and low maintenance. A textured “non-skid” can be formed into the floor so it is not slippery to walk on without the need for any carpet on top. In many center console fishing boats, this is the flooring of choice. Any mess you might get on the fiberglass when fishing or doing any activities can easily be cleaned and will not hurt the floor in any way. It also keeps the cost lower than adding flooring on top of the fiberglass.

Snap-In Carpet

The first natural addition to the new fiberglass floors was the snap-in boat carpet option. This gives you the comfort of carpeting, but the option to remove it for cleaning or drying if it does get wet. It is typically easy to clean by pressure washing and newer carpet is meant for high-traffic outdoor use which is perfect in boats. Snap-in carpet is still a very common option in many types of boats and it is the most affordable type of removable flooring.

Synthetic Flooring

Synthetic flooring has become one of the most popular flooring options in recent years, and for good reason. Cosmetically, synthetic flooring gives the vendor a blank canvas to make the flooring look exactly how they like. Some popular designs use a “teak design” which replicates the look of teak flooring and it can be made in unlimited color options. Vendors can even customize the flooring with different graphics & designs to match the boat. Some synthetic flooring is glued to the floor of the boat, and some is removable via snaps. It does not hold water and it also cleans easily. It does tend to be priced higher than carpet, so take that into consideration.

Vinyl Flooring

Another very popular flooring option is vinyl flooring. There are a few different variations of the vinyl floor, but they all function in a similar way. Some vinyl floors are made of a hard vinyl with a textured surface. It may be a solid color or might have similar colors and designs as you find in synthetic flooring with the teak design being a very popular choice. Another version of the vinyl floor is the woven vinyl. This features a tight weave of vinyl fibers and typically has a soft backing. The same options in designs exist as you find in solid vinyl or synthetic, but the soft back makes it very comfortable to walk on. Vinyl flooring also does not hold water or stain and is very easy to maintain and clean.

Conclusion

Never before have some many options been available in boat flooring, so take advantage. Flooring has gone from a problem area in many boats to a great selling point when the right floor is chosen. We highly recommend searching for a boat with a fiberglass floor to start, and then determine which upgrades, if any, suit your boating needs. The options available these days can be overwhelming, so take your time in making a decision. Flooring is one of the most important aspects of your boat, so be sure to get it right and it will make your boat ownership much more enjoyable!