[Cthulhu]

I'm giving serious thought to recarpeting my 1988 Ranger 680-T. After 20 years of hard fishing, the rug's looking pretty beat up. I see that Cabela's has marine carpeting at a reasonable price and I've put vinyl flooring down in my wife's garden shed, but I was wondering if anyone's got any suggestions, advice, or dire warnings about how to recarpet a boat. And yeah, I've seen the site where the guy from Wisonsin redid his 680-T...that's kinda where I got the itch to do mine. So, any words of wisdom?

[sidewinder]

Cthulhu: My Dad and I recarpeted his 1974 Ranger Tr 10. We used a marine grade carpet glue and a good grade marine carpet. We cut the carpet to dry fit the boat, the glue instructions say to coat the deck and the carpet and let get tacky before laying the carpet, that was a mistake. We couldn't shift the carpet properly in place,tore that off and this time only coated the deck and then layed the carpet down. We were able to move the carpet alittle and roll out any rinkles. The carpet and boat look as good as new today. Good Luck Sidewinder

[Cthulhu]

Wow.
Good to know Sidewinder, thanks!
I'd heard that with the glue, once it's on, it's ON.
Nice to know that I can use your trick and still have some wiggle room.
Have you noticed any lifting up or loosening at all?

[sidewinder]

Cthulhu: The carpet has stayed just the way we layed it . We did put the glue down alittle thicker than normal and layed the carpet down before the glue got tacky. It did take two people to do the job and we used a roller used for pressing down countertop materials to get a good bond. We had to remove our locker lids so we did them on the work bench. Sidewinder

[SMALLIEHUNTER]

You could call Ranger Boats (870)-453-2222 Give them the hull # and they will send the exact carpet cut and bound ready to install!!!!!!

[hawghunterbaits]

yes call ranger they usally stock all the stuff from boats they have sold in the past, when I redid my dash in my 89 ranger they sent me the same woodgrain dash I had when it was new, a year later I had to replace a seat and the same thing. give them a call

[Spike-A-Pike]

When I was doing my Tournament V-17 I learned two main points. 1) Darker carpet doesn't show as much dirt. 2) A chalk gun with a tube of Liquid Nails is the good way to wrap carpet around corners and get a water tight seal at the edge of the carpeting.

If the deck is made of plywood, pressure treated plywood is a good replacement, but consider having a local metal shop bending some marine grade aluminum plate deck hatches with square or rectangular tube stock on the edges for a nice, neat fit.

[Cthulhu]

Thanks for the info Smalliehunter and Hawghunterbaits!
That would definitely save me a ton of time and frustration I'm sure.
I'll give a call immediately.

And Spike-a-pike, I'll be sure to check out the decks when I pull the old carpet. And I hear you about the darker carpet! I'm looking at charcoal grey, myself.

edited to add: Well, just talked to Ranger on the phone. They'll sell me the carpet, but it's by the square yard, and no patterns for the boat. So, back to the Cabela's catalogue I go...

[Spike-A-Pike]

Cthulhu,
You may want to check out the Boat Carpet Store, The Boat Carpet Store - Marine Carpet Ships for Free - Boat Carpet Ships within 72-hrs. I got my boat seats from them the end of April; got them at a good price and they shipped fast, I believe I got them in 3 days and shipping was free. They also have pretty good installation guide to give you a pretty good idea of the task ahead of you. Good luck.

[Delw]

Having Carpetted many boats dont use marine glue, use contact cement and a small air sprayer to apply it.
also only use a CARPET knife to cut the carpet nothing else and make sure you change the blade every time you hit the deck of the boat. Blades are cheap dont use a dull one.
Dont buy land and sea carpet its garbage.
I have some pics somehwere of my 7 year old daughter recarpeting a ranger.