Carpet backing brittle - any way to save them?

Soul Mate II

Member
Jun 28, 2015
193
New York
Boat Info
99 340 Sundancer
Engines
7.4 Mercruiser w V drives
The carpets I have on the boat have a black rubber backing. The backing has gotten so dry it's brittle. Any ideas on slowing this process down or stopping it. The black is flaking off and making a mess and/ or it's sticking to the deck.

Thanks for any help!!!
 
The carpets I have on the boat have a black rubber backing. The backing has gotten so dry it's brittle. Any ideas on slowing this process down or stopping it. The black is flaking off and making a mess and/ or it's sticking to the deck.

Thanks for any help!!!
Best remedy is the trash can - you can't save it and if you keep it all of that crumbly backing will be impacted into your non skid. Then install Infinity Woven vinyl.
 
There actually are ways to save it. There are several threads here about the subject.
I'm in the process now of applying Flexseal to mine, and its turning out really good.
I pressure washed as much off as I could, then rolled the Flexseal on.
It should give me a few more years out of it.
The Infinity and similar products do get warm/hot, according to a lot of people.
 
I brushed white Flexseal on mine (2 coats), it works great! No more black stuff everywhere. I remove the carpets at the dock, wash down with a hi-pressure hose, they stay nice and clean and don’t shrink at all.
 
+1 on flexseal. Used a power washer and stiff brush to remove the black and brushed on the flexseal. Just be careful not to get any on the carpet side (D’Oh!)!
 
Sounds like Flexseal it is. Is this the stuff that you see on the bad infomercials? Where do you purchase flex seal?
 
Sounds like Flexseal it is. Is this the stuff that you see on the bad infomercials? Where do you purchase flex seal?
Wall Mart. I just completed this project last Sunday. Flex Seal , white, was applied. Rust-oleum has a clear product that works well too.
 
Durabak smooth works perfectly as well. I did mine and when I sold it three years later there still was not a spot of black dust.
 
Sounds like Flexseal it is. Is this the stuff that you see on the bad infomercials? Where do you purchase flex seal?

The commercials are corny, but that stuff works!

I have a driver's floor mat in my FJ that had a hole worn in it from the heel (mat is rubber). I used the liquid black flex seal and repaired it, it's still there a year later.

I've also used it on the bitter ends of my dock lines.
 
I bought mine from Lowes, it sure is expensive.
Around here it's $90.00 a gallon, if your a vet you can get a 10% discount.
 
I just did mine with white elastomeric roof coating ( $25 a Gal. at Home Depot ) as mentioned in previous threads. We'll see how it turns out.
 
I just did mine with white elastomeric roof coating ( $25 a Gal. at Home Depot ) as mentioned in previous threads. We'll see how it turns out.
Looks great! Bringing it down to the boat tonight. I will post results. (at the end of the season)
 
I just did a single carpet with white rustoleum “flex seal”. same product...$10 each can instead of $13. 2 cans for this small helm carpet. I used white in case it flakes. Ill let you know how this one holds up and then do my others. I used duct tape around the edges then sprayed on a sheet of plywood. Overspray wasnt bad at all.
 

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Looks great! Bringing it down to the boat tonight. I will post results. (at the end of the season)
So far, so good. Took it up to check and all is good. It seems to be the cheap solution! Goes on like thick latex paint. I used a roller.
 
Bought the flex seal in spray and liquid. Home Depot didn't have the Rustoleum in white in a can...go figure. I will follow the advise above, high pressure hose and a stiff brush. Going to try and roll it on. Thanks for the advise!
 
One more thing i did with the spray...

The first carpet I sprayed until completely coated. Took a lot of product. The next two I sprayed on heavy and used a cheap 4-6” plastic spackle knife to spread it. Worked great, used a lot less product, but it doesnt look as nice from the bottom. Let them air out a few days as mine were pretty stinky from fumes. You can repeat until covered to your liking.

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Even though they turned out usable for a few years we will replace them this year to update the look. Not sure what color though.

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flexseal… must be made out of the most expensive substance on earth... but it works. just be careful when you are flowing it on , it may bleed through the other side where the backing is completely off
 
Even though they turned out usable for a few years we will replace them this year to update the look. Not sure what color though.

Set the in the sun and see how hot they get. Some colors get hotter than others. I would let them sit in the sun for 30 minutes and then use a IR thermometer to compare. Of course you will end up with the color the Admiral chooses. LOL

MM
 
True on the color choice...especially since shes an interior designer. But she is very aware of the heat and wouldnt allow seadeck for that reason.
 

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