Corinthian Marine Carpet

How To Re-Carpet Boat Trailer Bunks

hharrison — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:23:01 +0000

Re-covered Trailer Bunks

Your boat trailer most likely has carpeted covered boards called bunks that protect the hull of your boat during transportation, loading and unloading of your boat. While the carpet is mildew and mold resistant, it will wear out over time. Replacing that carpet is a fairly easy process and using our Trailer Bunk carpet can be done in less than a day. Just remember the boat cannot be on the trailer while you replace the carpet so be sure you store your boat elsewhere or keep it in the water during this project.
You will want to use our Trailer Bunk Carpet for this project because of its resistant to mold and mildew as well as having UV protection, thereby increasing its longevity. You can purchase your carpet from our website http://www.corinthian-marine-carpet.com/marine-carpet/carpet-by-the-foot/trailer-bunk” . With a 16oz. face weight it is sold in either 12” or 16” rolls.

The process is pretty simple, and you will need very few tools to complete the project. Some fine grade sandpaper, a heavy duty staple gun and staples, needle nose pliers or screwdriver to help remove the old staples or screws, a utility knife to cut the carpet, a tape measure, and of course some Trailer Bunk carpet.
First, strip away the old carpet and remove any remaining staples or screws that were holding down the old carpeting. Once the wooden bunks are revealed inspect them for any signs of damage or rot and replace them if necessary. Replace any old rusty hardware as well if necessary; be sure to take the parts with you to the hardware store to make sure you get the right sizes. Lightly sand the bunks with the sand paper to make sure there are no rough edges that could cut through the new carpet.

Measure the dimensions of the bunks and add 3 inches to each dimension. Trace these to the back of the new carpet and cut 2 pieces out using the utility knife. Drape the carpet over the bunks lining up the edges and keeping the carpet centered. Keep the seam on the bottom side away from the side that contacts the boat, and not on the same side that the bunks attach to the frame.

Hold the carpet in place and use the staple gun to secure the carpet. Staple every 2 to 3 inches starting at one edge and working to the other. Only staple the bottom and sides of the bunk. You don’t want to scratch the finish on your boat from a staple that might sit a little too high. Fold over the edges of the carpet before stapling them and cut away the excess carpet with the utility knife. This will keep the new carpet from catching or tearing.

You have invested a lot of money into your boat and maintenance is an important component to keeping it in top shape. Maintenance of your trailer is just as important as maintaining your boat to help protect your investment during transportation, loading and unloading.

Need holiday gift ideas for the boater in your family?

sfitzpatrick — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:04:11 +0000

Looking for a holiday gift for the boater in the family? There are all kinds of great ideas, from a gift card, to a 30′ Sea Ray. Assuming we’re not all going to go out and buy a new boat, we’ve compiled a small list of holiday gift ideas for boat owners of all ages. Some of these gifts are pretty basic and practical, while others will help to add a little bit of personal ‘flavor’ to your old (or new) vessel. We’d love to keep this list growing, so feel free to post comments below, and send us your suggestions!

New Towable Tube: These toys come in all shapes and sizes, and can range from $30 to $700. At any size, it’s sure to create all kinds of fun on the water for the entire family.

Pre-paid Gas Card: Boring? Thoughtless? Well, maybe, but I don’t think any boater would complain about FREE gas the next time they head out to the lake and see the $100 tab at the gas pump.

Doggy Life Jackets: For the dog lover in the family, or just the dog. These come in all sizes and colors. They range from $5 to $50. Keep the dog in the family safe, and get him a neon colored life jacket.

Custom Snap-In AquaMat: Nothing takes away from the classiness and cleanliness of a boat, than some nasty, fraying, worn-out carpet! This is a simple and easy way for a boat owner to spruce up some aging interior and really impress their friends on the next boating trip. Not sure about color, size or model year? No worries, hook your boater up with a gift certificate, and leave the rest to Corinthian Marine!

Wetsuits and Drysuits: The water can get a bit chilly at times. Wetsuits are great if you want to get in an early season ski/wakeboard session. Its also great if you want to go diving of the coast. No matter where you’re using your boat, a wetsuit or drysuit can keep you warm in the water.

Boat Detail Kit: Not only are boat owners obsessed with their boats, they are obsessed with cleaning and detailing ‘em! Have fun and get creative with this one—Grab some marine wax, drying towels, & vinyl cleaner and put together a cool little detail ‘kit’!

Step Mat: Easy, simple, affordable. Keep dirt where it belongs—on the dock, not the boat! Any boat owner would love one or two of these step mats to throw down on the dock before their passengers step on board.

Logbook: A staple in boating tradition and a highly affordable and useful gift. Go basic or take it to the next level and get a personalized cover with the Captain’s name engraved on it.

Snap in Boat Carpet Edge Treatments

hharrison — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:00:37 +0000

A solid edge treatment is the key to a finished, clean looking snap-in boat mat. There are four basic options to choose from but most companies choose to offer only one.

Once you gone through the steps of selecting the carpet style and color, confirming the shape and fit of the template, there is one final choice to make: the type of edge treatment or binding. A finished edge is important to prevent fraying and to keep the mat intact. You never want to leave a raw, exposed edge of cut carpet because eventually the carpet will come apart. Typically the edge finish color is chosen to match the carpet as closely as possible. However for those that dare, the edge can be done in a contrasting color to match seat piping, gel graphics or some other element in the boat – it will completely change the look of the mat.

The four most common options for binding are web fabric, vinyl, canvas (such as Sunbrella®) or yarn serged. Eshco is the most known brand of web fabric binding and is usually the most economical option. It is used because it can be sewn easily. However, the downside to web binding is that it does not have the resiliency other binding options provide. Vinyl and Sunbrella are the next step up and are the industry standard. Both of these binding choices provide a clean, durable edge suited to last in the marine environment. Lastly, the highest quality edge finish is serged yarn – typically this is done from the same yarn as the carpet is produced from. Serging offers the cleanest, most coordinated edge treatment possible. Few companies have the equipment, materials or the skilled personnel to offer a serged edge so it is not as common as the other choices.

Corinthian Marine carpet offers all four edge treatment choices to our customers so really it is up to you and your budget. For more information, check out: http://www.corinthian-marine-carpet.com/marine-carpet/aquamat/edge-treatment

Does Boat Carpet need Stain Treatments?

hharrison — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:00:10 +0000

The simple answer is no. Virtually 100% of all exterior boat carpeting is manufactured from solution dyed Polypropylene. The process of creating the fiber is called solution dying. It begins with a formula of color pellets which are melted together in a ratio to achieve a certain color. During this process the UV inhibitors are also added. The liquid is then extruded into a continuous fiber that is spun into yarn which is converted to carpet. Because the color is embedded into the fiber, there are no receptors on the fiber or yarn to accept stains or stain topical treatments. In other yarn manufacturing processes, such as carpet for your home, the yarn is made white then dipped in dye baths to achieve color. That yarn actually has receptor sites all over it to grab the color. Unfortunately those dye sites can also grab a stain which is why these carpets often have branded stain treatments –such as Stainmaster® or Scotchguard®.

There is no fiber that is impervious to stains, but solution dyed Polypropylene is pretty close. As always, follow the standard cleaning guidelines to enhance the life of your boat carpet.

Does the Backing for Snap-In AquaMats Really Matter?

hharrison — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:08:55 +0000

Why is the backing for Snap-in AquaMats Different?

A removable boat mat designed to withstand the marine environment is truly a unique application in the carpet world. After all, there is no other place where the carpet gets wet; gets exposure to the sun and rubs against a rough floor. It’s a crazy blend between an area rug for the home and an outdoor entry mat with the added intricacy of a custom shape designed to fit exactly. A product with those challenges has to be engineered to handle the special circumstances of the marine atmosphere – with one of the key features being the backing. Other carpet backings cannot handle the moisture and will rot. Or they cannot handle the abrasiveness of the non-skid that the boat mat rests on and eventually crumble leaving a huge mess in their wake. And still others aren’t made with enough stability and over time will shrink and or stretch sending the custom fit, well, overboard.

So the backing of a Snap-In AquaMat is designed to be different to handle all of the marine conditions while maintaining its custom fit. AquaLoc is the premier backing in the industry that encompasses all of the needs of a removable mat:

It is slip resistant so that it stays in place with fewer snaps.

It is incredibly tough so it won’t crumble or disintegrate when it rubs on the abrasive fiberglass non-skid deck.

And it isn’t affected by the environment – it can get wet, it can take heat and sunlight and will not shrink or stretch over time.

The mat will stay tough for years of wear and tear. As we say, the carpet “uglies out” long before the backing ever breaks down. For more information on a custom fit AquaMat, go to: http://www.corinthian-marine-carpet.com/aquamat

52nd Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

hharrison — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:55 +0000

52nd Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
October 27-31, 2011
Fort Lauderdale, FL

As in industry insiders, we know this is the first big boat show of the season. Builders come from around the world to preview their latest designs. Virtually every type of boat is showcased at the Fort Lauderdale show: runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. This show has it all. With over three million square feet of space you will find everything related to boating under the sun. They even have exotic cars. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

IBEX 2011 – The Largest Industry Show of the Year

hharrison — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:00:21 +0000

IBEX 2011
October 17-19, 2011
Kentucky Exposition Center
Louisville, KY

IBEX is still THE industry show. They say it is “Where the business of boatbuilding gets done”. Having been in the industry for many, many years – we can agree! Builders, designers, dealers, repair shops and industry suppliers from around the world come together for three days to “discover the future of boatbuilding”. While the show is not open to the public, all of us industry folks will gather to see the latest trends, newest designs, innovations – anything and everything related to the marine industry. A team from Corinthian Marine Carpet will be there on the lookout for all things related to providing the Best Walk on Water!

Corinthian Marine Carpet Welcomes MB Sports

sfitzpatrick — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:21:29 +0000

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome one of Corinthian’s newest partners; MB Sports. MB Sports are one of the leading innovators in the tournament wake boat industry, and are quickly gaining notoriety as one of the best boats on the water. MB Sports have been in business for over 18 years, and put a premium on building a quality boat, with the best product (including carpet). Their boats feature some of the best gelcoat, thickest upholstery, highest capacity ballast system, and incredible attention to detail. It’s the little things that MB Sports does that really set them apart from the competition. Among many other things, 100% hand laid fiberglass hulls are a dying breed in the industry due to its time consuming labor costs, but that is the sort of hand crafted quality that MB Sports is dedicated to providing their customer with. It seemed like a perfect fit for MB Sports to provide their customer with a new snap-in carpet, and ‘The best walk on water’. The Aquamat carpet from Corinthian Marine will provide all MB Sports customers with the most comfortable, and longest lasting carpet available, which is exactly what you would come to expect from an MB Sports boat. Check out their new product line at http://mbsports.net

Why Does Old Snap-In Carpet = Bad Boat Mat Template?

nweston — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:17:15 +0000

It may seem straight forward enough to take out your existing boat mat, box it up, with instructions: “make me one of these”. Unfortunately it isn’t that easy.

Over the years, boat mats are exposed to all types of conditions – sun, rain, water, extreme temperatures, even humidity. And that is just the environment. Let’s not forget what we impose on the carpet: feet, sunscreen, food and drink. You name it. There is no doubt that even with the most meticulous boat owner, marine carpet takes a beating. That beating will cause the mat to stretch and shrink, and ultimately, alter the shape of the mat permanently. The snapping in and out will also impact the shape especially if it is pulling harder in one direction.

The end result is the original mat set does not lay flat and when it is not being “pulled” in place by snaps maybe too short or long in certain areas.

That doesn’t mean you can’t use your original boat mat as starting point for a template. You can trace it and cut it out, but then be sure to lay it in your boat to test for fit. You will probably need to add or take away some material to get an exact fit. For template material, we recommend a reinforced plastic because it is easy to work with and you can see through it. Template kits are available for a small charge on our website:

http://www.corinthian-marine-carpet.com/other/template-kit

A little extra effort will go a long way in making sure your new snap in boat carpet fits perfectly.

Berber versus Cut Pile, what is the Best Marine Carpet Style for my Boat?

hharrison — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:33:51 +0000

A day rarely goes by that we don’t get asked that question. While there is really no wrong answer there are some guidelines you should consider before deciding on you replacement boat carpet style.

There is only one hard and fast rule and that is the application. Is the carpet going to be directly glued to the boat floor, stapled to the deck, or converted into a snap-in mat? When the carpet is going to be permanently installed, either by gluing or stapling to the boat floor, the all loop Berber style is not a good option. The reason is the loops are formed from one continuous strand of yarn that can pull easily making it very difficult to seal the edge. Once a loop is pulled, there is no stopping it. Instead you will be looking at a hole in your carpet. Cut Piles, where you can get a clean edge and minimal fraying, are a much better choice for this application.

Corinthian Marine Carpet - Sterling Cut Pile Boat Carpet

If the carpet is being converted into an AquaMat or Snap-In boat mat, either style will work so there are other factors to consider about related to function and look:

How hard are you on your boat floor? Is there a lot of traffic in a concentrated area? Cut Piles have the tendency to matt down over time with wear patterns. Berbers offer slightly more resiliency and do not show traffic patterns to the same degree as Cut Piles.

How do you use your boat? Is there a lot of fishing going on? If so, the preference is often a Cut Pile where hooks won’t get caught and the carpet won’t get snagged. A snag in Berber is the same as a pull and could leave behind a hole. Obviously it’s not great for your fishing equipment either.

Lastly what is your style preference? For those traditionalists where replacement marine carpet should not deviate from the OEM specified material; lighter weight cut piles typically are used in fishing, ski and smaller runabouts. Higher end Cut Piles (32 oz and above) have been specified in higher ski boats, go fast boats and catamarans. At the other end of the spectrum, Berbers have become the standard for Cruisers and larger boats.

Corinthian Marine Carpet - Moonshine Berber Boat Carpet

If you follow these simple guidelines regarding application and performance before making your final decision you won’t go wrong. But, if you are still not sure, one of our experts is standing by to assist you with your selection and to send a sample so you can see the carpet in your boat before you purchase. Check us out at www.corinthian-marine-carpet.com.