How to Install Carpet on an Aluminum Boat Deck

Carpeting the deck on an aluminum boat might be the beginning of trouble if you don't use carpet specifically made for marine use. Even then, it's best to be able to remove the carpet from the deck for cleaning and to allow it to dry out between outings. With a pattern for the carpet and hook-and-loop tape to secure the carpet to the deck, you have a removable carpet for your deck.

Things You'll Need

  • Marine-grade carpet
  • Butcher paper
  • Razor knife
  • Masking tape
  • Marking pen
  • Hook-and-loop tape
  • Marine carpet adhesive
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the marine-grade carpet out flat and face-up in the sun. Smooth any wrinkles out of it to allow it to relax and flatten out naturally.

    • 2

      Cover the large areas of the deck with butcher paper. Trim smaller sections of butcher paper to fit around the consoles, tables, seat bases and the other fixtures that stick up from the deck, using a razor knife. Tape the sections of paper together with masking tape, to make a large swatch of butcher paper, big enough to cover the deck to its edges, with all of the openings present for the deck fixtures.

    • 3

      Anchor the paper in place on the deck, with masking tape. Trim the butcher paper around the outside edge of the deck, so that the butcher paper lays flat on the deck. Remove the masking tape that holds the butcher paper to the boat. Make an "X" on the top side of the paper with a marking pen.

    • 4

      Lay the butcher paper -- now a pattern -- on the carpet with the "X" mark-up. Trim around the outer edge of the pattern and around the edges of the openings in the pattern, using a razor knife. Compare the cut carpet to the pattern, and trim as necessary.

    • 5

      Cut four 10-inch sections of hook-and-loop tape, using scissors. Attach the four sections of the "hooks" of hook-and-loop tape to the back of the carpet with marine carpet adhesive. Attach the "loops" of the hook-and-loop tape to the aluminum deck. Allow the carpet adhesive to set for 24 hours before moving the carpet into the boat.