Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Doe anyone have any recommendations of keeping the carpet clean on the toon?
I have beige carpeting so I am going to bet that its gonna show dirt.
I planned on putting mats by the doors so ppl will wipe their feet when getting on but is there any type of scotch guard or spot remover out there i should keep on hand?


Signed,
A neurotic new boat owner who wants to keep it pretty

I have a small shop vac in the boat for quick cleans. A regular ole bristle broom will keep the knap up. About midway through the season I will pressure wash my carpeting. It works good. Then when I winterize, I do it again, if needed. I touch up spots with LA's Totally Awesome cleaner. This stuff works as a mild detergent, deluted. Full strength, it will clean an engine block. It pulls grease and oil out of my cement in my new shed, too. stuff works good!

DO NOT. I repeat DO NOT. Obsess over keeping the carpet clean.

This is a pontoon boat, it will get messy.

When I took the family out the first time the kids were having a blast. But I was a nervous wreck.

They were climbing in one ladder, running across the boat and jumping into the lake on the other side. And all the while they were DRIPPING LAKE WATER ON MY CLEAN CARPETS!!!

After the hyperventilating stopped I realized something. It's a boat. It will dry. And this is the whole reason we bought the boat in the first place, to have fun on.

So don't worry about the carpets getting a little dirty. Those mats will end up blowing into the lake in no time, or worse someone will trip on them. Leave them on the dock.

Go out, have fun, get the carpets dirty if it happens that way.

When you get back to the dock, sweep off anything loose and hose off anything left. The carpet will dry. You can vacuum it later if you really feel the need.

I've had all sorts of lake mud on mine and everything has either swept off or hosed off. No stains whatsoever. The carpeting they use on them cleans pretty easily.

And if it doesn't, it's just a boat. Don't let a small spot steal the pleasure of being on the lake (river or where ever).

(another thing people obsess with is small scratches. I was a wreck until I got my first scratch on one of the tubes. Once that first scratch goes on you can relax and remember that it is just a boat.

I know what you mean, John! Premiers maiden cruise... My son cut his foot on something on the beach, was so small he didn't realize he was bleeding. Climbed aboard the Premier, I saw the blood and panicked, not for his foot, but for the boat! I was cool about it, but I was mad in my head, for him tracking blood all over. It was fresh, came out easily, but I felt bad inside for worrying more about the boat, than his foot. If you want to know a time I showed mad, ask about the ground in cheese in the carpet in my brand new Forrester Escape, or an 8 year olds black magic marker that bled through the paper and into my seat back on my week old Baja. That was parked in the garage. My ex wife told her she could play in the boat with markers and crayons. OH MY GOD!!! Did I mention EX? She wasn't exactly the shiniest lure in the tackle box!
Had to start this thread, huh Katie. Where's my damn blood pressure medicine!

I hear where you're comming from Katie, but I'll reflect what the others have said in that it's not worth fussing over. I'm a total neat freak, especially when it comes to my cars. I used to own my own detail business in college, and there were times when I'd venture to say that my cars got a bath and cleaning more than I did.

Maybe it's because I got a used boat, but for some reason, I've never been that anal about keeping our boat clean. We bought it to use, and have fun. My nephews, niece, and daughter take no time at all to make the boat filthy, but when on the boat, I don't really care. It all cleans up, and fairly easily too! I just care that everyone is safe, nothing gets broken, and that we all have a good time.

Go ENJOY your new boat!

+ 4!

Everyone makes fun of me when they are out floating I am cleaning and organizing the toon. I usually don't say anything anymore if I see them doing something I don't agree with. (If it is not going to harm THE FLOATER) My daughter actually buys me 303 every year so I can ruba dub dub. on the seats while they float. When we get back to the lots I bust out the blower then the shop vac and she looks good as new.

At every entrance to our boat we have a sign:

Nekkid Feet Only

No shoes on our boat!
But that won't help with the bleeding foot problem above.
We also carry a Dyson rechargeable vacuum onboard.

While my new boat doesn't have carpet, I have a 150lb newfy that loves mud and green slimy water. I'm already sick about him climbing on the seats with his dirty body and bear claws. We installed new carpet at home and the sales guy says 20yr warranty. I said I call you in 2 years.also have a pug who's much more of a pain in the ass as the newfy.

We bought our new boat in June last year..... Love it!

Grandkids tracked mud in the boat when we went fishing on Thanksgiving.... Love them....

I just cleaned the carpet (vac'ed) a couple weeks ago... No biggie

All good advise given....

After 10 years of ownership my carpet still looked close to new when I sold it. I own a pressure washer and used it after almost every time out. Only takes maybe 15-20 minutes. Fish blood, drinks, and food spills no problem.

Boat carpet is made to get dirty and be cleaned. Take the toon out enjoy it with the family. When done clean it up. Don't be the person who while out is cleaning all the time. Any dirt will dry and you will be able to vac it up or sweep it off. I am like the prior,post. Clean the toon at be gaining of the season. Give it a light cleaning after each use and then once a month I give it a good cleaning. Between that I enjoy it.

If kids wander onto my boat and spill, may God have mercy on their parents soul.

I get it will get dirty, i am just worried about staining. That's my concern.

My old boat i was neurotic about the engine, since this one is full warranty i need something to worry about to fill the void

My wife and I have the same theory, it's a boat. We treat the carpet twice a season with 303 and vacuum when necessary. This seems to be working for us.

Don't worry, just open the front gate..There are plenty of boats on The Chain that have that big over the bow wake that will wash the carpet from stem to stern.

I agree,,,,it'sa boat and made to get dirty,,,just clean it
I will add these two things
-get a little floor sweeper that runs by pushing it, no electricity. I run the shit out of mine behind everyone before things get ground into the carpet,,,
-I also have a pressurized water fire extinguisher. I can use it like a garden hose to wash off the dog or a muddy mess or what-ever. It can be refilled with lake water and a 12 volt air pump. Helps when you have a fire also, with no mess like chemical extinguishers.