You might be wondering why anyone would want to lay carpet on the deck of their jon boat. Well, it’s much more common than you might think, especially for those cruising around in their jon boats. There are plenty of choices for marine carpeting to choose from, which, if you decided to, you’ll need to know how to carpet a jon boat.
So, how do you carpet a jon boat? Installing marine carpeting in a jon boat requires removal of any existing carpet, clean up, measuring the deck area, cutting out the marine carpet, laying it on the deck with adhesive, and final touch-ups. Simple tools are required, some of which include a measuring tape, razor blades, scissors, a flooring roller, and adhesive.
Embarking on the journey of carpeting your jon boat is well worth it because, in the end, you’ll have a good looking deck that brings along with it a more comfortable boating experience. With a little elbow grease and not much money, you can have marine carpeting laid on your jon boat in no time.
How to Carpet a Jon Boat the Right Way
Laying marine carpet on a jon boat definitely takes a little time and effort, but it can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your jon boat. Thankfully, it’s not very difficult to do and has been done many times by other jon boaters throughout the community, so it’s a well-established process.
The major steps you should follow so you know how to carpet a jon boat include:
- Remove the necessary objects on the deck.
- Remove existing carpet or any other material covering the deck.
- Clean and touch up the bare deck.
- Attach any necessary plywood down to ensure a flat surface.
- Measure the surface area multiple times.
- Cut the marine carpet.
- Apply the adhesive to the deck.
- Lay the marine carpet on to the deck.
- Reattach objects on the deck.
By following these simple steps, you’ll have a nice looking marine carpet on your jon boat in no time. It’s actually a lot easier than some think, it just takes a bit of planning and careful execution.
The first thing you should take care of is to remove all the objects from the deck that’ll get in the way when laying your marine carpet. Objects like seats, fishing pole holders, and random gear should be removed. Once you’re done laying the carpet for you jon boat, you’ll be able to put these objects back into place.
Now that your deck is cleared of any objects, you want to strip the deck of any existing carpet or other material that’s going to get in the way. You want to make sure that whatever you attach your marine carpet onto will be flat and have to ability to be securely fastened to with the help of outdoor adhesive.
Once you’ve cleared the deck of any existing materials, you should consider cleaning the area and performing any repairs that might be present. The reason I bring this up is that it’s a great opportunity to fix up any issues before covering them up with your marine carpeting. After you lay the carpet, it’ll be quite a while until you’ll be able to address any issues you find now.
Depending on the type of deck on your jon boat, you may need to consider attaching plywood to your deck to create a flat surface. While this isn’t absolutely necessary, it’ll help make your carpeting experience easier and more straight forward. It’s always good to do it right the first time as opposed to wrong multiple times, so keep this in mind if you’re considering skipping this step.
Now you want to measure out the surface area of your deck, which will be a heck of a lot easier if everything is flat. This is probably the most important step of the entire process since any mistake here will show up too late after cutting your marine carpet. Do yourself a favor and measure your jon boat’s deck at least more than once.
The moment of truth: cutting your marine carpet. Hopefully, all of your measurements are accurate and you won’t have to do this again with another set of carpet. Try to cut it using smooth, long cuts if you’re using either scissors or a razor blade so you can avoid jagged edges.
With your marine carpet successfully cut out, you’ll want to apply outdoor carpet adhesive to the surface of the deck where you plan to lay the carpet. Thankfully, most outdoor carpeting adhesives can take a little time to set, so you can take your time applying it without worrying about how fast you lay the carpet.
Now all you have to do is lay out the carpet you cut. Try to lay it slowly from one edge to the other instead of plopping it straight down onto the deck. There’s no need to push the carpet down too hard, just as long as you lay it down and firmly press it at every point of the carpet.
After you’ve waited as long as the adhesive suggests, you’ll be able to reattach all the objects you originally removed from the deck. And guess what? You’ve successfully learned how to carpet a jon boat!
Benefits of Laying Carpet in a Jon Boat
It may seem odd to lay carpet for something that’s outdoors, especially a boat where a lot of water and other objects can easily mess it all up. Well, there are actually a number of useful benefits of laying carpet in a jon boat which may not be so obvious at first.
One of the most useful features of having marine carpet laid out on your jon boat’s deck is that it adds stability and traction to your deck. Let’s face it, you don’t anyone on your jon boat to slip and hurt themselves if it could have been easily avoided with the right marine carpet. This can easily happen with vinyl flooring or in the winter when there’s potential for ice.
We all know that there are times when we need to get on our knees when in our jon boat. With marine carpet, it’s way more comfortable in these situations as well as when your simply walking around. Sometimes I like to go barefoot on my jon boat, so having a carpet with it’s extra padding comes in handy.
Another great benefit to laying carpet in your jon boat is that it doesn’t get as hot in the summer compared to vinyl or even a bare metal deck. Your carpet will for sure warm up due to the sun, but it’ll be much more comfortable and have fewer reasons to burn your feet.
One of the more interesting benefits I’ve experienced after carpeting my jon boat is the reduction of noise when I’m on my jon boat. As you may already know, carpet is excellent at dampening sounds, which includes the sound of my outboard motor, water hitting the hull, my own footsteps, and even voices. The benefit of muffling certain sounds can make a huge difference when out fishing or hunting.
Best Marine Carpet and Glue for Jon Boats
If you’re looking to equip your jon boat with marine carpet, you want to make sure you get the right stuff for the job. Ensuring the investments you put into your jon boat last a long time is essential, especially if you don’t want to redo anything later on. By getting high-quality, affordable marine carpeting and adhesive, you can be confident your jon boat’s carpet will last a very long time.
CE Smith Roll Carpet for Boats
One of the best and most affordable options you can go with when choosing the right marine carpeting for your jon boat is the CE Smith Roll Carpet for Boats (link to read reviews on Amazon). Not only is this carpet specifically made for boats, but it’s become rather popular in the boating community.
This marine roll carpet by CE Smith is a great option for your jon boat. Apart from it being 100% marine grade carpet, but it also made out of 100% PET polyester making it durable and completely water resistant. Compared to other marine carpets, there’s no doubt you’ll be able to find a better deal than with this high-quality, durable backing marine carpet by CE Smith.
Henry, W.W. Co. Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Adhesive
When looking for high-quality, marine-ready adhesive for attaching marine carpet to your jon boat, look no further than the Indoor/Outdoor Carpet Adhesive by Henry, W.W. Co. (link to read reviews on Amazon). This adhesive is perfect for jon boaters out there that are in need of an effective water resistant, outdoor carpet adhesive.
Carpets used in outdoor settings require a strong, durable adhesive that’ll hold when temperatures and climate swing from one end to another. Well, that’s exactly what this outdoor carpet adhesive can do for your jon boat’s marine carpet, especially since it’s 100% water resistant and freeze-thaw stable. This adhesive is so strong that it’s tough enough for artificial turf and asphalt roofing! It’s also 100% made in the USA.
