cabin Flooring / sole whats the best surface? Opinions please.

[FionaJC]

I have a 40 foot fibreglass ketch, I have had it on the water for about 15 years and I cant seem to find my ideal flooring for the cabins.



I have plain marine plywood topped with DIY laminate flooring which chips and when I lift it it goes furry at the edges. I have had vinyl and recently carpet on top instead which seems to attract the dirt and stains.


I have used EVA foam outside which loooks great but I suspect that spills of engine and cooking will make it impossible to clean.


We are thinking of just laying down 5mm of marine ply with a gloss varnish and then going back to carpet on top.



Does anyone have the perfect solution, warm, noise cancelling, unmarkable that's easy to clean and looks good? Ideas and pictures would be great.

The pictures are sideways, but you get the idea I hope, one was the laminate being fitted and the other was with carpet and a sample of the EVA foam.

[boatpoker]

Cork tiles witha polyurethane coating.

[FionaJC]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Cork tiles witha polyurethane coating.

Now that is a brilliant suggestion, please keep them coming.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Cork tiles witha polyurethane coating.

If they stand up to occasional liquid dumps, could you spec the details?

I used some stuff years ago got soggy unless I really encapsulated it.

[waterman46]

Teak and holly alternating strips. You can buy this in 1/4" sheets and it looks very traditional and warm. Attach to a 1/2 or better, 3/4 marine ply subfloor using waterproof (solvent based not water based) contact cement.

Finish with at least 4 coats of satin varnish. Since it does not get sunshine, it will be many years before you need to touch it up.

Sorry cannot send a pix at this time.

[AJ_n_Audrey]

I have Amtico synthetic teak-holly over marine plywood (four years old). No chipping, and really it is hard to tell that it's not actual teak & holly. Sorry, no pics available at the moment.

[roland stockham]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Cork tiles witha polyurethane coating.

Second that, easy to lay if you use cork tiles, warm and soft on bear feet and looks good. Only thing I would add is don't use gloss varnish. Make a good seal otherwise it stains like mad but either top it with a matt varnish or lightly sand to make it non-skid

[zengirl]

Look at Sailrite's flooring. I've read good things about it.

[Captndave1]

Take a look at Sairite “Infinity luxury woven vinyl flooring, this is what I am soon installing in my sailboat. I will bind the edges and install snaps to hold it down. Can then be removed for cleaning.

[jrau18]

Originally Posted by waterman46

Teak and holly alternating strips. You can buy this in 1/4" sheets and it looks very traditional and warm. Attach to a 1/2 or better, 3/4 marine ply subfloor using waterproof (solvent based not water based) contact cement.

Finish with at least 4 coats of satin varnish. Since it does not get sunshine, it will be many years before you need to touch it up.

Sorry cannot send a pix at this time.

Exactly the flooring I had. Very good traction with bare feet when dry, but slippery when wet. Adding some non skid strips would be a good idea.

Also it last as long between refinishing as you think if it is a live aboard. No matter how well you avoid sand and dirt on your boat, constant use probably will require annual refinishing. For a weekender boat, it will last many years, though, could easily be a decade or more.

[mgstich]

We have Amtico (only six months) and it is easy to care for and looks good.

I have attached a picture with the flooring in the sunlight and shaded.

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by Captndave1

Take a look at Sairite “Infinity luxury woven vinyl flooring, this is what I am soon installing in my sailboat. I will bind the edges and install snaps to hold it down. Can then be removed for cleaning.

I don't think you need snaps to hold it down. Look on Sailrite FB group. Someone posted a video of what they installed and when she lifted a piece I didn't see any snaps.

[boatman1]

I put treadmaster down after slipping and almost busting my butt on a wet cabin sole. Not very attractive perhaps, but it sure does curtail having ones’ feet sliding out from beneath them.

[Scaramanga F25]

Embossed wood look vinyl plank glued down.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

... soft on bear feet and looks good.

What about for human feet?