Rhino Lining vs Carpet

[Fishing Rhino]

I'm in the planning stages of building a fiberglass jon boat.  It will be a foam core construction to provide adequate stiffness without excessive weight.

The inside of the hull will be smooth, and the runners/wear strips/ stiffeners on the bottom will be on the exterior (glass over foam).

I dont like interior grooves or ribs that can make cleaning a pain.  The foam core will provide rigidity while affording a smooth, obstruction free interior.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Rhino Lining or similar material on the inside of the hull to provide sure footing and deaden sound?  I know some who have had it done to their pickup beds, and they have nothing but good to say about it.

It occurs to me that carpet can have some negatives such as hooks snagging it, or grit getting into it.  I may be wrong, however, thus my query regarding the pros and cons of each.

It also seems that carpet when it is wet may add significant weight to the boat, while the rubberized liner will not.

How long does carpet last?

Any input will be valued and appreciated.

Regards, Tom

[Long Mike]

That Rhino Liner could get awfully hot in the Summer.

[Fishing Rhino]

That Rhino Liner could get awfully hot in the Summer.

It is available in colors to match your vehicle.  But, I hadn't thought of that.  The bottom wouldn't be a problem, but the sides and the other surfaces would be for sure.  Thanks for that input.

rhinolinings.com/products/solarmax

Regards, Tom

[Olebiker]

Don't do like a local fellow did and use a black lining.  The boat got so hot he couldn't use it.

[Fishing Rhino]

Don't do like a local fellow did and use a black lining. The boat got so hot he couldn't use it.

Well........................, look at the positive side.  It would make a great winter boat in the cooler climes.

[Andrew Coleman]

Mabey you could try a lighter color?

[surfer]

What about the weight of the rhino liner? Pick up a gallon and multiply that by how many gallons to cover the boat.

I have one friend who did it and yes it deadens sound nicely.

[71Rig]

If you are looking for a DIY coating consider Durabak (google search).  Might save you some $$ if you do it yourself and also comes in a lot of colors.  

I have Herculiner in a truck and it holds a lot of dirt.  I have carpet on my boat and a brush and shop vac take care of most messes.  If it gets wet you just have to put a fan to it or let it dry in the sun. Nice on the toes too when you want to kick off the shoes.  I guess for me it would just be a personal preference to go carpet.  

[done]

For carpet, it definitely does not get real hot. How long it lasts, depends on how good it is.

I knew someone who had the cheaper stuff and it didn't last more than a a year and a half. My fathers old boat, we had it for 5 yrs and he installed carpeting and actually used industrial snaps he screwed down to the deck and into the carpet. The carpet was good stuff and was still looking good after 5 years.

[LrgMouthCatcha]

What would the price comparison be between the two?

[ArcticCat500]

give this a try....a little on the pricey side but l read good things about it, but it's more then l paid for my boat...lol

http://www.nonslipcoating.com

[Fishing Rhino]

give this a try....a little on the pricey side but l read good things about it, but it's more then l paid for my boat...lol

http://www.nonslipcoating.com

Thanks.  I believe that's the same material as Rhino Linings.  It seems to me that could be preferable to carpet.  It would be easier to apply/install, not as subject to being snagged by hooks, and damaged or worn areas can be touched up by applying a coat to those areas.

The downside is that it won't dampen sound as well as carpet.  Got some serious thinking and research ahead.

Do you know if carpeting is installed with an adhesive?

[Raul]

Hooks don 't snag on artificial turf and it 's not available only in green, my friend 's boat has blue artificial turf, mine has green cuz they were out of blue at Home Depot and since I wanted to do the job right away ( after burning my rear end a couple of times  :-/  ) I didn 't mind purchasing green at all, it doesn 't look bad either, it would have looked better with blue but what the heck, better "not exactly what I wanted" than burning your arse everytime you sit.  

[BassMaster_17]

Put decks in it and use 20oz MARINE carpet and it should last you a long time(5-10 years).  If you store the boat inside or cover it from the elements when not in use along with Vacuuming it after each outing it will last a LONG LONG TIME.  I wouldnt worry abt hooks snagging it either unless you use SHAG....LOL  Rhino Lining would be good for a old aluminum boat resto to seal it but then i would still deck and carpet over the top of it.

[Fishing Rhino]

Put decks in it and use 20oz MARINE carpet and it should last you a long time(5-10 years). If you store the boat inside or cover it from the elements when not in use along with Vacuuming it after each outing it will last a LONG LONG TIME. I wouldnt worry abt hooks snagging it either unless you use SHAG....LOL Rhino Lining would be good for a old aluminum boat resto to seal it but then i would still deck and carpet over the top of it.

If I did it myself, the materials for coating the boat with the plastic material would be over two hundred dollars.

Carpet would be less than that.  If it is good for 5 - 10 years (I suppose it depends on the product's quality) that's good enough for me.

I know carpet would definitely have the advantages of sound deadening and comfort (better cushioning).  

Then, there is always the potential for making a mess with the coating.  Kick the pail over, dribbles from the rollers, etc.

If I do the project, I will be building the boat from scratch.  I do fiberglass fabrication so it will be a natural.  The jon I envision will be 12 - 14 feet long, have an inch thick foam core on the bottom and half inch on the sides.  That will provide stiffness, and save weight.  It will cut the thickness of fiberglass needed significantly.  It will be four feet wide at the bottom.  Must fit between the wheel wells of a pickup.

I'll need a trailer for the finished product, I'm sure.  But, a lighter version without all the decking, may be light enough.  I've got a roll of Kevlar with enough material to make a few hulls.  So...................

I don't know if you've ever seen a damaged Boston Whaler.  I've repaired a couple for some guys, and the "skin" is not even an eighth of an inch in thickness.  A sixteenth would be more like it.  Yet those boats are very stiff because of the foam core.

Extra thickness at the chines and wear runners on the bottom will protect the thin skin.

The bugaboo for me will be planning the layout for the compartments under the decks.  Once those sizes and layout are determined, I will be able to partition off those compartments with fiberglass over foam panels.

These will support the deck without the need for a lot of framework.

The planning will be the most difficult part.

[BassMaster_17]

The bugaboo for me will be planning the layout for the compartments under the decks. Once those sizes and layout are determined, I will be able to partition off those compartments with fiberglass over foam panels.

These will support the deck without the need for a lot of framework.

The planning will be the most difficult part.

While your at it don't forget to run some plastic pvc pipe down each side (one for pos and one for neg wires & drill a few din holes in the bottom side to let moisture out) & fiberglass that in for electrical wires and such (makes running wires so much easier), i would also plumb in my live well stuff along with a drain for a cooler (run it to the back of the boat where the main drain plug and bilge will be located) since the process you are using will make a perfect built in cooler some place in the boat. Please post pics of ur build process. Good Luck!!!!

[Fishing Rhino]

The bugaboo for me will be planning the layout for the compartments under the decks. Once those sizes and layout are determined, I will be able to partition off those compartments with fiberglass over foam panels.

These will support the deck without the need for a lot of framework.

The planning will be the most difficult part.

While your at it don't forget to run some plastic pvc pipe down each side (one for pos and one for neg wires & drill a few din holes in the bottom side to let moisture out) & fiberglass that in for electrical wires and such (makes running wires so much easier), i would also plumb in my live well stuff along with a drain for a cooler (run it to the back of the boat where the main drain plug and bilge will be located) since the process you are using will make a perfect built in cooler some place in the boat. Please post pics of ur build process. Good Luck!!!!

Thanks for the great suggestions.

If and when I get started, I'll post photos as the job progresses.

[Big-O]

I like carpet personally for comfort.

Big O

[Seabolt]

I fish out of an 18 foot Alumacraft with Rhino Lining on every surface about 70%.  I also just finished my boat and selected to do carpet rather then a lining system.

The Rhino Lining is great for grip, last forever, and relatively inexpensive.  However, it will scratch the crap out of you rods and reels, tear your knees apart if you eer kneel on the boat, get insanely hot on clear warm days, and any oil canning an aluminum boat is doing is amplified due to the material being thickened(sort of).

The carpet is expensive, a pain to take off and put on, and doesn't last much more then 4 years of heavy fishing.  It's also easy on your rods and reels, easy on your knees, eats up the heat to the touch, and hides any oil canning effect.

Personally, fishing from both, ALOT, I went carpet. As a matter of fact the person who's boat I use with the lining, is going carpet at the end of the season.

My $0.02

[ImaRapalabeliever]

Hey guys, I am new to the forum but just wanted to reply to this post.  I just recently bought a 14'36" jon boat, it has a very small decking on the front, but for the most part is just open on the floor.  I went to Lowes and bought some black indoor outdoor carpet (not really marine carpet) it was very cheap.  I did not put any plywood down on the floor, just cut pieces of the carpet out to fit in between the benches so now after I get home from fishing I can just pull the carpet out and spray it down with the hose, hang it up to dry and I am good to go.  It is very comfortable on my feet and knees, the black carpet does not get hot at all (very important, I live in the south east)  and I have yet to have my hooks get snagged.  It's probably not the prettiest thing in the world but very clean,cheap and dos the trick.

[luger306]

I have a 19' sea ark with rhino lining on deck yes it does get hot but not as hot as it did before it was installed it does add some weight to the boat but I am still able to fish skinny water when fishing for reds

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

From my experience.

Lining is LOUDER, un-removable and didn't hold up under heavy abuse.

My carpeted decks are much much quieter, removable, and very nice on the feet if you bring kids or honey's along.

Another huge plus is that the decks sit on the ribs.  This means water from the anchor, swimming, etc, all runs UNDER the decks, keeping everything on the floor nice and dry.  Not the case w/ liner.  This is a biggee.

This one is a no brainer for me.

MY BOAT