Pontoon boats come with different marine flooring options. Within the last few years, vinyl has become one of the best choices for pontoon boat flooring. Pontoon boat vinyl flooring is a popular for its durability, water resistance, and low-maintenance.
Traditional vinyl and woven vinyl flooring provide a practical solution for protecting your pontoon boat. Woven vinyl flooring offers better traction, looks, and comfort. In this article, we’ll discuss pontoon boat vinyl flooring, the best products, and installation tips.
Pontoon Boat Flooring History
Traditionally, pontoon boat decks use plywood for construction. Plywood does not look good, and it does not work well as flooring. Plywood requires more maintenance and effort to clean. As a result, carpet started taking over the pontoon boat flooring market. However, carpet is easily susceptible to mold and mildew. Also, carpet is difficult to clean once stained. So, people started looking for other pontoon boat flooring options, and along came vinyl flooring.
What is Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic material made from PVC. Vinyl flooring can resemble a variety of materials like wood, ceramic, and stone. It is a relatively cheap product that is easy to install and durable. It is highly water resistant, reducing the likelihood of mold and mildew. Also, vinyl flooring is UV resistant and will not fade with exposure to the sun.
Vinyl flooring creates a non-skid surface that is soft and comfortable. Add additional base layer provides padding for extra comfort. Vinyl flooring is also sound resistant making it a good option for fishing boats. Last but not least, vinyl flooring requires less maintenance and cleans easily with high pressure water.
What is Woven Vinyl Flooring?
Woven vinyl flooring is a major improvement from traditional vinyl flooring. Woven vinyl flooring has the same characteristics except it provides the benefits of carpet. Specifically, the benefit of being soft and cool even in direct sunlight. Marine SeaGrass is a woven vinyl flooring option which absorbs less heat. Woven vinyl flooring offers more styles and color options too greatly improve the look.
Woven vinyl flooring is made by weaving vinyl threads and then gluing to a foam backer. The foam layers adds cushioning and stops water from penetrating through. The vinyl and foam are then glued to a felt backing. The felt backing improves adhesion to the deck. Woven vinyl flooring costs more than traditional vinyl because of the extensive manufacturing process.
Best Pontoon Boat Woven Vinyl Flooring
DeckMate Pontoon Boat Woven Vinyl Flooring
DeckMate offers woven vinyl flooring in standard woven or woven teak. This beautiful woven vinyl flooring is soft, slip-resistant, and durable. It is also stain resistant. DeckMate pontoon boat vinyl flooring is also easy to clean and maintain. With above 300 hours of UV stability, you get mold and mildew resistance. It’s 140 mil thick and available in gray and tan.
Infinity Pontoon Boat Woven Vinyl Flooring
Infinity changed the flooring market with their luxury woven vinyl. They are made in the USA, and they are the gold standard for flooring in deck boats, cruisers, bowriders, and pontoon boats. The luxury woven vinyl flooring offers quality performance with durability and looks. Their designs resist wear and fading. The woven vinyl flooring uses antimicrobial technology. Infinity provides a 5 year warranty!
Find your local Infinity Dealer.
Marine Vinyl Fabric Woven Flexa
The Woven Flexa from Marine Vinyl Fabric is the ultimate marine flooring. They offer 99 styles and four backing options. The woven vinyl flooring is slip resistant and perfect for outdoor and indoor use.
The four backing options are worth mentioning. The Premium Thick Felt Backing is soft, comfortable and 0.25″ thick. The Thin Felt Backing offers 0.125″ thick backing. The third backing option provides extremely thin backing without any padding. This cheaper option option is perfect for fishing pontoon boats. The last option contains a thin PVC backing to wick away water.
Woven Flexa is an all time favorite and one of the most recommended choices for marine flooring. Water flows through it, and it dries like other outdoor carpets. They are UV stable, phthalate free, and mildew and mold resistant. They come with a 10 year warranty!
MariDeck Pontoon Boat Woven Vinyl Flooring
MariDeck’s woven vinyl flooring offers something new. They imitate the look of woven teak or marine seagrass but, they are easy to care for and last for many years! With MariDeck you get attractive time tested vinyl woven flooring.
The high tech polymer repels water and moisture to prevent deck rot. The embossed surface texture provides sufficient slip resistance. UV stabilizers ensure the deck covering will not fade. Also, they easily install on wood, metal or fiberglass.
The woven vinyl flooring is easy to clean with water. Enjoy the fun on your pontoon boat without worrying about clean up and maintenance. The 102″ width option works well for pontoon boats.
Best Pontoon Boat Vinyl Flooring Options
Extreme Duty Pontoon Boat Vinyl Flooring
Pontoon Stuff Extreme Duty Vinyl Flooring offers a great alternative to marine carpet. The 50 mil marine grade vinyl flooring comes in 102″ width. The slip resistant surface is easy to clean and maintain. The pontoon boat vinyl flooring will not fade thanks to 100% UV stabilization. The woven backing helps attach to your wooden deck. You get four different length options ranging 16′ – 28′.
MariDeck Pontoon Boat Vinyl Flooring
The MariDeck vinyl pontoon flooring is another great alternative to traditional high maintenance marine carpet. The waterproof vinyl flooring protects your pontoon boat from environmental conditions. It also helps enhance the look of your pontoon boat. Cleaning up is extremely easy with just a spray of water.
The MariDeck vinyl flooring comes with an embossed slip resistant surface. It installs on wood, aluminum and fiberglass. For pontoon boats you need to use 102″ vinyl flooring. They are available in 34 mil and 80 mil thicknesses. Also, they are available in a variety of colors including sand, granite, and stone gray.
RecPro Marine Pontoon Boat Vinyl Flooring
The RecPro pontoon vinyl flooring is made in the USA, and it’s available in tan or gray. This 50 mil vinyl flooring comes with the textured appeal of carpet without the required maintenance. The 102″ wide flooring is available in six different lengths: 5′, 10′, 15′, 20′, 25′, and 30′.
The marine grade vinyl is made from TPO. TPO is a new type of single-ply vinyl. It’s 100% UV stabilized to resist fading. With the woven polypropylene backing, installation is as easy as gluing onto the deck. Also, the vinyl flooring prevents moisture from getting underneath your flooring.
Pontoon Boat Vinyl Flooring Installation Tips
Surface preparation is important when it comes to installing pontoon boat vinyl flooring. Remove any objects attached to the floor and any trim pieces. It is best to remove all pontoon boat accessories like tables, seats, etc. Remove the existing flooring completely. Check for any residual adhesive. Remove any debris, dust, and screws. Below are additional installation tips.
- Repair or replace any damaged marine plywood.
- Avoid sharp objects when applying the vinyl flooring. Sharp objects can damage the vinyl flooring.
- Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
- Remove any wrinkles or folds during installation.
- Use a marine vinyl adhesive for wood surfaces. Apply the adhesive using a medium nap paint roller.
- Use a stiff bristle push broom to apply medium pressure. This helps evenly distribute the adhesive.
- Take the time to press out air bubbles.
- Avoid excessive foot traffic as this can create wrinkles in the vinyl.
- Allow the adhesive to dry completely (24-48 hours) before installing any pontoon boat accessories.
- Cover the pontoon boat if rain is in the forecast. Moisture impacts the adhesive until it dries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, vinyl flooring, including woven vinyl, is an excellent choice for pontoon boat owners. Vinyl flooring offers durability, style, and ease of maintenance. Its water-resistant properties protect your boat’s deck from moisture damage. Also, its slip-resistant surface ensures safety during your time on the water. Vinyl flooring provides a long-lasting, cost-effective option. By choosing pontoon boat vinyl flooring, you’ll enhance the look and functionality of your boat.
