Deck mats?

Stoo · 27 August 2012, 07:21

Hi all...

I have interlocking tiles on the deck of my Hurricane that resemble these things:
Interlocking Shower Tiles, Wet Area Matting

They protect my deck from dive tanks, weight belts and provide some traction for the dog.

For years I have been fighting them... They are always sliding aft, shifting around, and the tiles separate from one another (even though I have them zip-tied together.) I know that there is a company that makes a similar product in sheets, but these are only 3' wide, so I would still end up with a seam.

Is anyone using something that they can recommend? I have been tempted to try a rubber industrial mat if I can find one big enough. Ideally, I'd like something that's one continuous piece, that I can trim to fit around the console etc. Obviously, it needs to allow water to pass thorough and drain aft to the bilge.

Thoughts appreciated!

Stoo

ncp · 27 August 2012, 16:04

Some different brands and ideas here:
http://www.rib.net/forum/f8/shock-mi...ing-50275.html

jyasaki · 27 August 2012, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoo

Obviously, it needs to allow water to pass thorough and drain aft to the bilge.

Ummm... Why? Assuming you have flush mount material, water would simply drain back on top of the mat (as it would on the deck with no mat.) You'd have to arrange for water access to the actual drains, but unless you're worried about surface wetness, there's no reason to need it to run under the mat.

Just a thought;

jky

karlT · 27 August 2012, 18:35

We use conveyor belt from a quarry, really soft on the feet good protection for dive gear. Quite heavy so never lifts in the breeze etc.

Not difficult to cut with a sharp stanley knife and few blades. Can be fitted around jockey seats etc as required.

MI3GTO · 27 August 2012, 20:41

If the tiles are PVC then stick/weld them together with PVC glue from the model shop. I put a bead around the interlocking parts and they never separate, fit them all to the floor before sticking them together. A few bits of aluminum screwed to the floor and bent over the PVC tiles lock everything in place, you can get aluminum edge strip from any flooring contractor.

Steve_B · 27 August 2012, 20:57

Try a search for cattle/equestrian mats, these come in 8x4 sheets and have shock absorbing features too

Regards
Steve

Stoo · 27 August 2012, 22:54

Thanks for the brilliant ideas. I'll do some digging and see what I find. JYK, you are probably right about the water passing through. It's just what I'm used to I suppose!

I'll let you know how I make out!

Cheers

lineofsight · 04 October 2012, 16:47

May want to consider rubber truck bed cargo mat. Will be a lot lighter, more flexible, and hold together better than stall mats (not shed rubber dust). The stall mats will be more rigid ( though still flex). My primary concern would be the weight of the horse mats though would provide more puncture resistance.

MI3GTO · 05 October 2012, 06:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by lineofsight

May want to consider rubber truck bed cargo mat. Will be a lot lighter, more flexible, and hold together better than stall mats (not shed rubber dust). The stall mats will be more rigid ( though still flex). My primary concern would be the weight of the horse mats though would provide more puncture resistance.

The truck mat I have seen is very thin compared to the stable mat. Today in work we had a new portacabin installed. The guys used a what looked like fibreglass sheet with a anti slip surface to sheet the walkways. I got a few bits of them. It looks ideal to put a floor on a rib, not shock absorbing but a great under surface for a few pads and tough as hell but very thin and light. If you put this down anything on top would not slip or move. Would make a great tread to.

Courageous · 05 October 2012, 12:19

Stoo - this is my DR750 with horse matting as bought on ebay. Same purpose as you, protection from tanks and anti slip. Works a treat. My DR is quite beamy but I still managed to get the width ok and any seams have been tie wrapped. Works fine as the material is so strong. Just a little heavy.

jyasaki · 05 October 2012, 16:10

Courageous; that looks like bar matting (the stuff wet bars use to avoid having to mop up spills til the end of the night.)

I have a couple of pieces on board my boat; you're right, it's heavy. On the plus side, it's available in hardware stores for not too much money (compared to Dri Dek, which is ridiculously expensive, and hard on bare feet.)

jky

Courageous · 05 October 2012, 17:23

Jy - do you happen to have a shortage of customers in your bars? This stuff stank of some petroleum product for weeks after I laid it

jyasaki · 06 October 2012, 16:44

LOL. I honestly don't remember who else was in the bar.

The new stuff in stores has a distinctly rubber smell; don't notice anything coming off the stuff on the boat, but it's been sitting in sun and rain and salt water for several years.

jky

Northern Pike · 28 October 2012, 15:53

You might want to check out anti-fatigue flooring mats at your local Costco. I use Multi-tiles but that might be what you have already.
Black rubber can get hot underfoot in mid-summer sun.

treerat · 28 October 2012, 19:05

I use something like these - AMOEBIC TOP / BROAD RIB RUBBER MATS

Works well and bought second hand for a couple of quid each.

Local farm suppliers will stock something like these - and may have second hand sites, pages, wall adverts etc

prairie tuber · 29 October 2012, 04:21

EVA foam like this from Candian Tire:

Best Step Anti-Fatigue Foam Floor Mat, Diamond | Canadian Tire

It is easy to apply with this:

3M spray adhesive Search results | Canadian Tire

Pros: Light weight, reasonably grippy, excellent anti-fatigue properties & inexpensive - often on sale for 1/2 price.

Cons: Might eventually get chewed up by the tanks (yet still easy and cheap to cut out and replace a chewed up section)

jyasaki · 29 October 2012, 07:08

Will that stuff stand up to UV?

jky

prairie tuber · 29 October 2012, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Will that stuff stand up to UV?

jky

Stoo lives in Southern Ontario. They have to go to Google Images if they want to see the sun.

Northern Pike · 29 October 2012, 13:20

This, from Sunny B.C. ? :^)

Northern Pike · 29 October 2012, 13:36

I had a great mat in my previous boat. I got a length of conveyor belting from a gravel pit. I cut it to fit snugly into the entire boat, end to end, side to side. Then I took a 1" dia. hole punch, and perforated it by hand. The result was a pattern of 1" holes in staggered rows over the entire mat. It was a little time consuming but the end result was well worth it. The holes were close enough together so that no moisture would trap under it.