Rubber floor mat for a boat

[fishinfey8]

I have a little 14ft. aluminum boat with no floor in it. I would like to put a rubber mat that allows air/drainage because the floor will be getting wet. I looked online and their are sooo many options I got lost. It needs to be heavy duty, and be available in a lighter color due to being out in the sun all day. Anyone have any recomendations on what I should get?

[heat checker]

I would look into the rubber "fatigue" mats and see if there are sizes, colors that will fit your needs.

[Dellfin]

They're are not "light colored" but Fleet Farm sells fatigue mats for dairy cows. If a 600 cow can stand on it it must be pretty tough. There is one type that looks like it's 1/2" black rubber in sort of a honeycomb pattern that might work. They may have different colors as well...?

[fishinfey8]

Is it ok to post a link to a HSOforum in order to get other people's opinions on it? I though I would ask before just doing it.

Thanks

[Phred52]

fishinfey8, Here's something different you might consider. Truck box coating, tinted to your preferance. I had an S-14 Lund (tan interior)that I had the floor done that way, in tan. It was almost a perfect match, color wise and it REALLY held up. Even the dog quit sliding around. I found that mats were a pain. They slide around and unless you cover your boat while in transit, they like to fly out. Phred52

[jwmiller33]

fishinfey8, Here's something different you might consider. Truck box coating, tinted to your preferance. I had an S-14 Lund (tan interior)that I had the floor done that way, in tan. It was almost a perfect match, color wise and it REALLY held up. Even the dog quit sliding around. I found that mats were a pain. They slide around and unless you cover your boat while in transit, they like to fly out. Phred52

How much weight did that add in total to your boat? Do you feel like having that much added weight slows you and your motor down?

Was it pricey to have the spray in bed liner put in your boat? I can't imagine that was too cheap...

[fishinfey8]

I don't trailer often, and when I do, I use a cover every time. I thought long and hard about putting a spray-in bedliner material on the floor but jw asked you the exact q's I was going to ask. I only have a 15 hp evinrude on the back of a 14ft. boat...not that I don't want the added weight for the boats sake, its more to be able to still reach 14-18mph with my small motor.

[fishinfey8]

With that said I am looking for a new motor soon, so if the added weight isn't too bad then I would def. be interested if it was relatively inexpensive.

[Phred52]

No, the weight gain was minor, maybe 8-10#. I had a 35 Jonny on it and the only thing that stayed in the water at all times was the prop, both before AND after the application. As far as price, the guy that had the shop was a buddy and it was a product experiment/ spread the word kinda thing (I paid 'cost'). It worked well enough that I'm still recommending it and that's all of 22 maybe 24 years ago! Just thought I'd throw it out to you. I'm surprised that it never caught on with the manufactures though! Phred52

[Surface Tension]

I use the fatigue mats in the portable during winter and throw them in the boat in the summer.

[Tom7227]

The spray on liner has to be a lot lighter than a mat. Can't you get the stuff and do it yourself?

[Phred52]

The stuff is available to general public, though I don't know if that's so with the tintable variety. I personally have only seen it in black. That would be too hot for a boat floor. Be like sitting in a frying pan. Rustoleum makes a kit for the do-it-yourselfer. Maybe some info could be gleaned off their HSOforum. Phred52

[luckydave]

Cab's also has a textured paint on liner in various colors that isn't too expensive.