Skeeter carpet job done!

[Bricball]

My 1997 Skeeter. Had some terrible ugly red carpet and some ripped seats. So I decided to start the project. Took me about 2, 8 hour days to dismantle all of the lids and do the tear out. Took another 2 days to sand and prep the lids. After that I had to layout all of the lids(9 total) and make the corner cuts(found how to do it on here).
I used 20oz carpet from marinecarpeting.com..Awesome product and great instructions. I was super happy that I didnt buy the 24oz carpet from BassCat...cas it was ALOT more expensive AND I couldnt imagine how much tighter the lids would be because the 20oz I used is really tight now. I also found replacement hatch locks on Ebay. Then I was torn between ordering seats from Llebroc or BassBoatSeats.com... I went with BassBoatSeats.com seats...I literally ordered them on Friday night at 6:30pm on the web. Received them on Saturday (FEDEX) at 9:30am. WOW! I know they are located in Indiana (same place I live) but WOW! fast and GREAT looking seats.

I used Henery's on the top of the lids and deck...and contact glue(gel) on the lips.

I have to tell you that I had a quote for $1500-$2000 to have someone do this project for me(just labor). Another quote for $700 just to put the carpet down(no tear out or put back)...
I am NOT mechanically inclined at all! I gambled and took a chance...and I am SUPER proud of myself for attempting to do this...I also have to thank all of the BassBoatCentral members that posted the "how to do's" on their projects and all of their recommended vendors. All in all I think I have about a week of 8 hour days into this project(although I did it mostly on the weekends between running kids and honey do lists), also had a REALLY bad ice storm here this winter that shut everything down for about a week.
I forgot to take pics of the boat without the lids but you get the point. Couldnt take any side pics of the boat because its at my brother in laws business and its packed with vehicles right now.
I am also getting ready to install BlueWater's Total Boat package in the next week or so.
97 Skeeter looks brand new!
Before Pics






Project





all of these little bolts and screws EVERYWHERE...what a pain!


Needle nose pliers.


Sand all of the old glue and left over lumps.


Laying out the back deck lids


glued carpet to the lid and used clothes pins from Dollar General


Front deck done!


Back deck done!

The seats are awesome and I installed them to flip forward...storage under the seats..
I hope you like it...cas I do. Feel free to ask any questions and I will post more when I can get it outside and actually cleaned up.

[512]

Looks Sharp!

[Tamale]

I'm about to do mine. Are you suppose to carpet over the hinges? Currently on y boat you can see all the hinges. It was recarpeted once before so I'm thinking maybe the last guy did it wrong.

[fishin couillon]

Nice job!!! The grey carpet and seast look better than the old.

[Bricball]

NOOOOOO....you have to take off ALL the hinges. The tough part is finding the holes after you carpet over them. I have to use a nail to search for each hole before putting the screws back in. Let me know if you have any questions...I can lend you much help and advise. 1st....make sure that you label ALL hardware AND the direction the hinges go back on. I mounted and took off...and remounted hinges several times...ugh.

[Skeet Skeet-er]

On a scale of 1-10 how hard was was it? I need to do the same 97 Skeeter but worried about it looking as good as it was. What were the hardest parts.

[Bricball]

Its about a 6... its more time consuming than anything else. I am a perfectionist so, I took my time and really had to think things through.

The hardest part??? 2 things: Making sure the the grain was facing all the same way and then also carpeting the cockpit area. Really tight space(I'm a big guy). You have to plan your attack on the cockpit area...how your going to lay down the glue and where your going to stand as you lay the carpet down...

You can do it...its just time consuming. Saved a ton of money doing it on my own.

[wildkat7]

I'm blessed to have an uncle that runs an upolstry shop. He said if/when mine needs done, to bring it to him and he'd take care of it for me, carpet, seats, the hole thing....

[cehlert]

Looks great! A few years back I redid my 95 Skeeter and agree, the manual tearing out and cleaning glue was the time consuming part. Right now I'm ripping off my front deck of my 05 Skeeter and have the pad glued down already and waiting for the new carpet to get here. So far so good.

[Lockon]

Aweseom job....I need to do mine, but I am afraid I would dork it up. I might try it this fall.

[blackknife]

SUPER JOB!! looks 100% better!! mine is descent shape, but it will need it in a couple years I think. thanks for all the pics.

[EL Skeeter]

Excellant job

[fishingmike]

Great color choices. Looks alot nicer and upto date.

[pbmang]

That looks AWESOME! You did a great job

[SkeeterJohn]

An excellent job indeed and one that i never look forward to doing. I've used carpet glue before and it's nasty stuff which can easily get everywhere That boat looks so much better after the upgrade you should be VERY proud

[dr. seuss]

. I've used carpet glue before and it's nasty stuff which can easily get everywhere

[/quote]

i tried a carpet job once..like i said i tried and thank god it was a p.os boat

[Bricball]

Got some bluewater LED's... bought the Total Boat Package...which includes the trailer too.. Once I get them installed I will post more pics.

[Charger]

Great job
How many hours would you guess it took?

[bowaddiction]

what are you doing with your old seats i have a 98 ZX 202 and looking to redo all the seats.

[Bricball]

It took at least 7...... 8hr days. But I did it on the weekends when I had time.