Recarpeting Skeeter ZX250

[PowerFish]

I'm thinking about replacing the fading red carpet in my 2002 Skeeter ZX250... How hard is it to get the old carpet out and install the new? I assume you have to remove deck lids etc to complete the job... Anyone done this on a newer skeeter? How many hours am I looking at to complete? Just curious...

[SwatDawg]

Its alot of work. All hatches have to come out.... striping the old carpet and glue is the worst part... I will say 24 to 48 hours.... It takes a good week of evenings and a weekend.

[jfordbass]

My recarpeting project (97 Astro 1800) is in progress. It's a beast, but it's gotta be done every few years depending on boat use/abuse by the elements and expected wear/tear. I just spent all Memorial Day weekend (half of Sat, and all day Sun and Mon) doing the removal and prep work, but ran outta time for actual install of new carpet (bought roll of 20oz good quality carpet from bassboatcarpet.com).

The more prep you do, the better the final product will be. This is my first time re-carpeting, but saving a lot of dough by doing it myself. As said already, the removal of all lids and main sections, followed by scraping/prep/repair (if you find any rot or busted stuff underneath) is the hardest part. Laying new carpet is perhaps 25% of the job.

Here are some pics from this past weekend. I won't be able to get to the actual carpet install until next week, at which point in time I will take gobs more pics as it all comes back together. http://www.kodakgallery.com/I....en_US

If you're interested in doing it yourself, email me at jfordbos@yahoo.com and I'll forward along a doc written up by another that I read over and over and over again, making notes, etc. before I committed to this rather arduous task. But no going back now! It'll be well worth it when done.

[PowerFish]

Looks good, how hard was it to remove the old glue? Looks like you did a great job... My carpet is in generally good shape, but I'm thinking new would be a 100% improvement...

[jfordbass]

Thanks... well, 'hard' being a relative term, I'd rate it a 7 or 8 on a scale of 10, 10 being hardest. Use a good paint scraper with the handle for leverage. Scrapers make all the difference; I bought a brand new one. Getting the old adhesive off (after removing the carpet, which I was fortunately able to do in full pieces for reference/template purposes when I get around to laying the new stuff) was hardest in shaded areas (since paint/carpet not so exposed to sun/elements), and easiest in the direct exposed areas such as stern and bow areas.

[Higgy]

Looks good so far....can't wait to see the finished product I'm about 80% done with my re-carpet, I'll post a bunch of pics when it's complete

[jfordbass]

I'll do the same. I'm going to Vega$ this weekend (would almost rather work on the boat! How sick is that??!), then maybe call in sick one day next week to try and finish 'er up!

[jfordbass]

Okay fellers... I am now 'experienced' with contact cement:

For adhesive in all areas, I planned for/bought 'DAP Weldwood Contact Cement' (although I had never worked with contact cement before). Conceptually, it's pretty basic stuff! Apply to both surfaces involved, single coat, wait about 20-30 minutes at least, then smush together and it's instant! Ok...

Well, not all contact cements are created equal!

When starting with my lids, I followed instructions carefully, brushed on a single coat on both surfaces (prep was very thorough; good clean surfaces on both back of new carpet of course, and lid surface), let dry about 30 minutes until 'glaze' appearance, alligned the two together, pressed down, and stood on lids for good minute or two, then weighted them down overnight with bricks.

This more or less did the trick, but I had to wonder... why wasn't the bond as instant/thorough/strong as the can would have me believe? I was thinking that for wrapping the lips, I would probably have to use clamps because I found that it wasn't bonding very strong 'on contact' as I might have expected!

So, I went online and started googling around. Recall that I said I hadn't worked with the stuff before----I simply went and bought a gallon of 'the' contact cement that a local Home Depot had, innocently enough. Now, what I bought, specifically, was 'DAP Weldwood' contact cement, 'neoprene rubber-based NON-flammable. This stuff touts itself as not only being non-flammable, but less noxious, fumes-wise, and thusly better for the environment---in fact, it comes in a GREEN can! Gotta love the political correctness of all things green. Sometimes it goes a bit far... but I digress.

When embarking on this project and reading the install guide from Bassboatcarpets.com that came with my carpet kit, I truly thought contact cement was contact cement. HOWEVER... Turns out there is the classic/original type of DAP Contact Cement (yes! same name/brand!) and it comes in a RED can with an off-yellow syruppy color, is noxious and flammable and all that fun stuff, AND there is also this newer stuff that I bought initially that is, well, 'politically correct' as noted above. The newer/green stuff is a milky/cream appearance---quite different than the red-can stuff.

So, with my lids (not the lips wrapped yet; just the lid surfaces!) all adhered, and being a bit 'concerned' about the bond not being instant, and having researched this a bit further, I found the red stuff, and it was NIGHT AND DAY! VERY strong bond! Perfect! Everything I ever dreamed it could be from reading the can!

Sheesh... live and learn. Glad I discovered this 'in time'... that is to say, before I had done the lids/wrapping AND certainly before I laid out the main/big sections (bow/stern/cockpit areas).

Be forewarned!

My lids, by the way, came out GREAT (if I may be so bold). Looks like a pro did it (dare I say?). I'll be finishing up the entire thing this weekend and will post pics right after.

[Redneck Nole]

Looks good JFord. I am working on a 98 Astro 20ft. Just cut my carpet after wetsanding and polish. also replacing the pull straps and all hatch locks with the T-H latches and installing a recessed foot plate for the trolling motor. nice to see another astro on here. I'll get some pics up soon

[jfordbass]

Thanks. After all the prep, laid main sections/templates into place on Sunday, and last night made final cuts of trim from main sections and it looks great. Did all 9 lids last week, but those go on last of course. I'm doing those tonight as soon as I get home from work.

Didn't install anything while I had everything removed, except a 12V power outlet/charger. Might do a hot foot next year.

Will get link to pics of the reassembly/installation 'phase' within next couple of days. Almost done... it's been quite a project, time/labor-wise, but so worth it.

[jfordbass]

DONE. Took a couple weeks (darn 'work' thing kept getting in the way), but the frickin project from hell is done and I hope I never have to re-carpet another boat. My hands are thrashed, but feel rather manly I must say.

Time to enjoy it now... at least until I blow up the motor or something. Maybe I'll run out of money for ga$ before that happens.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I....en_US

[Tom in Stl]

Excellent job! I did the same thing to my Stratos. For the next 6 months I made my fishing partners take off their shoes before jumping in. HA!