Couple of Q's

[LuckyDaze]

Ok, Im getting my boat ready for the season and I have a couple of questions. What do ya'll use to strip carpet glue from fiberglass without softening the fiberglass? Also, any tips to installing the new carpet once I get it. I am going to try to get the carpet out of the boat in one piece but i have a feeling its not going to go down like that. Anyway thanks for the help in advance!
~Brian

[AZLAW]

Pull your carpet out then use a sander to remove the old glue. Use a spray-on glue like they use for subwoofer box carpet so there is no lumps. Do you have a false floor or stringers showing?

[Cas]

I used
http://www.valsparglobal.com/val/resident/images/goofoff/GOOF%20OFF%20LINEUP.jpg
and it worked great on the adhesive the previous owner of my boat used to put the carpet down.

[LuckyDaze]

I have a false floor, but it is only a strip of wood down the center. Im replacing that as it has become soft and starting to rot out. I also have stringers exposed...
~Brian

[CARLSON-JET]

Why bother removing all the old glue? Get rid of the big chunks. Go back over it. I make this recomondation when this question pups up. If you use the "Death bond" aka I/O glue you will have a very hard time tearing out the carpet in the future if need be. Multi purpose once dry is damn water resistant and is alot easier to remove. When installing ONLY use fresh sharp blades. Dull blades are more dangerous. have fun.. R.B.

[LuckyDaze]

Sweet, thanks for the pointers. I am definitely not going to be removing all of the old glue. Any recommendations of what type of glue to use? I have heard 3m but with how thick the old stuff was I doubt I would get a very good bonding situation with that. Heres an update pick... Now I itch.. haha. It also looks like I am going to have to fix the bulkhead as it seems to have come detached from the rest of the boat.... :mad:
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o38/BriGuy8679/MiscPictures005-1.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o38/BriGuy8679/MiscPictures004.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o38/BriGuy8679/MiscPictures002.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o38/BriGuy8679/MiscPictures001.jpg

[AZKC]

I used the stuff Overtons sells, brushed it on in a thin coat worked great over old glue.

[LuckyDaze]

Sweet, thats what I was thinking about using myself... :D

[CARLSON-JET]

I used the stuff Overtons sells, brushed it on in a thin coat worked great over old glue.
I think that is some good advice.. thanks for the tip on that AZKC.

[LuckyDaze]

any tips on where to get carpet quick? Overtons is 2 weeks out on any of their carpet. Thanks again!
~Brian

[sanger rat]

Aircraft paint stripper made for use on fiberglass works great.

[YeLLowBoaT]

lowes actaully carrys it( its not the best, but it is pretty good)... most boat dealers will be able to get some fast.
Use painter thinner to get the old glue off... its the recomended solvent for it anyways... any mineral spirt will work if thats all you have.

[Saab]

I'm in the process of doing my carpet now. I just ripped out the old stuff, used a metal putty knife to knock off any loose stuff. I hade some glass work to do so on those spots i sanded down to bare wood and did my repairs. Then I used M.E.K. to clean everything before installing the new carpet. I got the carpet from lowes and it seems like a ok carpet, better quality than speaker box carpet I have seen a lot of people use. Has the rubberized backing, and a nice tight weave. I got lucky and they had the end of a roll that was 12' wide and 6' long. so I was able to pick it up for like 12 bux, if it was a piece I had cut it would have run around 60 bux. I used carpet glue and liquid nails, I spead the glue over the whole area that was gonna be carpeted except for the edges using a notched trowl to keep it all even. I used the liquid nails around all the edges cause it has a way better tacking effect (really helped on pieces mounted vertically) and I also like the fact that it is strong hold/low solvent if I ever need to remove it. Just let the glue set for about ten minutes then stick the carpet on. A lot of people say carpet is the worst thing they did on their boat, but wasnt that bad for me (on a tunnel even) and I really feel better doing it myself for about $60 in materials than having someone do it for a few hundred dollars. This has been a two week project but in that time I removed the old carpet, cleaned the floors, made speaker enclosures in the bulkhead, and wired the stereo. The carpet isnt bad, the prep is worse than anything I think. Ill post some pix if I can tommorow.

[SmokinLowriderSS]

I bought my carpet here, and had it in 4 days or so:
http://http://www.boatcarpetbuys.com/
I stripped off the old Contact Cement with an adhesive stripper, and just brushed a fresh layer of resin back down over the somewhat abused glass. It DID take off some of the top layer of resin.
You are going to use a butload of sandpaper. Which brand do you intend to buy so I can go buy stock?

[LuckyDaze]

Alright gentlemen, Thank you for your help, the next pics I'll have is of my finished product, wish me luck!
~Brian

[CARLSON-JET]

Good luck and have fun.