Got my work cut out for myself.
This is a 1996 21 foot Tracker and the owner stopped on this project many many years ago and let it die in a field.
Rock Moss has grown on the gauges and steering wheel.
The old glue and much of the black rubber carpet backing are stuck to the deck very well.
I tried solvents, oils and acid to try to remove it easily.
Nothing bothers to remove it and it could be the rubber coating that can't be eaten through.
Critters made home in the center console which was the only piece of furniture made of wood .
The rest was hard plastic.
So far scraping and even sanding with grinders and sand paper 24-36 grit and concrete leveler stones does not do much as everything wants to load up with glue or rubber.
My buddy said maybe you need to take a match to it.
AAAAHHHHHAAAAA.
I did just that after pouring gasoline on a 1 square foot area.
After the fire went out I got my scraper and the glue softened enough to allow me to scrape it right up .
I will admit it does not work on all of the spots though.
I found an 8" stiff wire wheel on an angle grinder removes the hard stuff and rubber coated glue the best.
Then you just have a tiny film to get rid of.
I may not even rid it of that film. Just rough it up so the next glue and carpet can grab and stay.
I will rebuild the console from plastics.
I have thought of total deck prep so i could paint on some gator hyde or other non slip paint but I read a review that turned me back to carpet.
The poster stated when the non slip coating was wet it was slippery and his feet shot out from under him 2 times.
Well this boat will be wet 90% of the time and in that 90% time frame catfish slime and shat slime will most likely be on the floor just like all my boats before this one.
Would really suck being tossed to the ground from slipping on what I thought was a great idea.
Anyone have any experience with projects like this or preference for flooring for catfishing boat?
This is a 1996 21 foot Tracker and the owner stopped on this project many many years ago and let it die in a field.
Rock Moss has grown on the gauges and steering wheel.
The old glue and much of the black rubber carpet backing are stuck to the deck very well.
I tried solvents, oils and acid to try to remove it easily.
Nothing bothers to remove it and it could be the rubber coating that can't be eaten through.
Critters made home in the center console which was the only piece of furniture made of wood .
The rest was hard plastic.
So far scraping and even sanding with grinders and sand paper 24-36 grit and concrete leveler stones does not do much as everything wants to load up with glue or rubber.
My buddy said maybe you need to take a match to it.
AAAAHHHHHAAAAA.
I did just that after pouring gasoline on a 1 square foot area.
After the fire went out I got my scraper and the glue softened enough to allow me to scrape it right up .
I will admit it does not work on all of the spots though.
I found an 8" stiff wire wheel on an angle grinder removes the hard stuff and rubber coated glue the best.
Then you just have a tiny film to get rid of.
I may not even rid it of that film. Just rough it up so the next glue and carpet can grab and stay.
I will rebuild the console from plastics.
I have thought of total deck prep so i could paint on some gator hyde or other non slip paint but I read a review that turned me back to carpet.
The poster stated when the non slip coating was wet it was slippery and his feet shot out from under him 2 times.
Well this boat will be wet 90% of the time and in that 90% time frame catfish slime and shat slime will most likely be on the floor just like all my boats before this one.
Would really suck being tossed to the ground from slipping on what I thought was a great idea.
Anyone have any experience with projects like this or preference for flooring for catfishing boat?
w a power scraper
