Can bass boat carpet get wet? Yes! Every time you take your bass boat in the water, you will either end up getting sprayed when speeding it, or bring in water, along with the fish you reel in, or by climbing in with wet boots.
Your bass boat sits relatively low in the water, which means it provides almost no protection from water. So a soaked carpet situation is a recurring problem you need to deal with.
Apart from when your boat’s carpet gets wet due to regular use, if you live in an area that receives heavy rainfall all year round, chances are your boat is getting wet too often, and so is the carpet.
In this article, I have discussed your bass boat’s wet carpet situation in detail and listed some of the ways you can effectively deal with it. Keep reading!
Why Are Bass Boats Carpeted?
Ever wondered why your bass boat is carpeted? Aluminum or fiberglass make up the bass boat structure. These are smooth and lightweight materials that would make a slippery deck. So bass boats’ decks are lined with carpet to provide you with a comfortable and steady fishing platform.
Carpets also diminish the noise you produce with your activity on board, which can otherwise scare fish away.
Moreover, since bass boats do not have guard railings and bass fishing requires you to go in obstacle loaded(flooded trees, large boulders, dense lily pads) water regions, any obstruction can cause a bump strong enough to throw you off-board.
So, the carpet lining prevents this from happening and makes the deck slip-free.
Why Is a Wet Boat Carpet Bad News?
After a long fishing trip, do you dock your boat and wrap it tightly with a mooring cover? If yes, then you must have noticed a grayish-white or gray-green fuzz on your boat’s carpet. If yes, then you noticed the unpleasant smell too.
The fuzz that you see is mildew, and the mold is sitting inside the carpet, as it tends to dig deeper. Mold and mildew are fungi that grow within 24 to 48 hours in damp, dimly lit, warm environments, which is precisely what a wet carpet inside a covered boat becomes.
Also, the mold emits gases, aka microbial volatile organic compounds, during the process of growth. These gases are pungent and contribute to the musty, damp smell in the boat when it’s under fungal attack.
Mold and mildew are not only malodorous, but they are also harmful to your health. Mold spores can cause allergic reactions in some people, while in others, it can lead to some serious respiratory diseases.
Furthermore, water can seep from the carpet and reach the boat’s surface below, causing damage regardless of the material used in its construction. It can corrode the aluminum or make the fiberglass surface blistered.
Is It Okay To Sun Dry Your Boat’s Carpet?
After a productive day in the water, you can always let your boat’s carpet dry in the sun, right? No way. Sun rays contain invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage the boat’s fiberglass hull, making it look discolored or faded. These rays can also fade the color off the vinyl seat covers.
Is It Okay To Dry Boat Carpet In Shade?
Why not let your wet bass boat carpet dry in the shade? Not a good idea either as this won’t be saving it from the fungus. Carpet is a double-layered textile. It has a nylon, polyester, or wool pile attached to a backing and takes a long time to dry, especially during winter.
How to Deal With A Wet Boat Carpet
If you had a wet ride back home in your bass boat, it’s time to give your craft some special attention.
Dry your Boat ASAP
The best way to dry your boat is by investing in a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. With this vacuum cleaner, you can pick up water from all the nooks and crannies of your bass boat and effectively dry your boat while cleaning it at the same time.
If you don’t have one, you can dry your boat’s carpet by tilting the boat slightly on the trailer and placing a stand fan close to your boat to dry the carpet faster before fungi invade it.
Do make sure you have opened the drain plug, emptied all the storage compartments, and left the hatches open before drying, as water can leak inside the chambers too and need drying as well.
Clean Your Boat
If you don’t have a garage and your bass boat is outside soaking in the rain after a few days of heavy rainfall, then you need to inspect, clean, and dry your boat thoroughly.
Open the drain plugs to drain any collected water and pick up any debris from your boat that may have blown in with the wind. Do check the drains for any clogging.
Next up, check the batteries and wiring for any damage, open all storage compartments and empty them. Scrub the carpet with a stiff bristle brush using a soapy water solution.
Run a garden hose or use a water bucket to rinse the entire boat. Then dry it with a stand fan with all the compartment lids open and the seats folded down.
How to Protect Your Boat’s Carpet?
Here are some quick tips:
Deep Cleanse
Although carpets are comforting, they can be challenging to maintain as dirt, dust particles, grease, and oil adhere to the carpet, making it difficult to clean. Slime from fish or any spillage can also stain the carpet.
Since you can’t avoid making your carpet dirty, you need to clean it thoroughly at least two to three times a year. Also, keep a few dry towels on the boat to blot a spill as much as you can.
Store It Indoors
Your bass boat’s overall protection begins with proper storage. Always try to store your boat in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
The best place to keep your boat is inside your garage in an area away from the window and where there is no chance of water dripping from leaky pipes.
It is okay to put a mooring cover on your boat, but it’s better to cover it with a tarp and leave some space open to let air pass into the boat. If you don’t own a garage, you can store your bass boat on its trailer outside with a mooring cover. Place a tarp on top of it to cover the hulls.
Ventilate Your Boat
Wrapping your boat up when storing it can build up stale air inside the boat. Also, it can lead to mold growth on humid days.
To avoid this, install a passive ventilator like a cowl, clamshell, or louvered vent to allow air passage. Or invest in an active ventilator, like a solar vent that uses solar energy to operate. It has a fan with both intake and exhaust blades to provide a flexible ventilation system.
The Bottom Line
Bass boats are an expensive investment and require a lot of effort in their maintenance, thanks to their carpeted decks.
Although recarpeting your boat is an option, it can cost you a lot. So by cleaning it regularly and storing it correctly, you not only save money but also maintain your boat’s looks and value.
