Re-carpeting Help Please

[mattp1816]

Whats going on everyone, great site you've got here! Have a modified jon boat I purchased in 2010 and it was time for some new carpet. Old stuff is out, new stuff will be here Wednesday and I'm almost ready to install. The question I have for you guys is how much of the old carpet glue needs to be removed? I've read conflicting reports from none of it all the way to bring it down to bare metal. So whats the consensus on here? If it matter the new carpet is rubber backed marine carpet and the old stuff was your typical indoor/outdoor carpet. Thanks in advance!

 

[Skiffing]

How smelly do you want your boat to be?

Fish and other goo collecting between the carpet and deck.... never to be seen again by man

Can't speak to plywood - but if on aluminum I'd strip it off clean. I've just been there and done that with my boat.

All I can tell you is get enough of 5F5 for the job - probably a gallon [and save the remaining - it's so nasty it's can't go bad.

Brush it on heavy and wrap with plastic trash bags for an hour. Then scrap and repeat. Repeat and by the 3rd time you're done.

 

[mattp1816]

Thanks for the response man! I've worked with that stuff before, it's a nasty chemical! How effective do you thing a grinding tool would be with coarse sandpaper? I'd rather avoid using the chemicals

 

[Skiffing]

I'd use the chemical. It's not that bad. When I did mine I didn't even remove the carpet first - just brushed on 5F5 and covered with trash bags. Carpet lifted right off. Then re-applied 5F5 about three times [covering with plastic each time for an hour or so] and adhesive was gone.

Grinding is either too aggressive or re-melts the stuff onto the surface.