So what makes a great floor finish for your vessel? Water resistance and durability are probably the most important characteristics, because you’ll definitely want something that can put up in the harsh, wet nautical environment. Plus, you have rain (and potentially a lot of it during the summer) to worry about as well for the exposed surfaces. Having something that won’t deteriorate, rot, mold, or mildew under the weather or heavy use is one of the greatest qualities to have in flooring. Resistance to UV radiation also plays a huge role for very similar reasons. Resistance to skidding is another important factor when it comes to choosing your flooring, as the floor is bound to get wet when you have people out swimming or engaging in other sorts of water activities. Other helpful attributes include easy maintenance and installation, a good assortment of color-matching options, and of course, a great price. The flooring products we’ve rounded up from these ten brands should sport most, if not all, of these characteristics to exceed your expectations for a relaxing time on the water.
AquaTread
AquaTread, by Better Life Technology, is a leading ultra-durable, seamless and UV-stable vinyl marine flooring for yachts. It is made in the U.S. of solid, premium, 100 percent seamless polyvinyl. Water can’t permeate above or below, offering unrivaled performance and value. AquaTread doesn’t crack, peel, snag, rot, mold, mildew, or deteriorate under heavy use or foot traffic either. AquaTread comes in beautiful colors, high-end patterns, woods and weaves to complement any existing boat finish and is protected by a cooler, slip-resistant, marine-grade top coat for long-term color retention, stain-resistance and easier cleaning. AquaTread’s lay-flat, trim-to-fit boat flooring has cushiony spun-bound backing for simple installation.
AquaTread offers three tiers of products: AquaTread Premier for high-end teak-looking finishes, AquaTread Simplicity for chic weaves and trendy textiles, and AquaTread Solid for all the benefits of marine vinyl flooring at an affordable price. These floors will not crack, chip, rot, deteriorate, snag, tear or dent. Their solid, impermeable surface does not retain debris and is resistant to mold and mildew. The UV-stable floors are among the coolest marine flooring products out there, and they’re quick and easy to clean up. (833-801-9334 // www.aquatreadflooring.com)
Chilewich
Ideal for recreational vessels of all types, Chilewich’s award-winning flooring combines extraordinary durability, indoor-to-outdoor versatility, and easy maintenance with original design and American craftsmanship. The popular Mosaic weave in grey is made possible by Chilewich’s signature bi-color yarns, which are created by extruding phthalate-free vinyl over a polyester core. With two hues on a single strand, these yarns create textures with unique depth and dimension.
Backed in waterproof vinyl, the woven surface of Mosaic flooring retains its distinctive colors and rich texture over years of use in all weather. It is also available with a cushioned vinyl backing, which performs especially well in hot and humid conditions.
Like all Chilewich products, Mosaic flooring is easy to maintain: simply wipe clean with soap and water or vacuum to keep in peak condition. It is also antimicrobial. Strengthened by Microban, Chilewich textiles resist stain- and odor-causing microbial growth. This protection, which lasts for the lifetime of the product, also reduces allergens.
As Chilewich continues to expand its offering for marine applications, the company has added finished mat kits. These ready-made sets take the guesswork out of boat flooring, with mats designed for the unique layouts of a growing range of popular boats. (646-585-8683 // www.chilewich.com)
Corinthian Marine
Corinthian Marine Flooring has a long and successful history of manufacturing marine flooring for boat builders and boat owners alike. They have a wide selection of boat flooring—from traditional marine carpeting to the revolutionary AquaWeave woven vinyl you’ve seen in all the latest boats. There is a Corinthian Marine flooring product for every type of boat flooring and installation need. Corinthian’s premium quality products are engineered to withstand the tough marine environment and are covered with a five-year warranty. Whether you prefer a classic Berber, a traditional blue plush cut pile, or a modern woven teak design, Corinthian Marine flooring is artfully designed to coordinate beautifully with any boat deck. For snap-in applications, get their famous AquaMat, a custom marine mat manufactured to fit your boat exactly. (800-785-657 // www.corinthianmarine.com)
Durabak
For over a decade, the U.S. Navy has been using Durabak’s one-part polyurethane high durability liner on the decks of their boats. Some of America’s greatest boat manufacturers have followed suit. Durabak contains rubber granules encased in flexible polyurethane that provide superior skid resistance, while imparting “give” and “comfort” even when walked on with bare feet.
With 16 different colors to choose from and even the ability to mix colors, it’s easy to find your desired color finish. Durabak is suitable for fresh and salt water and can be applied to wood, aluminum, fiberglass, metal and painted surfaces—it’s also used on boat docks to protect the wood and add grip. Durabak is a high-performance solution that’s anti-corrosive, scratch-resistant, and easy to maintain. It will help extend the life of your boat or dock. The greatest part of Durabak is that it can be applied by anyone. You don’t need to be a professional or have fancy equipment. Durabak can be rolled, brushed or sprayed on. Achieve professional results in a do-it-yourself package with Durabak. (303-690-7190 // www.durabakcompany.com)
Flexiteek
Flexiteek’s PVC Synthetic Flooring is a premium synthetic teak decking designed to look and feel like real teak without the added hassle from the maintenance that teak requires; that makes it an excellent fit for any vessel. This flooring comes in many different color options, including Teak, Scrubbed, Weathered, Carbon, and Bleach, so the product is guaranteed to fit well with any design or color scheme that you have on your boat.
Flexiteek 2G is the next generation of boat flooring that has the look, feel, and texture of real wood without all the maintenance that’s typical of teak decks. With low maintenance, a hard wearing and resendable surface, the pressure-washable Flexiteek 2G is the ideal upmarket decking for yachts. This second generation synthetic teak decking, along with improving the heat reflecting properties, has also been developed to reduce thermal transfer in hot climates. Flexiteek 2G cools 30 percent faster under foot than traditional synthetic decking, allowing you to walk across it barefoot. Flexiteek 2G also offers up to 35 percent weight saving over rival synthetic decking systems; you’ll definitely get a kick out of it!
Flexiteek is dedicated to custom-made flooring, so you can be assured you’ll find the right fit for your vessel every time. The flooring comes with a five-year product warranty for any type of manufacturing defect that might come with the material. (561-840-0500 // www.flexiteek.com)
Infinity Luxury Woven Vinyl
Infinity loves their teak patterns and timeless neutrals like the Linen Luxury, Stacked Stone, and Wood Grain inspired collections, because they’re designed with form and function in mind. All of Infinity’s products are equipped with UV-stable, fade-resistant, antimicrobial technology, giving them both durability and style that can’t be matched.
They are pet-friendly and resistant to mold, mildew, gasoline, diesel, grease and motor oil. First introduced to the marine industry in 2011, these vinyls made a fast impression because of their value and moxie. Today, boat builders choose Infinity because of its durability and use, and designers choose it because of its look and feel. It’s no surprise that Infinity has partnered with some of the top boat brands such as Chris-Craft, Tiara, Sea Ray, and Chaparral, as a result.
All Infinity products are made and produced in the U.S. and have been thoroughly tested and proven to withstand even the most demanding environments. When considering the design and reliability of your yacht’s interiors, consider Infinity Luxury Woven Vinyl. (706-529-2241 // www.infinitylwv.com)
MariDeck
MariDeck is a marine flooring product line offered by DeckRite LLC, based in North
Little Rock, Ark. DeckRite provides 72-inch and 102-inch wide products in various prints, colors and thicknesses for use on your yacht. DeckRite has been serving the marine industry for over 20 years, and they were one of the first to introduce multi-colored 102-inch wide flooring products for marine applications.
DeckRite is one of the only suppliers in the marine flooring industry to offer both standard vinyl flooring as well as luxury woven vinyl, introduced recently to the marine industry. MariDeck Ultra, the name for DeckRite’s beautiful woven products, represents the cutting edge in woven flooring technology. The manufacturing process for Ultra is unique in the industry and addresses some of the shortfalls experienced with original woven vinyl products. Ultra is sold in a variety of weaves and colors, with new colors and weaves introduced regularly.
MariDeck is used by boat builders throughout North America, Europe and Australia. In addition, MariDeck is sold through marine product distributors, marine dealers and through online marine retailers. (888-450-3325 // www.marideck.net)
Nuteak
ICA Group, a leading producer of interior and exterior marine flooring has introduced more colors of their highly popular Nuteak line of synthetic teak decking. Besides Natural Teak with either white or black strips, it is now available in Gray with either the white or black strips. Nuteak’s features include a robust side angle that allows a stronger bond between planks than most other brands and a vertical leg that eliminates possible lateral movement of the planks. It is also made with underside diamond cuts to improve adhesion and reduce possible air pockets by spreading the adhesive evenly.
Nuteak also weighs less than many brands which saves money and won’t weigh down your boat. Do-it-yourselfers will like the fact that they can do some simpler tasks on their own saving time and money. Decking can also be factory pre-fabricated from a supplied template. It’s 100 percent non-porous and anti-fungal, eliminating mold growth on the surface and keeping it stain-resistant. It’s easy to maintain with regular cleaning after use, and one or two power washings a year will keep it looking like new. The non-skid surface adds safety and protection and comes with a 20-year limited warranty unmatched in the industry. (954-966-5400 // www.nuteak.com)
PlasDECK
PlasDECK is a patented synthetic teak boat decking option made in the U.S. that provides the elegant look of a teak deck without any of the time-consuming and costly maintenance associated with natural wood teak. PlasDECK now offers Eco Series, a product line that was designed to provide an affordable option for your yacht with large deck spaces to cover. It’s made of the same high-quality material as standard PlasDECK, but since the bottom layer has recycled content, the price point is lower. That makes a big difference when there are a lot of square feet to cover. With Eco Series, boat owners can enjoy the high quality of PlasDECK at a price comparable to less durable EVA foam flooring. (800-320-1841 // www.plasdeck.com)
Spradling Vinyl
Spradling is out in front of the competition again with CompassHB Select flooring! It’s the first domestically made hybrid flooring for the industry with superior qualities found nowhere else in deck flooring today. It has HydraFelt backing for comfort and protection against abrasion. It also features Microban, the chosen fungicide protection for all weather conditions. The product’s Watershield offers long-term protection and cleaning made simple. Slipdefense protection provides ease of mind, and Chil technology provides cool comfort and care. CompassHB Select means ease of installation and reduced deck prep. Customize your vessel with the top-of-the-line flooring product that will keep your customers loyal to the manufacturer that keeps their fun time safe, reliable, and trouble-free. (800-333-0955 // www.spradlingvinyl.com)
