The floor of your Stacer boat is more than just a place for you to stand. It’s a crucial element impacting comfort, safety, drainage, and overall functionality. Selecting the right boat floor type depends on your boat’s purpose, your budget, and your desired level of comfort and aesthetics. Here’s a guide to explore the most common types of boat floors, helping you make the right choice of boat floor for your aquatic adventures.

Marine Plywood

A classic and budget-friendly option, marine plywood offers a solid and durable base for boat floors. It’s treated with waterproof resins to withstand moisture exposure. However, marine plywood can be heavy and requires regular maintenance to prevent warping or rotting.

Fibreglass Floors

Offering a smooth, non-absorbent surface, fibreglass floors are popular for their durability and ease of cleaning. They can be moulded to create seamless integration with the hull and are generally low-maintenance. However, fibreglass floors can be sometimes slippery when it’s wet so you need to wear boat shoes that have good traction. Plus, they can be quite expensive to install, maintain, and repair.

Aluminium Floors

Renowned for their strength and lightweight properties, aluminium floors are a popular choice for fishing boats like Stabicraft boats and pontoons. They offer excellent traction even when wet and are resistant to corrosion. The downside? Aluminium floors can get hot in direct sunlight and can be noisy to walk on.

Marine Carpet

Providing a soft and comfy surface underfoot, marine carpet is a popular choice for pontoon boats, cruisers, and other vessels who prioritise passenger comfort. It comes in various colours and styles to complement your boat’s aesthetics. You can use a marine carpet over your aluminium boat floor to avoid walking on a hot surface. However, marine carpet can trap moisture and dirt which requires you to clean it regularly to prevent mould and mildew growth.

EVA Foam Flooring

This closed-cell foam offers a luxurious and cushioned feel underfoot. It’s non-slip, easy to clean, and resistant to mould and mildew. EVA foam flooring comes in various colours and patterns, adding a touch of style to your boat. While generally more expensive than traditional options, EVA foam offers a comfy and low-maintenance solution.

PVC Matting

PVC mats offer a practical and affordable solution for high-traffic areas of your boat. They are slip-resistant, easy to clean, and durable. PVC mats come in various interlocking designs, allowing for easy customisation and replacement of individual sections. While not as luxurious as other options (yes, they can look really cheap) PVC mats provide a functional and cost-effective solution for areas like cockpits or swim platforms.

Teak (Natural/Synthetic)

Teak wood is prized for its beauty, durability, and natural non-slip properties. However, real teak can be expensive and requires regular maintenance to retain its appearance. Synthetic teak offers a more affordable alternative with a similar aesthetic and non-slip property, but it may not be as durable as real teak.

Deck Paints and Coatings

For a more customised and budget-friendly option, some boat owners opt for specialised deck paints or non-skid coatings applied directly to the existing floor. This can be a good solution for smaller areas or for refreshing older floors. However, the durability and wear resistance might be lower compared to dedicated flooring materials.