The Deck Armor blog.
Guides on rubber marine flooring, boat care, and Tampa Bay boating.
Rubber Flooring for Pontoon Bars, Coolers, and Livewells: Handling Odd Deck Shapes
Deck Armor hand-troweles rubber flooring into boats at our Tampa shop. Livewells, hatches, coolers and deck hardware get floor right up to their…
Read more →What Bay Boat Owners in Tampa Need to Know Before Reflooring a Casting Deck
Deck Armor installs hand-troweled rubber flooring on bay boat casting decks at our Tampa shop. Call (813) 434-0395 or request a free estimate. We…
Read more →What Happens During the 3-Day Cure: Why You Can't Rush a Rubber Flooring Install
Marine rubber flooring takes about 3 days to cure after a 1 to 2 day install. Deck Armor hand-trowels rubber and epoxy flooring onto boats at our…
Read more →Why Rubber Marine Flooring Doesn't Peel, Bubble, or Curl Like Foam Mats
Deck Armor is hand-troweled rubber and epoxy marine flooring, installed at our Tampa shop for boats across Tampa Bay and Florida. Our floor does not…
Read more →Is Marine Rubber Flooring Slippery When Wet? What Florida Boaters Need to Know
No. Deck Armor marine rubber flooring grips when it is wet, dry, or fully submerged. We hand-trowel it into boats at our Tampa shop, and you can get…
Read more →What Marine Rubber Flooring Actually Is (For Owners Who've Never Heard of It)
Deck Armor installs marine rubber flooring on boats at our Tampa shop. Send us your boat's details and we quote it for free at our estimate page or…
Read more →How to Spot-Check Your Rubber Marine Flooring for Wear Before It Becomes a Problem
A quick walk-through catches nearly every problem while it is small. Do it after a rinse, in daylight, with the boat dry. Look and feel. Run your…
Read more →Rubber Flooring vs. Repainting Non-Skid: Which Actually Solves Your Traction Problem
Repainting non-skid gel coat is cheaper upfront but rarely solves the traction problem long term. Here's an honest comparison for Tampa Bay boat owners.
Read more →What's Actually Inside a Marine Flooring Quote (and Why No Two Are the Same)
A marine flooring quote is never a flat rate because no two decks are the same boat, the same age, or the same list of hatches. We measure every hull…
Read more →Is Marine Rubber Flooring Worth It on a Boat You Plan to Sell?
No flooring upgrade comes with a line item on a marine survey that says "add $X for deck material." Appraisers value hull, engine hours, electronics,…
Read more →Boat Flooring Options Compared
Foam, carpet, teak, painted non-skid and troweled rubber, side by side.
Read more →Deck Armor vs SafeFloor
Two different companies, two different products, and the parts that actually differ.
Read more →Replacing Peeling Foam Boat Decking
Why foam lifts, and what replaces it without giving up the grip or the cushion.
Read more →The Real Cost of Not Reflooring: What Old Carpet or Foam Is Costing You Every Season
Delaying a reflooring job doesn't save you money, it just moves the cost around. Every season you run on failing carpet or chalking foam, you're…
Read more →How Often You Actually Need to Reseal or Refinish Rubber Marine Flooring
No, you do not need to reseal or refinish rubber marine flooring, ever. There is no sealant coat sitting on top of it to wear off. What you're…
Read more →Why Deck Armor Flooring Weighs About 1 Lb Per Square Foot, and Why It Matters
Deck Armor's hand-troweled rubber flooring adds roughly 1 lb per square foot once it's fully cured. That's the number we work from when we're talking…
Read more →Can You Trowel a Logo Into Marine Rubber Flooring? What's Actually Possible
Yes, we trowel logos, boat names, and numbers directly into marine rubber flooring. Here's how it actually works for Tampa Bay boats and charters.
Read more →How Deck Armor Blends 3 or More Colors Into One Custom Deck
A true custom color blend from Deck Armor is a minimum of three colors worked together in a single hand-troweled surface. Not two. Three is the floor…
Read more →Protecting Your Deck Armor Floor Before a Florida Hurricane
The single most useful thing you can do for your Deck Armor floor before a hurricane is rinse it clean and get your boat out of the water. That is…
Read more →Getting Fish Blood, Sunscreen, and Scuff Marks Out of Rubber Marine Flooring
Fish blood, sunscreen, bait slime, and scuff marks come out of hand-troweled rubber marine flooring with soap, water, and a stiff brush. No special…
Read more →What a Pontoon Boat Reflooring Actually Looks Like: Before, During, and After
Pontoon decks take more abuse than almost any other boat we work on. Flat, wide open, exposed to full sun all day on Tampa Bay or Boca Ciega Bay, and…
Read more →Tampa Bay Tournament Season: Is Your Deck Ready?
Tampa Bay and the surrounding Gulf beaches host a full calendar of offshore fishing tournaments every year.
Read more →Rubber Marine Flooring on a Charter Boat: What the Lifetime vs. Commercial Warranty Actually Means
Deck Armor covers recreational boats with a lifetime warranty and captain or commercial vessels with a 10 year warranty. The floor itself is the same…
Read more →How the Deck Armor Install Process Works: From Drop-Off to Launch Day
The Deck Armor install process runs on a simple timeline: 1 to 2 days to hand-trowel the floor, about 3 days to cure, and your boat goes back in the…
Read more →How to Prep Your Boat for a Flooring Install: A Pre-Appointment Checklist
Call it done when the boat is empty, the fuel and batteries are handled, and you know your drop-off day. That's the whole job. Owners overthink this…
Read more →Marine Rubber Flooring vs Teak: Cost, Maintenance, and Resale on Florida Boats
Real teak, faux-teak foam, or marine rubber? Here's the honest cost, maintenance, and resale comparison for Tampa Bay boat owners.
Read more →Does Marine Rubber Flooring Get Too Hot to Stand On Barefoot in Florida?
Yes, it warms up in direct Florida sun, just like gel coat, EVA foam, marine carpet, and every other deck surface on the water. Anyone who tells you…
Read more →Do I Need to Remove My Old Flooring Before a Rubber Decking Install?
Yes, all old flooring must come off before a Deck Armor rubber install. Here is what we pull off Florida boats, what removal adds, and how to strip it yourself if you would rather.
Read more →Hydro-Turf vs Deck Armor: Which Holds Up Better on Center Consoles?
Hydro-Turf is a good foam deck, but on a Tampa Bay center console Deck Armor's hand-troweled rubber outlasts it. A side-by-side on grip, seams, weight, and cost.
Read more →Best Marinas in Tampa for Liveaboards and Long-Term Slips
An honest look at long-term slips around Tampa Bay: Westshore, Harbour Island, Marjorie Park, and Apollo Beach, and what to ask the dockmaster before you sign.
Read more →How Long Does Marine Rubber Flooring Last in Florida Conditions?
How long marine rubber flooring lasts in Florida: installed once, a lifetime warranty on recreational boats, and what to expect over the years.
Read more →Marine Rubber Flooring vs EVA Foam: Which Survives Florida Sun Longer?
Hand-troweled marine rubber is installed once and carries a lifetime warranty on recreational boats. An honest breakdown against EVA foam on UV, cushion, dents, and adhesion.
Read more →Best Flats and Bay Boats for Skinny Water Fishing in Tampa Bay
The four flats and bay boats that earn their keep in Tampa Bay: the Hewes Redfisher 18, Maverick HPX-V, East Cape Vantage, and Pathfinder 2200 TRS.
Read more →What Does Marine Rubber Flooring Cost in Florida? What Moves the Price
What moves the price of marine rubber flooring in Florida: deck size, hatches, old flooring removal, and logos. Every boat is measured and quoted free.
Read more →Anatomy of a Custom Marine Flooring Install: What to Expect
A Deck Armor marine flooring install runs about a week: one to two days of hand-troweled work, then roughly three days of curing before your boat is back.
Read more →Choosing the Right Marine Flooring Color: A Color and Visibility Guide
How to pick a marine flooring color in Florida: which shades cut glare for sight-fishing, which hide scuffs best, and how color pairs with your hull.
Read more →Why Marine Carpet Fails (and What to Replace It With)
Florida salt, UV, and humidity destroy marine carpet. Here is why it fails and what to replace it with.
Read more →How to Clean Rubber Marine Flooring: A Florida Owner’s Guide
How to clean rubber marine flooring in Florida: a fresh-water rinse after every trip, a scrub with Comet or Ajax when it needs it, and what to keep off your deck.
Read more →5 Best Boat Ramps in St. Petersburg for Trailerable Boats
Five St. Petersburg boat ramps for trailerable boats, with lanes, tides and what each one suits. Here is where we would launch.
Read more →Deck Armor vs SeaDek: A Comparison for Florida Boaters
Hand-troweled marine rubber is installed once and carries a lifetime warranty on recreational boats. An honest side-by-side with SeaDek on durability, dents, UV, and grip.
Read more →How Long Does Marine Rubber Flooring Actually Last? A Florida Owner’s Guide
Deck Armor is installed once and carries a lifetime warranty on recreational boats. What wears a marine floor in Florida and how to care for yours.
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