what do you guys use to clean the carpet before putting away for winter  last time i done it you guys suggested some kind of cleaner but i forgot what is was  i know i used the garden hose and scrub brush and  what for cleaner i dont know.  and then used vac. to get the extra water out that dont drain. thanks

I don't usually put the boat away for Winter but, twice a year I like to detail her. I vacuum up the heavy stuff while dry, then rinse with a hose on 'jet'. Just before it dries, I use some stuff made by Prestone (cloth cleaner for vehicles - forget the name) and scrub it in with a stiff nylon-bristled brush. Hose it down (2x) again with the 'jet' setting and let it all run into the bilge with the bow as high as I can get it. Wet Vac a few hours later and let dry for 2 or 3 dyas.

I take my Champion to the car wash and use their regular car soap.  I usually do some additional rinsing at home after the car wash. Cost a few dollars but it is far easier for me................Al

Simple Green - spray it full strength on any stains and brush it with a nylon brush.

Dilute it down and put it in a spray bottle for general cleaning.  Spray a light mist all over the carpet.  Let it sit a few minutes then hose it off on the "jet" setting.  Move the jet of water back and forth repeatedly make small swaths from one side of the carpet to another.  You can actually see the dirt comming out with the water/suds running off.  

When the water runs off clean, soap and dirt free at one swath move the spray to the next swath until you've complete the entire carpet.

Put the bow up high as you can get it with the plug pulled, let it run off to dry.  You can then brush the carpet  to fluff the nap back up with a clean dry nylon brush.

I know this is an old post but i am wanting to clean my carpet right now too. Would Resolve high traffic powder cleaner or Oxi-Clean be too much? I hear that soaps will do long term damage and trap dirt more? Any input on this?

These should help you:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/bass_boat_maintenance.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/boat_cleaning.html

I just got my first bass boat this Fall and the carpets were pretty dingy, but not really stained. Simple Green, a nylon bristled scrub brush and my garden hose worked wonders.

I started at the bow and did the exact same thing Hot Rod says to do, except I sprayed it on directly and used the scrubber on all of it.

I find a little bit of dawn dish soap and a power washer dissolves a lot of the oil, gas and other stains.

I find a little bit of dawn dish soap and a power washer dissolves a lot of the oil, gas and other stains.

I do this first and depending how bad it is I'll use Prestone carpet cleaner the type with the scrub brush on the top after that. The Prestone you can get it any Advance Auto or AutoZone.

Yea mine has only a couple small rust stains but is pretty dirt and dingy. Maybe i will try the Green stuff.

Just an update guys, i could not find the Simple Green anywhere so i improvised. I used some Dawn dish soap with bleach and and let me tell you i am impressed. Even the rust that is years old broke down. I had some kind of grease in the rod lockers and it was no match for the Dawn. I simply cannot say enough about this stuff. My carpet looks new again at last........................

Great Ideas!!! I will be trying these this weekend.