Looking for Boarding Mat Suggestions

[Foswick]

We're doing a lot more cruising with other people, lately, so find ourselves rafting more frequently and also on the dock (directly or indirectly) more frequently. That means a lot more foot traffic. So, keeping our sidedecks clean is kind of a hassle - especially when you add a dog to the mix who refuses to wipe his feet. So, I've been thinking about custom-cutting some boarding mats to go approximately where outlined in red below.

My criteria are (aside from the obvious like good traction) are:

• Can be cut to size/shape with no ratty edges.
• Relatively low bulk, since these will be rolled up and stored most of the time.
• Good drainage. The sidedecks have scuppers in addition to the gaps in the rails. This zone is where most of the water runs down and drains out. Ideally, the mat acts as a filter for dog hair, grass, etc. that would otherwise clog the scuppers, rather than something that inhibits drainage.
• Does a reasonable job of cleaning dirt off of shoes. We occasionally throw down a towel, which excels at this task, but isn't a good long-term solution.

Every material I have looked at seems to fail on at least one of points. We have ... sort of ... considered EVA decking, but I'm not sure I'm there yet.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I needed a mat also, but just for foot traffic. I bought this mat from Amazon in a smaller size than you need.

Amazon.com

They have sizes up to 70" long. It is advertised as a dog mat. According to the Amazon site it can be cut with minimal fraying. See answer below-

Can it be cut without fraying edges?

Yes, the OLANLY Dog Door Mat can be cut if needed, but it's important to understand the material composition:

Material Details:

• Surface: Made of chenille fibers (soft, plush textile)
• Backing: Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) base for non-slip functionality

Cutting Considerations:

 

[jssailem]

We have one of the Olanly dog mats at our back door.
Based on the listed criteria, I believe it would fail your conditions. While the door mat does capture dirt, it requires frequent washing to maintain the look my wife desires. Dirt, yes, dog hair not so much.

It is a two-layer mat with a rubberized bottom and a fiber top with tassel-like fibers (think shag rug). It will absorb water.
If you cut it, I believe you would need to stitch a band to keep the layers together.

I was thinking that a plastic grass rug with an attached rubber base would meet most of your conditions.

 

[FastOlson]

We have an off-n-on membership at Camping World, and every year or three spend some shopping time there. They have all sorts of 'mats' that serve this purpose. Also, smaller baking pans that fit into a boat oven. In some ways they are serving a similar but larger customer base... except that our family "RV" floats. Their prices seem reasonable, although not cheap. You might want to wander into one of their stores.