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New Vessel Commissioning Guide

New Boat Commissioning:
The Complete Custom Mat Checklist

Taking delivery of a new boat is one of the best moments in a boat owner's life. Here's how to make sure the mats are right — before the cameras come out at the dock.

By BoatMat Corporation  ·  Fort Lauderdale, Florida  ·  Updated April 2026

You've spent months — maybe years — speccing your new boat. Every detail of the build has been deliberated: hull configuration, rigging setup, electronics package, interior finish. And then the day arrives. The boat is in the water. The dock photo is coming. Marlin Magazine might be there. Your friends are definitely there.

And someone is going to look down at the dock, and the mat is going to be generic.

For 30+ years, BoatMat Corporation has been the company that keeps that from happening. We are the OEM mat supplier to 39+ of the world's top boat builders — Viking, Hatteras, Bertram, Jarrett Bay, Merritt's, Bayliss, Spencer, and more. When those builders deliver a new vessel, a BoatMat mat comes with it. When private buyers order direct, they call us. This guide is for both.

⚓ Order Timeline: Don't Be Caught Without Your Mats

Standard production: 7–10 business days from artwork approval. Order 3–4 weeks before your delivery date. Rush available — call 321.751.4636 to arrange expedited production for tournament or delivery deadlines.

The New Boat Custom Mat Checklist

Every new vessel delivery benefits from three categories of custom mats. Here's what to order, why, and the spec decisions that matter.

✓ Complete New Boat Mat Checklist
1
Custom HD Printed Dock Mat — Slip Identification & Presentation The #1 priority. Your vessel name, hull number, and home port/marina on an industrial-grade rubber mat at your slip. This is the first thing anyone sees — from the dock cameras to tournament officials to visiting owners.
2
Custom Embroidered Boarding Mat — Gangway & Swim Platform Sunbrella SeaMark fabric with your vessel name or team logo. Protects gel coat at the boarding point. Grips the gunnel with sandbag pockets. Looks impeccable in every dock photo.
3
Custom Embroidered Deck Mat — Teak Deck or Salon Interior For vessels with teak decks, salon areas, or cockpit spaces that deserve a custom finish. Madeira Polyneon UV-stable thread. Aqualoc marine-grade backing at 106 oz/yd. Lifetime buy-back guarantee.
4
Logo File Preparation — AI, EPS, or PDF Vector Preferred Have your boat name in the font you want. Have your team or family crest artwork ready as a vector file. PNG/JPG at 300 DPI minimum. The better the art, the sharper the mat.
5
Correct Sizing Before You Order Dock mats: measure your slip beam and length. Leave 6–12 inches on each side for water runoff. Boarding mats: measure your gunnel width. Deck mats: measure the exact area to be covered including any obstacles.

Product-by-Product: The Commissioning Decisions

The Dock Mat — Your Vessel's Name on the Water

The HD printed dock mat is your most visible asset. Every person who walks the dock sees it. Tournament officials photograph it. Marina guests notice it. It identifies your slip, establishes your identity, and signals that you care about your vessel the same way the rest of your setup does.

For a new boat delivery, the standard spec is:

Vessel name in your preferred font (we have 10+ styles from Bebas Neue to classic serif) on the first line. Hull number or home port on the second text line. Mat color matched to your hull color or team colors — 150+ options. Size based on slip dimensions — 6'×3' or 8'×4' are common dock mat sizes for sportfishers 40–65 feet.

Pricing from $399.95 (5'×3') to $569.95 (8'×4'). Custom dimensions at $0.25/sq in.

The Boarding Mat — Gel Coat Protection & Tournament Presentation

The custom boarding mat hangs at the gunnel where guests board the vessel. For tournament boats, this is the presentation piece — it's in the dock photos, it protects the gel coat from boarding traffic, and it tells the tournament community that your team takes its presentation seriously.

Sunbrella SeaMark marine-grade fabric in navy, charcoal gray, or tan. ScootGuard non-skid backing. Sandbag pockets that grip the gunnel. Custom embroidery — vessel name, hull number, or team logo. Available in widths from 20" to 60".

One boarding mat per boarding point is standard. Tournament boats often run two — one at the gunnel entry, one at the cockpit transom step.

The Deck Mat — Interior Finish & Cockpit Protection

For vessels with teak decks, salon areas, stateroom entries, or cockpit fighting chair areas, a custom embroidered deck mat is the finishing touch. Aqualoc marine carpet at 106 oz/yard — the backing is more than five times the weight of standard marine carpet. Precision commercial embroidery with Madeira Polyneon UV-stable thread that won't fade or crack.

Lifetime buy-back guarantee. If the mat ever wears out, BoatMat will buy it back. That's a guarantee no other marine mat company offers because no other company is confident enough in their materials to make it.

The Builders Who Trust BoatMat for New Vessel Deliveries

If you're taking delivery from any of these builders, you may already have BoatMat products aboard — or the builder can arrange a custom mat package with your delivery:

Sportfishing yachts: Viking Yachts, Hatteras Yachts, Bertram Yachts, Henriques Yachts, Cabo Yachts, Tiara Yachts

Custom Carolina sportfishers: Jarrett Bay Boatworks, Merritt's Boat & Engine Works, Bayliss Boatworks, Spencer Yachts, Paul Mann Custom Boats, Willis Boatworks, Whiticar Boat Works, Jim Smith Boats, Buddy Davis Yachts, Winter Custom Yachts, Rybovich & Sons, Weaver Boatworks

Center consoles & offshore boats: Freeman Boatworks, Valhalla Boatworks (Viking), Invincible Boats, Regulator Marine, Contender Boats, Yellowfin Yachts, HCB Yachts, Midnight Express, SeaVee Boats, Intrepid Powerboats, Boston Whaler, Grady-White, Pursuit Boats, Everglades Boats, EdgeWater Boats, Jupiter Marine

If your builder is on this list and your delivery didn't include a BoatMat product, contact them directly — or order yours now at boatmat.com and have it ready for delivery day.

The Commissioning Timeline

4W
4 Weeks Before Delivery Finalize your vessel name. Confirm hull number. Gather logo artwork files (AI, EPS, PDF, or 300 DPI PNG/JPG). Measure dock slip dimensions. Decide on mat color to coordinate with vessel.
3W
3 Weeks Before Delivery Design and order through boatmat.com's live Design Station, or call 321.751.4636. Artwork review and approval typically within 1–2 business days. Production begins after approval.
2W
2 Weeks Before Delivery Production complete. Mats ship. Standard ground shipping 2–5 days depending on location. White-glove delivery arrangements available for large orders.
D
Delivery Day Custom dock mat at the slip. Boarding mat on the gunnel. Deck mat in position. Every photo from delivery day has your vessel identity exactly right.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I haven't finalized my boat name yet?

Design everything else first — size, color, font, layout. Save your design in-progress. Once the name is confirmed, finish the order. BoatMat's Design Station lets you return to saved configurations. Or call 321.751.4636 and we'll hold your order in queue while the name finalizes.

What artwork format do you need for my logo?

Vector files produce the sharpest results: Adobe Illustrator (.ai), EPS, or vector PDF. High-resolution PNG or JPG at 300 DPI are also accepted. If you only have a low-resolution version, our art team can evaluate and advise. A one-time $150 logo digitizing fee applies for embroidered products — once digitized, your logo is on file for all future orders at no additional charge.

Can I order mats to be delivered to my builder for inclusion with my vessel delivery?

Yes. BoatMat ships direct to builder facilities for inclusion with new vessel deliveries. Provide the builder's address and delivery date at checkout or call 321.751.4636 to coordinate timing with your building team.

Ready for Delivery Day

The right mats. On time. For every photo that matters.

Design Your Dock Mat Design Your Boarding Mat Call 321.751.4636