Boat Carpet FAQ
Boat Carpet Samples
Give us a call at 888-283-0704. We have helped many customers choose their colors over the phone. We have also taken photos of the physical samples and emailed or texted them to customers to compare both the monitor’s version of the website and a photo.
Your marine carpet samples will arrive in 7-10 days. Feel free to contact us if they don’t arrive so we can rush you a second set if necessary.
Sometimes it is hard to tell color and texture accurately on the internet. Our samples have been professionally photographed and edited to decrease errors, but we can’t account for individual computer monitors. We can mail 3 free boat carpet samples to you to review.
Boat Carpet Shipping
Marideck materials ship directly from their warehouse, to save time and money as their orders can be bulky. They generally get an order out in 2 business days, and most often use UPS ground.
We have our own warehouse in Detroit for boat carpet and boat carpet glue, and we ship from there within 2 business days. Marideck marine vinyl products ship from their factory, also in about 2 business days.
Please open up your carpet and inspect it right away. Then re-roll it or store it flat in a warm dry place to help ease out any creases that may have formed in shipping. These are generally minor and not a cause for concern. If you do notice a problem with your new carpet, please give us a call right away at 888-283-0704 so we can help you. Please note that we cannot accept carpet that has been cut or glued for returns.
Large orders ship freight, by truck. This takes about 2 weeks, and MUST ship to a business address. Please let us know if you need help with a large order at 888-283-0704.
Both. We ship via UPS, so it is important to have a street address, not a PO Box. If it is a business address, please include the business name when you place your order.
You will receive an order confirmation with your order number immediately after your order is placed. Then you will get an email shipping update after your marine grade carpet ships, with a link that will allow you to track your boat carpet in transit. This email usually goes out one day after it ships. Please also check your trash or spam email box, as sometimes the shipping confirmation is accidentally filtered but email companies. If it is still not there, then you can call us at 888-283-0704 for assistance.
Our carpet is generally folded, then wrapped and shipped via UPS. Please note that, due to the quality of our backing, that folds will soften and straighten out during the gluing process. If you have time, re-roll then store your carpet in a warm or sunny area for a couple days.
They will be in separate packages and may arrive up to 2 days apart.
Most orders ship in 2 business days from our warehouse in Detroit, Mi, via UPS. You can CLICK HERE to see the UPS delivery map to estimate your marine grade carpet arrival time.
Boat Carpet Product
It is UV light stabilized, has low water retention, is mildew and moisture resistant, and does not fuzz or pill. All in all, a super carpet product.
Our boat carpet has a durable synthetic rubber (latex) backing and the pile is made of 100% olefin for long time outdoor wear and fade resistance.
Often, aluminum fishing boat owners choose our Standard Cut Pile Carpet. It is economical and made of the same backing and fibers as the Deluxe carpet. The difference is that the fibers are fewer and shorter, so it is a less plush feel.
NO, you can’t use home carpet in a marine environment. The backings are usually natural jute, which would break down and mold. And the carpet fibers are usually not made to resist mold, mildew or fading like marine grade carpet would. Indoor carpet would break down and decay quickly in a marine setting.
People use different terms but they basically mean the same thing. Our backing is synthetic rubber or sometimes called synthetic latex. It is specifically made for us in marine carpeting.
You have several choices for pontoon boat carpet. First, measure the width. Our Premium. Textured Boat Carpet is in 8.5 foot widths and our cut pile carpets come in 6 ft or 8 ft widths. Then think about how you will use your pontoon. It has an attractive pattern of loops and cut pile in the same carpet. If you are a fisherman, cut pile in either Standard or Deluxe is a good choice. If you are looking for value, then the Standard Boat Carpet will be a good choice. The Plush Boat Carpet is a good choice for families and relaxing cruising. These come in 6 or 8 ft widths, depending on the style and the color.
First, determine the width and color choice. Our cut pile marine carpet comes in 6′ and 8′ widths. For a bass boat carpet project, you will want cut pile carpet – hooks can get stuck in the loops of the textured marine carpet. Some colors come in both lengths and styles (Standard and Deluxe) and some do not so sometimes the color determines the choice. The deluxe carpet is softer underfoot and a little more supportive for standing all day. Both are easy to work with for wrapping lids and lockers.
It depends. For pontoon carpet, you can generally buy the length plus a little extra. For bass boat carpet, you may want to buy the length of the carpeted area plus 20% to allow extra for wrapping lids. Some people even make a chart of the area to more accurately estimate. Just MAKE SURE that all the carpet runs in the same direction – if you spin a piece of boat carpet sideways or backward, it will look a different color than the other pieces of marine carpet.
YES! Give us a call at 888-283-0704. We can cut boat carpet in any length you need. The width of the carpet is determined by the style and color of boat carpet you choose – cut pile boat carpet comes in 6′ and 8′ widths and the textured boat carpet comes in 8.5′ widths. We have sent customers orders as small as 2 feet. We can rush a small order if you are in the middle of a project and run short.
Just call us at. 888-283-0704. We would be glad to get you extra glue or a small piece of carpet out as soon as possible.
Routine maintenance will keep your marine carpet looking good for years and will increase the lifespan as well. Use a cleaning solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Soak the boat carpet for 5 minutes then rinse with clean water. For stubborn stains, use a broom or soft bristle brush to GENTLY brush the stained marine carpet areas. Repeat the cleaning procedure on the stained areas. Check out our boat carpet cleaning page for more information.
CLICK HERE for our warranty.
YES! All our boat carpets are marine grade and made specifically for the boating environment. They are high quality synthetic boat carpets and backings that resist fading, mold, mildew, gas and oil. They are designed to hold up for years in the harsh marine environment.
We want you to love your carpet. To make that easier, we have free samples and we also are glad to offer customer support to help you select the right carpet and color to begin with. If you are at all unsure about choosing carpet, let us help you at 888-283-0704. Check our returns page for more information on our return policies.
YES! We have helped customers carpet walkways, patios, front porches, horse trailers, retail shops and even bird cages at a nationally renowned zoo! Just give us a call and we can help you match the right carpet and glue to your project.
YES! All of our carpets will work for this application. Our Standard Marine Grade Carpet is a great choice as it is economical and the shorter, fewer piles mean less water retention in that environment.
Every one of our boat carpets and our adhesives are proudly made in America. We are a division of a 65 plus year old, family owned, automotive and boat fabric and carpet company. We have access to the best American manufacturers and the industry experience to carefully select the right boat carpet and adhesives for our customers.
Our Standard Marine Grade Boat Carpet or Plush Marine Grade Boat Carpet is the best choice for bass boats and also pontoon boats, aluminum fishing boats, runabouts and many other applications both on and off the water.
For avid fishermen, make sure you choose a cut pile carpet so hooks do not get stuck in carpet loops. Our Standard and Deluxe are great choices for you.
Our Premium Textured Boat Carpet is 8.5 ft wide and has a pattern of cut pile and loops. It looks great on luxury pontoon boats, runabouts, ski boats, houseboats or cruisers.
Click here on “Shop by Boat Type” for more details on how to choose your carpet.
Boat Carpet Adhesive/Glue and Installation
Trailer bunk carpet installation is very easy and takes only an afternoon. You will remove the old carpet using a screwdriver to pull out the staples. Then wrap the boards with the new trailer carpet and use a staple gun to secure. Try to use stainless steel staples, and attach at the bottom of the board when you can for a clean look and to eliminate possible scratches if a staple comes loose.
You need a 1/4” notched trowel and sharp scissors and carpet knife for certain. You may need to keep switching out blades to keep a sharp edge. Depending on your installation, you might need sand paper and a screwdriver too. It also is important to have a carpet roller, the back of a shop broom, or a small sanded 2×6 to push over the carpet to force the glue up into the rows of knots on the back of the carpeting.
It can be tempting to start that project in February, but glue temperature is EXTREMLY important to a good outcome. Temperatures must be over 65 degrees for the entire time – from beginning to several days of dry time. Your materials must also be over 65 degrees before you start. Glue will not bond or evaporate properly in cold weather. A heated shop (and time to leave the boat there) is a must in the offseason.
YES! Our professional marine grade glue is made for that situation. It is the installer’s preferred choice and we have had great reviews from professionals who use it for all boat carpet installations. With any glue project, make sure you follow the instructions, look at our installation tips, and keep an eye out for warm, dry weather as it will take several days to dry before use.
Check our our blog for thorough instruction on glue use, boat carpet installation and bass boat carpet installation. Some basic things to know are: the weather MUST be warm (over 65 degrees) and dry for the length of the project for the adhesives to set properly. You will need to apply pressure to make sure that the glue contacts the entire back of the carpet (between the rows of fibers.) Lift a corner to make sure that the glue is bonding to both surfaces. Check out or blog for more tips and make sure to read the instructions on the can.
It is VERY important to have warm, dry weather for several days, or a heated shop, when you glue boat carpet. Trowel on glue takes days to dry, and high humidity or cold weather will result in a poor bond. Also, do not use cold glue – it should be stored in a warm, dry place for a minimum of a day before you begin your project. Please see the instructions on the can or call us before you begin if you have any questions.
Spray contact adhesive is a good choice for vertical carpet surfaces, like up the inside wall of your boat. The trowel on carpet adhesive takes a few days to dry- so it’s not practical for vertical applications.
Several days. The time varies based on the temperature and humidity at the time. The boat carpet project must remain out of rain, bad weather, and the lake while it dries. It must be warm (over 65 degrees) and dry. Do NOT let glue freeze, or use while it or the carpet are cold. If you must install boat carpet in winter, leave your project in a heated shop for several days while the glue cures. Check instructions on the can, on our blog or call us for more details.
Spray contact adhesive is a great additional glue to buy for your boat carpet project. It’s best used for vertical surfaces or for wrapping lids on bass boat carpet or hard to reach places. Spray contact adhesive dries instantly so it gives a fast bond in those situations. But remember, that means you need to be accurate in your carpet placement due to the speed of the bond.
Check out our product pages for thorough explanations or call customer service for detailed information. Generally our indoor/outdoor carpet glue is a good choice for pontoon boats. Our marine grade carpet adhesive works well for fiberglass and aluminum and is the best choice for bass boats or for professional carpet installation.
We recommend that you use the glue that we have selected. We have researched for the best American made boat carpet adhesives and have a selection of glues to choose from. Always test your adhesive before beginning your project, especially if you are unsure about the subfloor or if you are providing your own glue on your boat carpet project.
You will need one gallon of marine carpet adhesive for each 8′ x 10′ flat surface area.
Boat Carpet Adhesive Coverage Area
One Gallon- Covers an 8‘x10’ Area
Two Gallons- Covers an 8‘x20’ Area (use on 8‘x16’ or 8‘x20’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Three Gallons- Covers an 8‘x30′ Area (use on 8‘x25’ or 8‘x30’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Four Gallons- Covers an 8‘x 40’ Area(use on 8‘x35’ or 8‘x40’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Five Gallons- Covers an 8‘x50’ Area (use on 8‘x45’ or 8‘x50’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Six Gallons- Covers an 8‘x60′ Area (use on 8‘x55’ or 8‘x60’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Seven Gallons- Covers an 8‘x70’ Area (use on 8‘x65’ or 8‘x70’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Eight Gallons- Covers an 8‘x80’ Area (use on 8‘x75’ or 8‘x80’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Nine Gallons- Covers an 8‘x90′ Area (use on 8‘x85’ or 8‘x90’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Ten Gallons- Covers an 8‘x100′ Area (use on 8‘x95’ or 8‘x100’ rolls of marine grade carpet)
Marideck Marine Vinyl Flooring
The main appeal of Marideck is that it is easy to keep looking clean and fresh. Click here for their cleaning recommendations page: https://www.marideck.net/MariDeck_Cleaning_Insructions.pdf
Marideck administers their own Warranty program. Click here to be directed to their warranty information page: https://www.marideck.net/MariDeck_Warranty.pdf
The Marideck 80 ml vinyl flooring is suitable for all installations and is recommended for wood floors and marine plywood floors. This is because it is thicker and will help to disguise imperfections in older flooring.
Marideck 34 ml vinyl flooring is suitable for aluminum fishing boats, fiberglass boats or for new plywood floors. It is thinner than the 80 ml, so it is not a good choice for covering floors that have imperfections, divots or valleys.
No. Marideck vinyl flooring is embossed with attractive, non-slip finishes to help you stay on your feet in typical marine situations. Keep in mind, though, standing puddles are not good for your or your floor.
Vinyl flooring is more expensive than carpet, but it does have some key advantages. Mostly it is easy to clean and keep looking good in dirty or heavy traffic situations like fishing, hunting, salt water, or messy kids. You can just hose away mess and go on with your day.
Our marine vinyl products are also made in America by Marideck, the industry leader in beautiful marine vinyl floors.
Our Company
We have been in the automotive and marine carpet industry for nearly 70 years. BoatCarpet.com is one of our businesses and has been helping people for nearly 10 years. We have the experience to provide you with high quality products and service.
We are a third generation family business, and some of our customers are third generation too. We know the business and care about our customers. We have the contacts and the expertise to choose the best quality and most reliable manufacturers. We also have our own warehouse, so we can control our own product choices and shorten shipping times. Vendor relationships are important to us – we maintain personal contact with them so we can always ask questions, provide feedback, and pick up new information and expertise. We pick our vendors based on their reputation, not their drop ship programs!
Returns and Warranties
There is a 3 year warranty on our marine carpet and we very rarely have claims. Let us know quickly in the rare event that you have a product problem. Check our warranty page for more information.
Marideck administers their own warranty program. We would be glad to help facilitate the process for you. Click here for details on their warranty process. https://www.marideck.net/MariDeck_Warranty.pdf
No, you cannot return carpet that has been cut, glued or modified. Only carpet in the original condition may be returned.
You can return your carpet within 30 days. It is important to know that you will bear the cost of return shipping. If exact color or texture match is important to you, we suggest that you order samples to decrease the chance of returns, and return shipping expense.
