Need new cockpit carpet

H

happyhour

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4143
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I have an area that is roughly 10'x4' that I need to have carpeted. I have tried thin indoor/outdoor carpeting but do not like it because it tends to wrinkle. Some previous carpets had the backing breakdown after a short period of time. The cockpit area is normally covered. It is subject to a little salt water although not a drenching. I do not want to install snaps. What kind of carpet would everyone recommend?
 
How about some outdoor entry mats that are used for homes or business? They come in different colors and sizes (might need two or three depending on configuration) Also, they have a heavy rubber type backing that will keep them down and in place. Take them out and hose off to clean.
John
 
Why not use snaps? I had custom carpet made from a high quality commercial carpet held in place by snaps. 5 yrs later and it still looks great. No rubber backing to deal with.......
 
Get a good nylon, loop pile carpet and forget the rubber back, and use the snaps to hold it in place. As Flutterby said, that is the way to go. Nylon is much stronger than olefin fiber and the rubber back just becomes a mess after a while.
 
If you're doing this yourself, be sure that the edges of the carpet are bound. If they aren't, you're going to have fibers tear off on every washdown, and I'm thinking that you really don't want that collecting in the bilge. I'm looking at new carpet for the cockpit myself. I'm collecting samples to see how they hold up to a scrubbing/washdown.
IMnewbieO, Snaps good...rubber backing bad.
 
My cockpit carpet is a "berber" with no backing and the edges are bound. I do not have any snaps and it stays right where it belongs. I don't like snaps on an outside deck as each one is a good place for water intrusion to start. The less holes drilled into my boat the better.
 
No thanks, sealant goes away after a time. I'm not drilling any unecessary holes anywhere in my boat. Especially on horizontal surfaces where water collects.
 
Call and talk with John at Custom Marine Carpets, tel. 877-762-7461 (website is snapincarpet.com). He has great carpets designed for marine decking and you don't have to install the snaps. The Berber is excellent and will probably pretty much stay in place on its own. Their work is first-rate and John (the owner) is very helpful.
 
One problem with typical home carpet used on a boat outside is the fiber backing dries out and will deterioate in no time. Once that happens, you have the remnants(dust and chunks) all over the place. The backing can also rub the deck like sandpaper and scratch the decking.

That's why outdoor marine carpet has a rubber or vinyl type backing. Home carpet doesn't.

You always get what you pay for.

Jonathan
 
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