Marine carpeting is very durable and resistant to water but nonetheless, it is recommended to take similar precautions to those you would take when upholstering your land-based vehicle. It is typically not a good idea to use cheap marine carpet glue or bootleg marine carpet glue because you may very well then run into problems down the road.
Most conventional marine carpet glues are adhesives that are made out of non-drying synthetic rubbers that are vinyl based and come pre-mixed in a tin or plastic container. It is the choice for most, but not all boat owners.
In any case, the most important concepts to remember about any marine carpeting adhesive are wetting ability, strength, ability to flow into fibers, and resistance to high and low temperatures. You will need to be aware that there are pros and cons to both vinyl and rubber marine carpet glues.
Here is a quick look at each type of adhesive and the pros and cons of each.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Henry, W.W. Co. 12185 12185 GAL #663 Carp Adhesive | Best Overall |  |
| Roberts 6700-1 1 Gallon Indoor/Outdoor Carpet/Artificial Turf Adhesive | Budget Pick |  |
| Dap 00442 Weldwood All-Weather Outdoor Carpet Adhesive | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Henry, W.W. Co. 12185 12185 GAL #663 Carp Adhesive
Pros:
- One of the most durable marine adhesive products on the market
- Affordable
2. Roberts 6700-1 1 Gallon Indoor/Outdoor Carpet/Artificial Turf Adhesive
This carpet glue claims to repair concrete, asphalt, wood and brick. It is clearly a superior quality glue, but it is not the fastest drying and it’s difficult to clean up.
This might not be a big deal for many, but the tube is built in a way unsuitable for left-handed people. Nevertheless, the glue does what it promises and comes at a very reasonable price.
The Roberts 6700-1 is an adhesive that can be used both indoors and outdoors. It can be used with carpets, artificial turf, concrete, or even asphalt.
3. Boat Carpet Glue Gallon
Pros:
- Tightly bonded leather
- Easy to sand and refinish over time
- Good choice for people who want to keep it simple
- VOC free
- Made in the USA
- Non-toxic
- Safe for watercraft
- Some people report it is easy to work with
- Some people report it is strong
- Fair price
Cons:
- Tray liner not universal
- Some people had problems with it leaking out of the bottle
- Does not come with a brush
- Some people report it took too long to dry
This two-part epoxy marine carpet glue is made from scratch and does not contain formaldehyde. It is acid-free, which means it should not cause your carpet to rot. The downside with this is that it may not have the same longevity as formaldehyde based glues.
This marine glue is easy to sand clear and free of VOCs, so it is a great choice if you want to keep a low environmental footprint. It is also safe for marine use. Although this is a two-part epoxy, some people say that it is barely discernible from other one-part epoxies on the market.
4. Permatex 27828 Body Shop Heavy Duty Headliner and Carpet Adhesive Aerosol Can
Pros:
- Easy to use and apply
- Little odor
Cons:
- Clogs spray nozzle
- Not recommended for large projects
Most heavy-duty headliners/carpet glues are gel-like and black. This brings us to our Permatex review for the best performing spray-on headliner/carpet glue. When compared to Eron’s, an alternative brand, it’s also cheaper.
The headliner adhesive has a thickness that is somewhere between watery and viscous. Because of the texture, it tends to clog the spray nozzle. You may have to make some adjustments and exert way more pressure to get the right spray pattern. Still, once you get the hang of it, it is easy to apply.
While you can apply adhesive to both unvarnished and varnished surfaces, we recommend applying it to unvarnished ones because it’s easier and the bond will hold better. First, make sure that the surface to be glued is clean, dry, and free of dust and grease.
5. Polymat 2 20oz
Pros:
- High Performance
- High quality product
- Comes with gloves and goggles to protect against any accidental spillage
- There is no unneeded propellant
Cons:
- As the can is quite big, it can be awkward to handle sometimes
- Only sticks to certain surfaces
The Polymat 2 is a marine carpet glue that has a high performance, high quality and provides excellent bond strength. The glue has a 2-part component system. The first component is the glue substance that has to be mixed with the second component which is the espuma, this helps to sprout the glue as well as ensuring that it does not stick prematurely to the area that you are painting.
Bottom line: The Polymat 2 is the best glue to use when you are creating a marine carpet, as it has been specifically designed to deal with these kind of projects. Another great thing about this glue is that it has a fairly large can, so you will not have to worry about having to purchase it again for a while.
6. Gallon Roll On Floor Glue
Pros:
- Easy To Use
- Works reliably with massive loads
- Remains flexible
Cons:
- Messy
- A little hard to remove from most surfaces
- Not as strong as marine purpose-made products
The traditional way of filling gaps in your boat’s floorboard and seams is with boat/RV floor and seam sealer. The disadvantage with these fillers is that you have to mix them, and that they’re messy. They’re not always easy to remove and they can stain surfaces.
The Boat/RV floor and Seam Sealer Glue Roll On from Trimax Marine/RV is much better than traditional fillers for boat/RV floorboards and seams. It’s easy on: It’s easy-to-use, it fills all cracks, it won’t shrink, and it’s quick drying.
Unlike traditional fillers, it won’t stain surfaces or require painstaking clean-up. There’s no drying, no mess, and no residue when you use it. You just clean the surface and apply.
7. Advanced Adhesive Technologies
Pros:
- Helps to prevent the growth of dust mites
- Can easily be cleaned up with soap and water
- Won’t change color over time
- You can use it as an underlay when laying carpet in your home or office
- Works on all surfaces
- Exceeds solvent-based carpet adhesives
- Is great for securing carpet to a concrete floor
Cons:
- Has an easily detectable odor
- May turn out to be quite expensive
- Doesn’t bond very fast
When it comes to advantages, the Advanced Adhesive Technologies (AAT-390 G) Carpet Adhesive, 1 Gallon is top of the line. First, it’ll help you to clean your carpet up easily without any issues.
Additionally, it won’t change color at all, so you don’t need to worry about that. In fact, it’ll stay clear over time.
Bonded carpets are an absolute breeze to clean thanks to this particular carpet glue. It’s perfect for underlays too to save you the trip of going out and purchasing them.
8. Dap 00442 Weldwood All-Weather Outdoor Carpet Adhesive
Pros:
- Won’t damage your carpets
- Works great on outdoor carpets
- Extremely versatile
- Easy to clean up
- Dries waterproof
- Dries fast
- Works on a variety of surfaces
- Low odor
- Non-toxic
- Brush applicator included
If you’re a gardener, you probably know that weather conditions can have a lot of influence on the condition of your outdoor carpets. That’s why you might want to use the best weatherproof carpet adhesives.
This specially formulated weatherproof outdoor carpet adhesive will withstand heat, moisture and chemicals that are often found in outdoor conditions. It is incredibly versatile in that you can use it on most any surface, including fine carpet, rubber, vinyl, wicker and rattan and many more.
It doesn’t leave a sticky residue and can be easily cleaned up. This indoor grade waterproof formula is great for an RV, boat or a patio. You don’t have to worry about it collecting dirt because it dries completely clear.
9. CMC Boat Carpet Glue
10. 3M 21210 Super 77 Spray Adhesive
Pros:
- Works with a wide range of materials
- Not too messy
- Doesn’t sag
- Very quick
3M’s Super 77 spray adhesive is an industrial grade adhesive manufactured for bonding a wide variety of materials in the automotive, marine, transportation, steel, electrical, construction, and wood industries.
It is advertised as a high-strength, fast-bonding, spray adhesive that’s suitable for use on a wide range of materials. Such as: glass, rubber, leather, ceramics, wood, metal, and plastics.
The 3M adhesive has a tack-free time of 20-40 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best marine carpet?
Before buying any marine carpet adhesive or carpet for a boat, make sure that you understand the specific properties that it will need to have. Not all marine carpet products are the same, and the ones promoted by many boat manufacturers are great for the average home but may not be ideal for a boat.
The three most important considerations when choosing marine carpet for a boat are:
- boat flex and movement
- temperature and humidity
- UV damage
- water chemical damage
What kind of glue do you use for boat carpet?
I always recommend using marine carpet glue as it is what the professionals use offshore.
A marine adhesive will be a lot stronger than the quick set glues which will often pull up prematurely from the high volume of moisture that is present on a boat.
Sometimes this can happen even in dry climates if the boat has been sitting for a while without running, as the cabin can accumulate a lot of moisture.
Can you use Gorilla Glue on carpet?
The glue can stick to carpet, but not necessarily hold it down. The glue won’t degrade the carpet the way other glues might. The tacks probably don’t have any adhesive on them, so once you put a layer of Gorilla Glue on the back of the tack, the tack will just sit on top of the glue without holding it down very well. The glue will hold the tack to the carpet, but the tack won’t hold the carpet to the deck, so you end up with the tack moving around. Also, any heavy lifting on the carpet could cause the tack to pull out because the glue has no adhesive to stick to.
What is the best carpet for boat trailer bunks?
For me, the best boat carpet in 2022 will be UV resistant and will feature slots for drainage. There will probably be a cut-out for the wheel and the carpet will come in sections that will be easier to replace as they wear out.
These are all things that my carpet doesn’t have right now, but I think the future is brighter than ever. My boat trailer carpet is in quite rough shape, actually, since the carpet is worn and stained. The vinyl bases have urethane coating, which is great, but the carpet is wearing out from sun damage.
Conclusion
Below as you’ll see is our review of the top marine carpet glues available on the market today, along with their pros and cons.
We believe these are the best marine carpet glues for the money.
However if you are leaning towards a particular type of marine carpet glue, you’re more than welcome to have a look at our Buyers Guide and narrow your selection down from there.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Henry, W.W. Co. 12185 12185 GAL #663 Carp Adhesive | Best Overall | |
| Roberts 6700-1 1 Gallon Indoor/Outdoor Carpet/Artificial Turf Adhesive | Budget Pick | |
| Dap 00442 Weldwood All-Weather Outdoor Carpet Adhesive | Upgrade Pick | |