Glue vs. Snap-In Marine Carpet: Which Is Right for You?

Whether you own a fishing boat, a family cruiser for weekend outings, or a high-end yacht with intricate decking, you'll need to choose between glue-down or snap-in carpet when replacing your flooring.

While these options can appear similar, a key distinction is how each type of flooring is installed and removed.

Glue-Down vs. Snap-In Carpet 

Like the name suggests, glue-down marine flooring is permanently adhered to the boat’s surface. It relies on marine-grade adhesive to keep the flooring secured in place. 

Meanwhile, snap-in carpet is custom designed to fit inside all types and sizes of boats. Snaps keep the flooring securely in place, while still allowing for quick and easy installation and removal. 

Pros & Cons: Glue-Down Marine Carpet

No matter what kind of boat you have, the type of flooring you choose can have a big impact on not only the appearance, but also the functionality and longevity of your boat.

While glue-down flooring provides secure, permanent installation, it is very difficult to remove when you need to replace it. It’s affixed using a strong adhesive, which allows it to hold up extremely well in harsh marine environments. However, if it’s damaged or dingy and you need to replace it, there will be more prep work involved. You’ll need to tear it up then clean up all of the adhesive – which may involve grinding it away.

Pros & Cons: Snap-In Marine Carpet 

Instead of being permanently attached to the boat’s flooring, snap-in carpet is secured without having to use any glue or nails. It is one of the quickest and easiest ways to install flooring in all types of boats. 

While glued flooring has the tendency to rise on the edges, snap-in carpet provides a more secure installation. You can feel confident that your new flooring will be able to withstand daily wear and tear from being exposed to harsh marine environments. It’s UV resistant and backed with a non-skid, non-marking Duragon rubber mat that won’t deteriorate over time. 

Because snap-in flooring is waterproof, mold and mildew resistant, and fade resistant, it offers an easy maintenance process. You’ll get the chance to spend more time out on the water and less time keeping up with your boat.

Just turn your hose or pressure washer to a low setting and spray the flooring down whenever you need to. You can also use a little mild soap like Dawn detergent diluted with water to clean away dirt.

Then, whenever you need to replace or want to upgrade, simply swap out your flooring and enjoy a brand new look. 

Why Choose Matworks for Your New Snap-In Boat Carpet? 

At Matworks, we have over 100 boat templates in our database and are constantly adding to our collection. We have templates for popular boat brands like Sea Ray, Baja, Formula, Four Winns and more. 

All of our marine cockpit carpets are competitively priced. As an industry leader, you can trust the quality and durability of our marine-grade carpet. We back this promise with our industry-leading warranty, which includes an 8-year warranty on cockpit carpet and backing and a lifetime warranty on trim and embroidery. 

With the option to personalize your carpet with your choice of marine or custom logos, you can create a one-of-a-kind boating experience for you and your passengers. Check out our material options and request up to six samples so you can see the different options in person.

Have any questions about our marine cockpit carpet? Reach out at 770-663-0040 or customerservice@matworks.com to get started.