Despite the fact that both marine and outdoor carpets are made for outdoor conditions, there are some key differences between the two. These differences stem from the fact that marine carpet is designed for use on boats, where there is much more moisture and a generally harsher environment.
The difference between marine carpet vs outdoor carpet is that marine carpet has a tighter weave and will typically have a greater face weight as well. Marine carpet is also usually more durable as specialist manufacturers use extra treatments or designs to make it last longer.
Marine carpets are much more likely to be used more often and therefore need to be even more resistant to the weather than an outdoor carpet. Let’s take a look at exactly what marine and outdoor carpets are made of so we can see the differences between them more clearly.
What Materials Are They Made From?
The easiest way to tell the difference between any kind of carpets is the materials that are used to make them, as well as the type of weaving.
Outdoor Carpet
Outdoor carpets usually consist of either polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene. A lot of these materials are used in places such as shops and offices because of how durable they are.
All of these materials are UV resistant, which means they won’t fade in colour when placed outside for extended periods of time. The key differences here are that polyester is much more stain-resistant than polypropylene, and polyethylene is known as being a softer option if you are looking for a luxurious feel.
Outdoor carpets usually have a rubber backing as well which is super durable and can last mant years.
Marine Carpet
Marine carpet is confusingly made from polypropylene, the same material used in outdoor carpets, in most cases. There are two types of marine carpet that are known as cut and loop:
- Cut, or cut pile, is where the carpet fibres are cut on the face side of the carpet during manufacturing. Cut pile has fibres that branch out and looks more similar to a standard carpet that you would find inside the house.
- Loop, or loop pile, is where the fibres are cut on the face side and then looped back onto the face side. This pile gives a tighter finish that can be presented in different patterns.
Wooden vinyl is also sometimes used but this is on the higher end of the spectrum and costs a lot more. This is a material that you are likely to find on luxury boats and even yachts.
Key Differences Between Marine Carpet and Outdoor Carpet
Despite the fact that they are both usually made from the same material there are some key differences that we have alluded to.
Weave
Marine carpet will have a tighter weave pattern if you purchase it with a cut pile. This is very common in fishing boats as it makes it harder to snag your fishing hooks in the carpet.
There is little difference between loop pile marine carpet weave and outdoor carpet though in terms of weaving.
Face Weight
Another difference is that marine carpet will usually weigh a lot more per square yard of carpet. Face weight is the term used to describe the amount of fibre in ounces per square yard of carpet and this is usually much higher in marine carpets.
A heavier face weight means that a carpet is less likely to flatten which is useful for boating.
Can You Use Outdoor Carpet Instead Of Marine Carpet?
You can definitely use outdoor carpet in place of marine carpet, but you might run into a few difficulties.
Hook Snags
As we already said a marine carpet can be bought with cut pile which is better if you don’t want to snag your hooks on it.
Outdoor carpet will usually have loose fibres that are easy for hooks to get caught on, although you can actually find an outdoor carpet with cut piling if you look around.
Lower Resistance To Elements
Although typical marine and outdoor carpets are made from polypropylene you will find that marine carpet is treated specifically to increase its durability.
This is because marine carpeting is its own industry with specialist manufacturers that go above and beyond to create the perfect carpet for marine conditions. There are lots of patented marine carpet designs that usually have greater durability than outdoor carpet.
Final Thoughts
The key differences are that marine carpet is usually more durable as there are specialist manufacturers that work to create it specifically with this in mind.
Marine carpet is usually heavier as well with a tighter weave to prevent hooks from getting snagged on it, although you may be able to find some outdoor carpets that are similar to it.
