Boat Carpet Glue Problems

[Mr T]

The carpet that goes up the sides of my boat walls (behind the rod lockers) keeps on peeling off. I've reglued it several times but it just won't stay put. Anyone out there ever had a similar problem on a Crestliner? How'd you get it fixed? Any carpet glue experts out there? Sure could use some help on this one.

[Nofish]

Hey MrT,

No experience on a Crestliner, but lots of it customizing my first boat and 3 or 4 buddies boats, and building storage and a false floor in the back of two of my pick ups and customizing vans etc.....

First, make sure the carpet and wall are totally dry, and free of any sand, dirt etc. Make sure you thoroughly mask off any areas where you do not want overspray or glue.

The overspray may travel farther than you expect. Also put a piece of cloth or an old towel etc, under the carpet flap that you want to spray. Be very thorough with this. Do not remove your masking until the glue is dry, you'll get the stuff all over the place.

Use the aerosol 3 M High strength adhesive. You'll find it in most large hardware stores, or builders supply stores.
Spray the backing on the carpet, and spray the wall where you want it to stick. Wait a few minutes and lightly touch the glue on the back of the carpet. It should feel tacky but not come of on your fingertip.

Slowly press the carpet in place, from the edge where it is still glued, up to the end of the carpet. Press the whole area down firmly to make sure all the glue has made contact.

Get it right the 1st time as this stuff will not peel back off. I have also done this where gas had eaten the glue and the carpet was loose. The stuff holds.

Good luck.....R

[REW]

I have a further expansion for the previous post.

I have had a situation, where I had a very difficult carpet - gluing situation. I exect that there had been some contamination on the carpet at some previous time.
After cleaing and drying as well as possible, and having a couple of failed gluing efforts - similer to what you have had.

I used the 3m high strenght adhesive.
However, in addition to the comments above; I put on a "wet coat" of the adhesive on both surfaces, and then I let this coat get quite dry. Not completely dry, but almost. i.e. about 1 hour. Then, I sprayed a 2nd "wet coat" on both surfaces, let both surfaces get tacky, and then pressed the surfaces together.

I assume that the reason that this method worked, was that the first coat - sprayed and let dry - "sealed" the surfaces from the effects of the previous contamination. Then, the 2nd coat had a clean, compatible coat to stick to.

It worked very well for me for those very troubling areas.

Take care

REW

[saggin]

i have had two lunds and both of them have let the carpet go from just under the gunnels i have just lived with it but this is very disappointing,been thinking about gettin some liquid nail and seeing what happens. the first boat was a 1990 predator that was 7 years old when i got it and now the 97 1900 i got last fall has the same problem!

[Mr T]

NoFish, REW and Saggin,
Thanks for the help. I'll try the 3M adhesive and see what happens. I thought it was interesting how Saggins Lund did the same thing that my 1997 Crestliner did. I'd bet money that they use the same glue and probably the same carpet.
Mr T

[Yankee]

Hey "Saggin"...
My 1994 Ford F-250 did same thing when new, my 1999 Silverado
did same thing when new. Several boats I've owned did it.
It is a very very simple fix and nothing to be disappointed over. Just fix it like "No-Fish" said and worry about something more serious.
Heck, I carry adhesive right in my Silverado as I am forever gluing something back on that Chevy!
But, it is not a big deal.

[REW]

MRt
One of the things that you might check.
Sometimes, carpet / glue failures are the result of the carpet construction.

i.e. Some carpets are composed of a couple of layers. A carpet layer and then - sometimes some type of backing. If you happen to have carpet of this type - the carpet itself can delaminate. i.e. the glue stays stuck to the backing, but the backing and the carpet come apart. This has happened to me with a couple of different carpets in autos.

The final fix, is a different carpet, which I did in both cases eventually.

If you have this type of carpet - you can fix, fix, and fix - but the failures will simply continue.

I do have to say, that most good quality marine carpets DO NOT have this problem. i.e. they are a 1 layer construction, so should not have delamination problems.
Take care

REW

[saggin]

you know when i really think about it i wonder if at the edge of the gunnel water isnt gettin in.... just enough to get the glue wet under the carpet or maybe the people who run the wires in the boat peel it down just enough to hide the wires. you would think they would find some other way to run the wires than under the carpet.... maybe incorporate some zip strips to the plywood under the gunnel:-}

[DAN383]

The 3-M spray adhesive is good , but not what you want for what you are doing....... I'am a carpet installer ( 25 years ) ,You
should use an outdoor adhesive , designed for astro turf and similar carpets , you should be able to get some at home depot
or menards. Also Franklins construction adhesive works extremely
well . Make sure the surface as well as the back of the carpet
are clean and dry . You only have to put the glue on the area recieving the carpet . If you use the 3-m spray , apply it to both the surface and the carpet , as it is basically a contact
adhesive . Hope this helps. By the way if it was me I would
use the Franklins or liquid nails which is almost the same thing
and cheaper....


Dan Kwak

[Smitty]

I have also had very good luck with the outdoor carpet adhesive. Never had a re-glue come loose yet with that stuff.

[Mr T]

Thanks all for the input. I like the liquid nails suggestion. I don't think that water has a chance to get under the gunnels because of the way Crestliner has it set up. I just think I got a bad batch of carpet glue on my boat. One more thing. Do I need to clean off the old glue before trying to put on new?
Mr T

[GORD]

Clear liquid silicone that is suitable for aquariums is what I use for such repairs. It sticks to anything , fills in all crevices and stays pliable. There might be something better out there, but I'll stick with what has always worked for me. Use some (new,sharp)course grit sand paper to rough up the aluminum so whatever bonding agent you use can get a good grip in the scratches. You might have to pull the carpet back a bit to get enough new surface for the new glue to bond to. Be sure the carpet is dry and leave pressure on the new glue job for a few days. DON'T KEEP PULLING ON IT TO SEE IF IT'S STUCK like my buddy does. He drives me nuts. lol.