How you use your boat trailer and the type of boat you have are major factors in picking a good carpet. Likewise, your tastes and budget come into play. The fact is a lot of boaters don’t care that much about a boat trailer bunk carpet. You just want something that works, and that’s reasonable. So, balancing the cost with the effectiveness is always something to keep in mind.

As with almost any product, you’ll have to decide between a lot of brands and their quality and components. But first, let’s figure out, why you need a carpet on a boat trailer bunk in the first place. 

New boaters are understandably not familiar with its importance but carpets are there for two main reasons: the first reason is to allow some padding for your boat on the trailer to help resist and prevent your boat from wobbling against the trailer. This helps avoid your boat from getting dents and scuffs as it moves on and off the trailer. The second reason is to ease the movement of the boat on and off the trailer. It’s quite a rough process if the boat’s hull and trailer grind against each other. Marine-grade carpet is synthetic so it acts as a dry lubricant to make your boat move more easily.

Types of Boat Trailer Carpets

As you have seen, not all boat trailer bunk carpet is made equally. You have some choices in carpet material that each have their benefits and drawbacks. One thing that you should keep in mind is that if a soggy carpet tears easily, it’s not fit to be a carpet for your trailer.

Polyester Bunk Carpeting: This type of carpet is a pricier option compared to old plain rubber carpet because of its better quality. This is also marine grade, durable, water resistant, and rugged. It’s so durable that it can resist the sun’s rays the longest It should be durable enough to stand up to the job. It’s fairly water resistant and also wicks away water quickly. Of all the marine carpeting you can buy, this is likely going to be able to resist the rays of the sun the longest. It is also resistant to stains better than other materials.

Polypropylene Bunk Carpeting: Similar to polyester carpets, this is also resistant to water and even if this gets wet, it dries right away. The downside to polypropylene is that it’s not as resistant to UV radiation and will break down faster. Most marine carpets are made from this material because it’s cheaper to make this.

Rubber Bunk Carpeting: This is a solid choice for the benefits it offers with installation and also padding. Rubber bunk carpets have a rubber mat on the back, similar to the carpets used at home. That means the part facing out will still be one of the other materials such as propylene for example, but it’s backed with rubber. Not only does that ensure that they’re waterproof, it makes installing them easier and faster. The great thing about this is that you can be assured that the rubber holds in place well with a good grip on your trailer and offer a good amount of padding between your trailer and your boat. This prevents scrapes from happening when you load and unload your trailer. Aside from its awesome features, it’s also cheap. However, it can break down easily if it’s exposed to the sun for too long.

Alternative Backing: Rubber may be the most common backing material for bunk carpets but it’s not the only option. There are various synthetic composites such as acrylics. When choosing alternate products, make sure to find something that is durable and resistant to elements.

Others: It’s rare but you can find alternate materials for bunk carpeting aside from polyester and polypropylene. Some carpets are made from environmentally friendly materials such as they are made from recycled plastic waste.

Whatever materials you choose for your boat carpet make sure they are easy to install, grip well onto the trailer, and it is made with marine grade. You don’t want a trailer that rots and falls apart easily. Make sure the carpet you use has the right material for the job regardless if your trailer is an alloy boat trailer or steel trailer.