I'm almost done with my '87 procraft restore. Last thing is the carpet. My question is, how much of a difference is there between 16, 18, and 20 oz? I'm a tournament fisherman and do use boats heavily. How much better is 20 oz going to hold up than 18, and so on. Don't have a whole lot of money left due to the restore.  

20oz is nice and plush but the problem you have to watch out for is your lids.  If the carpet wraps over the lip and glues to the under side, since 16oz  the good stuff back then, most of the early boats don't have enough clearance between them for the newer, heavy carpets.  This makes them hard to open and you would probably be better off with the 16 oz.  If it glues to the top of the lid only, then you will like the 20 oz, or even the 22 oz much better, they will hold up much better.

You are correct the original carpet did wrap over the lip. But then again, how long of life does the 16 oz have? I don't mind to not have the big 20 oz unless the 16 is just going to tear up. I would say I use a boat anywhere from 1 to 3 times a week.

It's been a long time since I've had 16oz but I would think you should get several years.  I'm thinking if you go with 20oz on your lids, since they do wrap, you are going to regret it.  It's not uncommon for them to be so tight, you have to use something to pry them up if you can get you hand uner the edge.  I've done two older boats and regretted it on both.  My current 1999 Javelin had new carpet in it when I got it and they used a very plush carpet in it and it's the same way.  Get's aggrivating as hell at times and I will probably replace it this winter.

20 oz carpet is much longer lasting because it has more fibers, if your lids are too tight, take a set of dog clippers and shave the carpet around the edge of the lids ever so slightly until they open easier.

I have done carpet in over 200 boats .. shaving is the way to go on really tight lids , just go slowly, and do just a hair at a time ;D

Yep.  the old hairclippers work wonders on shaving tight fitting doors.  20oz minimum,  24 oz if you can afford it.  

Thanks guys! I know what ya mean about the tight lids. Seen it many times. I still haven't decided yet. Might just go with the 16, since I plan on selling the boat within a year or so. Thanks again.