5s 814 The "Original" Handcrafted Woven Maine Lobster Rope Door Mat

How We Began

Our story began in 1998 in the small town of Waldoboro, Maine, just off the scenic Mid-Coast. With a small crew and years of rope-making expertise, we began exploring new ways to put that knowledge to work—eventually leading to an idea that would become something entirely new.

The Original Rope Mat Company

As new federal regulations were introduced to protect the endangered Northern Right Whale, Maine lobster fishermen were required to stop using floating rope to connect their traps and instead switch to sinking line. To help with this transition, the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, a nonprofit organization, received federal funding to buy back unused float rope from fishermen.

When we became aware that more than two million pounds of discarded float rope would soon be available, we thought, “There ought to be a market for all that rope.”

From that idea, The Original Maine Rope Mat was born—handmade door mats crafted from discarded lobster fishing rope.

From Innovation to Tradition

Today, as the supply of reclaimed float rope has diminished and the popularity of rope mats has grown, we now offer the Original Maine Rope Mat made from new fishing rope to meet demand. By request, we continue to produce mats from discarded float rope whenever available.

Proudly Made in America, our rope mats reflect Maine’s maritime heritage while supporting local jobs.