Rookie Mistake - Replacement Cockpit Carpet - '06 260

ssupko

ssupko

New Member
Aug 28, 2007
43
Smithfield VA
Boat Info
260 Sundancer
Engines
350 MAG
Hate to admit that I allowed this to happen, but since I would like some feedback from my fellow Sea Ray owners, here goes -

After about a year with my 260, I decided it was time to really clean the cockpit carpets. Pulled them out, hosed them down, and shampooed them. They came out great! Lightened up, and looked like brand new. Now the drying process. At this point, I'm wishing I would have taken them home and done this in my drive way. More options to safely allow to air dry. I thought about putting the wet carpets in the back of my jeep, and taking them home - but what trouble. So, I decided to drape them over the bow rails to finish drying over night. (Ugh...) I didn't leave the marina until 10 PM last night, and returned at 9 AM this morning. I'm sure you can guess, but 1 of the carpets was nowhere to be found. The marina owners are going to check the surveillance to ensure it wasn't stolen, but my guess is a big gust came through and got up under the rug and flipped it off. A call to the Sea Ray dealer educated me on the replacement costs. $500 for the rug and snaps. Additional labor required to fasten the snaps to the carpet so they align with the snaps fixed to the floor of the cockpit. And remember folks, this is just 1 of the 2 pieces. (The once closest to the stern) We are talking about 6 square feet of carpet tops - D*mn!

So here are my questions -

- Let's say the culprit was the wind, and the carpet ends up in the waters of my marina. Wouldn't the rubber backing keep the rugs afloat? (Please, no smart a** responses about "throw the other one in and find out" - Somebody already beat you to that punch line.)

- Does anyone know of any other resources I should look at before I fork over the $500 plus labor for the snap installation?

Thanks.
 
I had my entire cockpit carpet replaced by snapincarpet.com with the Dunes Burber w/sunbrella binding for 500.00 (albeit for a 250) Don't pay extra for the labor of the snaps, it's rather easy to do. They have your template I'm sure so they can do it no problem, It may be cheaper than the quoted SR price. They are really good to work with. I'm about to post a thread of some work I'm haveing done on my 280.. good luck
 
I would think the carpet will sink in the water as they are rather heavy, especially if there were already wet. Mass, weight and displacement determine whether an item will float as you know. MAYBE if it hit the water flat-on, it would have enough displacement but Murphy usually takes care of that. I would bet a gust took them over the rail. Snapincarpets would be my first choice as far as a replacment. Any change you can get down in the water with a mask and look under the boat before shelling out several hundred bucks?
 
Dave S said:
Have you thought about trying to dive to find it?
Click to expand...

or hire a diver for $100-$200. It's abit of a gamble but if he finds it your done, otherwise you're probably $250 from Snapincarpets.com. $350-$450 is better than $500.

Best of luck.
 
I would definately go retrieve it. See the thread about Davey Jones' locker (or something like that). I have retrieved more stuff from the depths than most people have ever held (exageration). My wife loves telling the series of stories on the topic.

Maui Jim Sunglasses from 10' water and 2' mud, Chunk of custom water ski from same mud after 1 hour being lost and drifting, fishing rod from 30' of salt water while trolling (friend's cast), entire anchor and chain after boat got loose and drifted, dinghy anchor after girl's knot came loose and dinghy drifted, 1 rusty nail at end of dock in 6 feet of water and 2 feet of mud after friend advised that kids like to jump in there, expensive boat pole and brush under boat in 18' with sharks and alligators and boats overhead, brand new mask and snorkle (someone else left behind) in 60 feet of water in BVI without a scuba tank, one of my fins in 60' of water in BVI after panicking from previous find and scrambling back to the surface with a new mask, snorkle, and only one of my fins, and many, many more.

This year, I looked into replacing my cockpit carpet. I went with a friend's advice. We took it out, cleaned the cockpit, and bought throw rugs/runners with rubber backing (from w-mart, which I hate. My wife went). We bought 3 long runners (1 is in the cabin), 1 rectangle, and 1 short runner for $95 or so. They are light, comfy, machine washable, attractive, easy to shake out, dry fast, haven't rotted yet, nice, fun, cool, stylish, and good.

I really like the long runner that leads to the transom door. When we leave the boat, I slide it up over the 2nd runner which leads to the companionway door. When we come back to the boat, I open the transom door and extend the runner out back like a welcome matt. They were a temporary solution at first, but I like them. Hey Mikey.
 
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I'll dive for it for a bottle of scotch.
 
Where you in Smithfield at Smithfield station? That current is pretty strong so it could be 100 feet in either direction.

If they can't find it, I would just call snapincarpets.com. I believe the carpet is an exact match and there is no way his prices are that high for a small piece like that. I redid all my carpet for about the price they are quoting you for that one small piece... Which dealer was it? Brownings?
 
FYI - they are most likely not going to have your pattern. I inquired about replacement carpet for my '05 about a month ago (you and I have the same layout), and they said I needed to either make a template, or send them what I have.

If you get in a bind and need me to make a template of what I have and send it to you, I'll be willing to do that and help ya out (or I guess you could just borrow a piece from your dealer). Just send me a PM and we can work it out.

They did quote me a price of about $500 to do both pieces, so I would suspect that aft piece should be about 1/2 that.
 
Four Suns said:
Where you in Smithfield at Smithfield station? That current is pretty strong so it could be 100 feet in either direction.

If they can't find it, I would just call snapincarpets.com. I believe the carpet is an exact match and there is no way his prices are that high for a small piece like that. I redid all my carpet for about the price they are quoting you for that one small piece... Which dealer was it? Brownings?
Click to expand...

Yep, at the Station. I agree when it comes to the current. I did talk to the diver about keeping an eye out while he was down there. But my guess is unless there was something down there to hang it up, it could have driffed along way....Especially by now. I'll check out some of these sites, but I just worry about getting a match to the existing peice if I go aftermarket. But if it's half the price, maybe I could live with a slight variation.
 
"but I just worry about getting a match to the existing peice if I go aftermarket. But if it's half the price, maybe I could live with a slight variation."

If you use snapincarpet.com, they use the exact same carpet Sea Ray uses. Depending on how old and how much sun exposure your other piece in the cockpit has seen, it should be an exact match.
 
Add one more pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. Mine went to the bottom yesterday at the dock. Before I had time to think about the threats (alligators/sharks), I grabbed my mask and dove in. It took a second breath and a dive light, but they're safe and sound. At least I didn't miss sunset!
 
John, again with the salvage operation? Croakies are your friend... :smt043 BTW, the Maui Jim glasses are great, aren't they? Once you have a nice pair of shades made from REAL GLASS , it's hard to go back tot he cheap polycorbonate stuff.

CRS.GIF
 
I'm supprised that snapincarpet.com didn't have the template for an 06.. They had one on file for a 1995 last year and a 1993 two years prior? Odd.. I just sent them templates for my cabin stairs. Believe my, the Dunes burber is an exact match to your original, you'll never notice a difference
 
dpvandy01 said:
I'm supprised that snapincarpet.com didn't have the template for an 06.. They had one on file for a 1995 last year and a 1993 two years prior? Odd.. I just sent them templates for my cabin stairs. Believe my, the Dunes burber is an exact match to your original, you'll never notice a difference
Click to expand...

It's a little counter-intuitive, but they said it usually takes a couple/few years for them to get the templates set. I could be wrong, but I believe mine (the 05) was the first year of that layout that matches the subsequent 06-08's. I guess they figure it takes more than a couple years before we have to worry about replacing carpet.
 
gerryb said:
John, again with the salvage operation? Croakies are your friend... :smt043 BTW, the Maui Jim glasses are great, aren't they? Once you have a nice pair of shades made from REAL GLASS , it's hard to go back tot he cheap polycorbonate stuff.

CRS.GIF
Click to expand...

Yup, I got a pair of croakies, after diving in the water 2 summers ago with my expensive Smith Sunglasses on in 120' of water... (got a replacement pair of glasses off Ebay, since they don't make the model I liked anymore apparently)

-VtSeaRay
 
Thanks for all the advise - Here is the plan - I'm going to see if the diver will go for a bounty dive. My offering will be of the "all or nothing" variety. $100 if he can locate and bring up. (He's down there all the time anyway, he should go for it.) If no luck there, I'll order from snapincarpet.com. Looks as though you guys were spot on - About half price as compaired to what the dealer wanted. ($250 vs. $500) I'm feeling a little better now...What was a $500 mistake, has been reduced to more like $100 - $250. And if we put that in context, we are talking about 25 - 63 gal. of fuel - NOT EVEN A FULL TANK ON MY LITTLE 260!

I'll keep you posted as to the out come...Stay tuned...
 
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The bounty dive was a success! The piece of carpet was pulled down the marina during slack tide, and got caught up in some slats that section off the pylons under the restaurant and a section of floating dock. (About 50 feet from where it went in.) Cleaned it up tonight and it looks brand new. Got lucky this go around. Won't make that mistake again!!
 
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