MAGIC CARPET
Sourcing replacement carpeting for Piers du Pre's Fleming 55 becomes a trans-channel mission...
It’s not in the budget,” I protested.
‘It mightn’t be in the budget, but they must be replaced,’ said Lin, delivering the mandate complete with the words, ‘and this is a one-way conversation.’
To me, they still looked perfectly good. ‘So what’s wrong with them?’ I asked in my best gentle, yet challenging tone, to which Lin delivered the final body blow. Lifting the saloon carpet to show the underside, Lin had the slam dunk as they say. The foam backing was crumbling and falling apart. Lin was right – again. Hmm. So unfair.
Carpets for the saloon and cabin companionway had been fitted in 2004 by Locks Heath Carpets, Portsmouth, and even after MBY editor Hugo spat an entire mouthful of red wine on the saloon carpet during a Motor Boats Monthly cruise in company many years ago, had survived well and given sterling service for the last 14 years – until now, of course, now being November 2018.
In the hope that Locks Heath still had the original templates, I called them, only to be told their fitter had recently broken his arm and was out of action. Turning to Guernsey suppliers, it seemed none had the type of sewing machinery necessary to whip carpet edging.
But all was not lost. Firing up the laptop, the ever-helpful Mr Google found Marine Boat Carpets (www.marineboatcarpets.uk) in Chichester. Calling them, I entered into a series of encouraging discussions with carpet maker for boats, Toby Butlin. Pointing out that Play d’eau was in the Channel Islands, I asked, ‘How will you cope?’ ‘Easily,’ replied Toby. ‘If you cover the costs of the flights, I’ll fly out, bring carpet samples with me and make the templates. When I’m back, I’ll create the carpets, roll them up and send them to you.’ It surely can’t be that simple, I thought. ‘But what about the fitting?’ I asked, to which Toby replied confidently, saying, ‘They’ll fit. Unwrap them carefully and just roll them out. Your security is that if they don’t fit, it’s my problem to fix, not yours.’ We agreed a date.
At the appointed time, I was waiting at the airport arrivals gate to meet him and his large, heavy suitcase. After a fortifying coffee on board, Lin and I chose an almost white (how crazy is that?), 80% wool carpet. ‘And to stop carpets from moving, we can attach a stickyback membrane which will hold them in position. Works brilliantly, especially on the back of mat to cover the carpet in the galley.’
Using decorators’ wall-lining paper and Sellotape, Toby painstakingly began creating detailed templates. After a fish and chips lunch, templates were completed and folded, samples repacked into the suitcase, and I drove Toby to the airport. ‘You’ll have them by Christmas,’ said Toby as he disappeared into security. ‘They’ll fit, don’t worry.’
As promised, and in time for Christmas, we carried our material prize rolls of carpets to Play d’eau. Having removed the old carpets, vacuumed the foam crumbs and cleaned the floors, we rolled out the saloon carpet. Perfection! It fitted exactly, as did the cabin companionway carpet.
Plus, we’d been sent a bonus. A super bonus. With the off-cut, Toby had made a fitted carpet for the engine room.
By the way, we really aren’t paranoid about marking the new carpet. Not in the least... just as long as Hugo keeps his red wine to himself.