Jeff..and anyone else with cabin carpet...

When we replaced the original carpet, we slit the new one on three sides exactly following the lines of the hatch (no slit on rear side of the hatch , where it hinges) and bound the edges. Depending on the type of carpet material, you may not have to bind edges. Commercial grade carpet tiles, for example, don't need it. Were we to do it over, I would use the tiles which can be glued down easily by the Captain and mates and friends..no professional install required.

With this approach it is never necesssary to fold the rug during one's (frequent) trips into the scary depths of the bilge. Also slit was the second folding panel that give access to the port engine. We've had this carpet for about 10 years or more and the binding is just starting to come a little loose. You can have it done professionally, of course, or buy some binding and iron it into place with some thread to reinforce the join.