Re: Wellcraft 186 eclipse stringer and deck restore
If you can do a transom, stringers, and fiberglass deck properly, you can definitely do carpet install right.
As I mentioned to someone else, carpet install is 80% preparation & planning, and 20% perspiration.
Before attempting or cutting anything involving carpet, you need to make sure you have all your console paneling 100% exactly how you want it and installed if it is permenant (fiberglassed in).
If you have no pictures on how the old carpet was installed, then you need to figure out where your main seams will reside.
Other than your raised seat pedastal mounts, the rear deck of your boat will be a breeze to get completed.
What I recommend is you get some painter's plastic roll that covers 10ft wide and cut practice templates like you are laying boat carpet. Yes it is slightly cumbersome, but you can cut slits in areas of it and put masking tape to hold areas down to keep it lying flat.
This way you can practice cutting those complex cuts on plastic that is cheap to replace, versus a big screwup on $80 of boat carpet for a critical section. The cuts don't have to be perfect on the plastic, just ball park close because you'll cut with a good extra buffer to ensure you didn't underestimate it.
Once you got your templates down well and verified enough carpet on hand, its supplies time.
Fresh blades, I cannot stress the urgency of using fresh blade on EVERY critical cut or anytime the first sign of dullness, change it out.
Always allocate 2 to 3 inches more than your measurements on all your carpet dimension cuts.
For the bulk of the carpeting job, devote a full entire day for the job at a 70 degree or hotter day with no possibility of rain.
Take this slow and steady working from the stern of the boat to the bow, rough fit cut carpet, trim, and verify before gluing down. Do NOT glue down any portion of carpet that is nearby where you plan on cutting through it, glue after you cut through it. (Seams, excess, etc.)
Make sure you have a straightedge, and something flat to evenly work the boat carpet into the glue.
By a big box of latex gloves and change them regularly when finished gluing an area. It is EXTREMELY easy to get carried away and smother carpet glue on the carpet fibers. Mineral spirits does a decent job removing the glue off the hands and the carpet fibers, BUT don't spill that stuff.
If necessary, next week I can post some pictures of the carpet job I did on my boat as a reference point if needed. Specifically, seams.
lol not boat covers The stereo is marine grade by the way, the speakers are too. It doesn't look like a marine stereo, thats why i liked it. It looks cooler than the average white boring boat stereo 
