Finally my deck is complete and I am sanding the hull in advance of applying tape on all the joints. The next step is the coaming cut out and well...the coaming. Anyway, I finally got a good chance to look at the possiblity of doing the recessed coaming plan I posted earlier this week. Unfortunately I will not have enough width to implement the plan with my already fabricated ply stack coaming. Also I am almost certain I will abandon the vertical walls of my recess coaming plan and use sloped walls such as most people have done. I need my fingers too much to break one in a tight vertical recess. Probably a long shot but why even make it an issue. Also I have decided to do a strip type coaming in lieu of a plywood stack. I am not going to try the carbon fiber coaming lip though, I'll stick with bending some strips around the riser.

I had stated before that I have access to a table saw. I can do one of two things, go to my neighbor's house (who is gone until June 30th on vacation) or borrow my business partner's table saw (I think it just sits on a table--not one already attached). My problem is I have never actually used one by myself so I will probably stick with my neighbor who is a woodworker and loves to lend a hand with just such stuff.

My big issue is what type of wood to use and how wide to make the strips (although I can probably figure out the width with a little thinking). I am going to paint the boat but if it's not too expensive I'd like to make the coaming/recess nice enough to leave natural. If that is just too expensive then I'll need to know a good cheap wood to use. I am not a woodworker and really don't know the properties of different types of wood. I plan to purchase from my local Lowes or Home Depot. I plan on bending several layers of wood to do the lip. It appears that when other folks have done that it has worked well and only a little pre soaking was necessary to get it to clamp in place to the riser shape. If anyone has any other tips in that area I would appreciate them.

I am started to get excited. The sanding is really starting to clean the kayak up and I know that I am only a short time away from applying the exterior hull/deck cloth and outfitting. I am still shooting for the weekend after July 4th but may need a little more time. Once I get the coaming done I can go ahead and fabricate my spray skirt and cockpit cover.

I know my next big question is going to be paint type but I can do some searching of the forum and research that one. I have a catalog from Chesapeake Light Craft and really like the sound of their primers and paints.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I am really starting to like this building stuff way too much. I want to spend some time on the water with my new boat and hope I don't start jonesing for a new build project. My wife and I are going to buy a new house within the next 3 years and I am really starting to worry about detached garage/shop space. Suddenly I am interested in table saws and block planes.

OK, too much information, gotta run.

Thanks,

Tony