| Coaming Construction, Part 1 |
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| Two thin layers of approximately 3/16" thick by 2" wide ash was bent inside the cockpit cutout. The thin ash easily bent inside the cutout. No steam or heat was necessary. The Outer Island plans specify a smaller cockpit, but I used the Guillemot size cockpit which is about 6" longer. I modified the stock Guillemot cockpit plans by rounding over the front of the cockpit. I'll be able to use the same size spray skirt on both kayaks. |
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| A posterboard template was made of the cockpit cutout and it was used to mark the shape onto the deck. A fine tooth Bosch blade was used in a jigsaw to make the cut. |
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| These blades make a very smooth cut. |
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| The cutout was faired with a curved sanding block. |
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| The cockpit is tighter fitting than the Guillemot despite the same size cockpit opening. The Outer Island has a lower deck and consequently fits tighter in the thigh area. I plan to add knee hooks to the coaming to mimic the fit of the smaller, specified cockpit. |
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| The thin cut ash easily made the bend around the cutout. |
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| Thirty minute epoxy was used to glue the first layer of ash to the cutout. Strapping tape held the ash tight to the cutout until the epoxy set. |
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| Epoxy thinkened with fumed silica to a Vaseline like consistency and color was used to make a fillet around the outside of the coaming. The epoxy was placed in a ziplock bag with a corner snipped off. A bead of epoxy was squeezed out to form the fillet. The rounded end of a popsicle stick was used to shape the fillet. A squeegie was used to clean up the excess epoxy on the ash and deck. |
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| After the fillet was formed, the second layer of ash was bent inside the first layer. The leftover thickened epoxy was used to attach the inner layer. |
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