With the coaming boards to their varnish coats and fasteners on, I spent the day at the shop installing them on Biscuit. My first task was to dry fit the starboard coaming board to locate the fasteners for the coaming return block. I did this by positioning the board, and while bending it into position with my body, I then applied tape lines to the forward and aft verticals (defined by the coaming return block) on the cabin sides. I then predrilled from the exterior for #10 wood screws.

Next, I applied tape to a region of the starboard coaming board that would ultimately accept the 1/4" machine screws to secure the board to Biscuit's molded fiberglass coaming. With the tape in place, I used a series of drill brits to open up these fastener holes to 5/16" diameter - slightly larger than the 1/4" fasteners themselves. I moved the board up into Biscuit's cockpit and applied the hydraulic jack to push the board into final positioning, and then marked locations to drill and tap into the molded fiberglass coaming. I then drilled and tapped for 1/4" machine screws.

I removed the board and pepped for final installation, reinstalled the board with the jack, and then sunk the 1/4" machine screws into place. For the starboard coaming, and something I'd correct for the port coaming, I landed the fasteners in the cored balsa - having the top skin to secure the fastener. All fasteners sunk and secured tightly, but because of the lack of backing nuts, I decided to utilize a forstener bit to drill out for two #10 machine screws to strengthen the most severe of the deflection of the coaming board. I installed these two #10 machine screws with washers and backing nuts to secure the board further - these will be bunged and sanded flush to the board. With that, the starboard coaming was installed.

I flipped over to the port coaming board, lowering the fastener installation by roughly 3/4", and was able to easily install the washers and backing nuts to secure the board. In the coming week, the focus will turn to the companionway trim boards....and more.

Total Hrs: 5.5