At least, the builders manual supports what I've been doing. In fact, it says on page 10, "You can easily spend as much time, or more, on the finish as you did in actually assembling the boat." So far, in that statement and all the others, they are right.
Once you get the epoxy coats laid down and cured, it's time to get out the random orbital sander, ear plugs, dust mask, and eye protection and go to it. In effect, you sand off a lot of the epoxy you just put on so that every square inch of surface is dull.
My methodology is to sand and sand. Then I fill some of the areas that will reduce sanding. Then I sand those areas again!
This may not look too great, but if would feel as smooth as a baby's behind if you were to run your hand over it. The white is filler.
You can see it a bit better in this photo around the keel. It doesn't look so good, but it should when it's painted.
I sanded both hull and deck because I didn't have to worry about other stuff getting in the way of the sander.
A couple years ago, our friend Leslie was cleaning out her dad's house and gave me the router in the photo. It works great to round over the coaming and rail. I have found over the years that it's the "professional details" that make the difference in looks at the end. They don't row the boat, though!
The cockpit coaming is glued and clamped.
The hatch sills are glued in. You cut out the deck very carefully and then glue the sills in. The cutouts become the hatch covers with foam stripping around the inside lip of the cutout.
And lastly, the rubrails are epoxy glued, taped on and checked for looks, and then nailed on.
Whew, all the parts are in and the boat is officially complete. Now it's time to coat all the parts with epoxy and sand some more!!!
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