I just wanted to thank you for the positive responses I've gotten from the Bulletin Board. When you build your own boat you think you're holding up a candle in the dark. It is nice to see other twinkling lights in the forest. I'll share a bit of what I learned on the first boat. Purple heart is a beautifu wood, but don't treat it like a wood. It behaves like a soft metal, like thick brass, or aluminum. So work it like metal. Cut a little at a time. Double clamp the thing before touching it with a power tool. And don't even try to bend it. It is great for the deck, the combing, the paddle stem, anywhere flat. But oh, man when you get that glass on it does it shine! I also have a question. On flush hatches, it seems like there are some spots that will let water seep in. Capillary action is a strong force. Do you oversize the hole and rim it with epoxy? Similar to the way holes are drilled bigger at first, re epoxied, then drilled small?