: After insetting a design on the deck of my Spring Run, I started faring when
: a strip turned blonde on me. In the photo below, I've wetted out the deck
: to give an idea of the color after glassing. The insert in the upper left
: shows where the offending strip abuts a light pinstripe around the
: cockpit.

: How should I make this strip less offensive? I've come up with two solutions:
: 1. Cut the strip out and replace it. I've shied away from this approach as
: the strip and my replacement strips are bead and cove. This would mean
: making a square edged replacement strip from a bead and cove strip by
: ripping the bead off and gluing a ripped bead into the cove. Also the
: fitting around the cockpit would be tricky, but probably manageable.
: 2.Stain the strip. My worries here are having the stain bleed into the light
: pinstripe around the cockpit and if epoxy would adhere to the stained
: wood.

: I would appreciate your comments on the above and/or any suggestions of other
: possible solutions.

: Thanks Ron

Hi Ron, You could easily dye that strip without too much trouble. Use analine dyes. They can be bought at Lee Valley or from a fly fishing shop that dye their material in shop. You only need a very small amount of grainular dye to do the job. What you do is cut a very small v between the two different colours and flow the colour from a good water colour brush onto the light wood. Use one that has a good point on it. Dye will also show the wood grain nicely. Dye after you have finish sanding and sand the area with 180 grit. If you do get dye on the coaming strip it can be sanded of the portions you what left alone. Try it on a scrap piece first. I have created 5 foot flames on a deck and hull with this method. The epoxy and glass will bond directly to the wood. Regards, Erich