: The bummer is that I figured this out with minimal work left to do. I'm down
: to about 1-1/2 feet left, back by the narrow stern. Like most things, it
: all comes down to a combination of expirementation, a little luck and some
: hard won experience.

That's the way, isn't it? I'm always figuring out how to do things just about the time I get done. Glassing, sanding, varnishing - I learned the right way just at the end of each. Only thing for it is to build another with the accumulated knowledge. Here's hoping your particular skill won't be needed again!