Hi folks.

I'm getting close to the day where the two shall become one flesh. No, I'm not gettin' hitched, but the 'yak is to the point where the deck and hull will be joined together.

I'm wondering about hatch hardware and rigging. Should I pre-drill the holes for hardware, refill 'em, and all that jazz before or after the two are joined? I've read that it is good to pre-drill holes a little larger than needed, then fill them with thickened epoxy/resin, thus sealing the wood when the real holes for the hardware are drilled.

If the answer is to do this after the halves are joined, then would that be before or after I varnish the thing? I'd think before the varnish would be proper, but figure I should ask for clarification anyway.

The rigging and stuff isn't that complex. It won't be a problem to do before or after I join the halves. But I thought I'd check with y'all to see what advice you had on the matter.

Thanks! You guys rock.

Rick Brannan
rick (at) supakoo (dot) com