: Given that tomorrow is the skinning day, my plan is to
: 1) draw the skin tight over the base coaming by sewing it in the middle
: 2) place the top part of the coaming on the kayak and
: 3) use a hot nail or something else to melt the screw holes into the nylon
: skin before putting in the screws
: 4) cut the nylon 3/4" from the coaming
: 5) tighten the screws
: 6) use the same kind of stitch as for the bow and stern to finish the skin
: sewing inside the coaming

: Do you see anything wrong with the above?

That should work just fine. My nylon and polyester technique was similar, but I never sewed the inside edge of the coaming. See below.

1. Pre-drill ( undersize) holes for the coaming to base plate. SS Wood screws will work fine. Make sure they don't protrude below the base plate.

2. Skin the entire deck ... sewing along the deckridge. I always placed an aluminum tube or wood section as a temporary deckridge in the opening for the coaming as a sewing guide, and removed it after opening up the skin for attaching the coaming.

3. Place the coaming over the skin and base plate and screw them together using the pre-drilled holes. I always found it easier to cut out a small circle area in the excess skin inside the coaming ring to poke an upholstery needle from below the base plate, through the drilled holes and skin and up though the coaming to align the holes for the screws.

You can also add a thin layer of glue or caulking between the skin and coaming before screwing the coaming down if you want. I've also used vinyl cement, even for a nylon or polyester skin, though my skins were neoprene or hypalon coated, not urethane.

4. Remove all remaining excess skin up to the inside edge of the coaming with a sharp blade. Seal the cut edge of the cloth with urethane in your case.

Here's a couple old links / pics showing the coaming on the 8oz nylon skin of an aluminum / plywood non-folder... and when finished. Sorry for the lousy pics. I'll have to go to my old PC ( boxed up) to find better ones.

Note the sling seat, I haven't used one for many years... not sure why I stopped as they are very simple to make and extremely lightweight

Have Fun,
Tom

http://www.yostwerks.com/BIF16Nylon1.jpg

http://www.yostwerks.com/BIF16Nylon2.jpg