Birder 2 question - deck and comings

[Jim Robinson]

Hi, after a 6 month delay I'm read to finish my Birder 2. It's getting warm enough to get out again.

I'm ready to do the deck and am puzzling over the best way to proceed. Any tips on getting a nice smooth cockpit cutout? The instructions seem to imply that the cockpit should be cut out prior to installing. I'll need to use 3 sections for the deck, I don't have any plywood long enough to use just 2. It seems it would be pretty hard cutting these sections out to final shape prior to installing.

I assume the deck is reinforced underneath on the cockpit cutout edge. Is this done with plywood, or solid stock?

Finally, any tips on installing the coming?

Thanks for any tips. This is my first non-kit boat.

Jim

[edt]

Hi,

I cut rough cut the cockpit and assembled it on the hull. Once the splices were dry I faired and cut the opening on a flat surface. I also attached the doubler flat. Then I attached it to the hull. I used screws into the inwhale. If I did it again I would install an outwhale and use lots of clamps and trim to the edge of the outwhale.

Making the combing is tricky. I used cardboard to make pattern. Then I carefully made a piece of wood to join the two sides. I glued the combing sides to this wood making sure the angles were correct. Then I installed it. Again using clamps and cardboard to support and position it.

There is no support under the deck on the sides or front. Once you create the fillets its quite strong. By the way its worth getting the combing angles correct. If you do its a real pleasure to watch a wave come over the bow and be split beautifully. Most of the time no water makes it into the cockpit.

Enjoy

Ed

[Jim Robinson]

Thanks, thats really helpful.

Jim