Staining CS-20 Deck and epoxying

[Maria CS20 104]

Hey again to all. I completed the deck installation, completed the forward deck with 90 some bronze screws on a three to four inch spread along the sides and 2 to 3 to 4 to 6 inch spread down each side of the center line. Looks great and tight fit at the seam. Side decks are on as well as the plates underneath to join sections. Still a little fill work to do, some at the joins and some along the sides where the deck meets the sides where I miss cut the sides or flubbed up, nothing over 1/8 inch, just filler work, most is done. All deck is routed outside and inside and most sanding on the router work is complete. With the mahogany I got, which has some great red color, I want to stain the deck to add some red to the surface before I epoxy and varnish. Talked to my Mopoxy provider and he said the epoxy will pull the stain out of the surface. I kind of want that Chris Craft color, a bit lighter, but I think it will better match the thwart mahogany. I have been playing with the color and tomorrow I am going to epoxy my stained scrap samples. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as always. I am ready to cut and install the combing and need input there as well from you wizards. With deck curves and angles I bought some semi ridged 3/64ths poster board which I will cut into 8 inch strips about 40 inches long. These will be temporarily installed from forward to stern starting at the forward deck beam center line, butted together and working my way aft in sections to the transom. In the end I will have a template to lay out on the ply and cut with a little extra to sand in. I am thinking that 2.5 inch lip on forward deck side and bring down to 1 inch around the transom. I want to make it a little wider so it is a better back rest, up to 5 inches wide tapering to about 3 at the stern. What advice can ya'll provide? Do I need to think more about additional support around the forward beam? Maybe make the deck side double in thickness? My beam is 2.5 inches wide and the curved elements of the carlins with the deck are 2 inches. I think I just want to use thickened epoxy to glue into place, are screws advised? I've got lots and lots of clamps and the heat outside ought to set up well keeping clamps in place 24 hours. I will never be a wizard at this but more like "Ron" in the Harry Potter series with his broken wand.

Thanks to All for feedback.

Jim