All About Seaweed

Adding a Drip Edge to the Pilothouse

Summary
(please click on any of the pictures for a larger one - use the BACK button to come back)

One of the differences between the older Nimble Arctics and the newer Kodiaks was the one-piece pilothouse deck. The newer Kodiaks have a smooth radius at the edge vs. an "overhang" of sorts on the older boats.

This is a change in the aesthetic look of the pilothouse, as well as the way the water runs off the boat. Prior experiences have "enlightened" me to the fact that one of the big contributors to leaking side windows is the water running off the deck and down the sidewall.

I thought, well, since I was glassing, fairing, and painting everything anyway......

I used some quarter-round molding cut to fit the side lengths. I mitered the joint where the bend in the house occurs.

I soaked the molding in CPES and then screwed and glassed it to the pilothouse sides.

Then a lot of fairing compound and sanding to blend it in the best I could.

This is a shot from the front as the fairing continues.

You can see some of the work that was going on on the brow.

Here's a picture of the finished edge.

It didn't stick out as far as I thought it would have, but it will prevent water from flowing right down the side onto the window bedding.

Lessons Learned

You can NEVER (well, I can't anyway) make wood, fairing compound, and paintlook as "factory fresh" as fiberglassed gelcoat.


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