Building a Redfish King
The cockpit recess has been cut and
lined with a 1/16" basswood strip.
Mahogany strips will fill the recess -
108 of them ...glued one at a time.
After cutting the cockpit opening, the
coaming rim, constructed of 4 - 1/16"
pieces of hardwood, is placed inside
cockpit cutout. The coaming is glued in
place and trimmed to rough height here.
The completed cockpit recess.
The cockpit rim is constructed of 12 pieces
of 1/16" wood, 3/4" wide and 1/4" thick.
Here I am gluing it to the coaming rim.
I'm using a flush trim router bit to cut the
coaming rim flush with the coaming lip.
The coaming lip is placed 3/4" above deck -
spacer blocks are used to keep it in place
while the glue sets.
Completed coaming lip (well almost - my
flush trim bit was not long enough, so there
are a few places that still require trimming.
Port view of coaming.
OK, so I wanted to make sure I could fit inside!
Completed cockpit. Walnut and basswood
(1/16" thick) was used for coaming.
Keyhole cockpit design is snug but not too
tight for me (6', 215 lbs)
Thigh braces were carved from 7/8" walnut
and glassed above and below. I glued thin
closed cell foam below brace.
The cockpit is beautifully set off with
mahogany.
The seat back was constructed of walnut
strips glued over a form. The seat back is
held in place by side straps and one strap
from above.
Hip braces not only help position my rear on
the seat but also serve for seat back
attachment.
The back rest consists of several 3/4" wide,
1/4" thick walnut strips. Two layers of 6oz
fiberglass will give it support.