improved coaming comfort

[K.C. Walker]

So, I moved my coamings down and trimmed them to match the contour of the side decks. What an improvement! I can't believe it took me so long to get that done! No more bruises after a high wind days.

I spent 6 days on Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago with mostly spectacular conditions. One of the days was 12-15 kn of breeze and not really gusty. I was single handing the boat. The waves were maybe a 1 1/2 to 2 feet and shaped perfectly for surfing (not too choppy). What a blast. I kept planning and surfing the boat back and forth across this 3 mile stretch of open water. A wet and wild ride! I was very happy not to have the coamings in my way.

I decided to use the old coamings and plug the holes where the screw holes used to be. Because of the trim washers having dug into the mahogany I went with 5/8 plugs. I don't think it looks too bad. I figured the mahogany is so light that cutting the comings down wouldn't save much weight and possibly I would get more stiffness out of using the full-size coamings. Here are some pictures.
http://www.walkerguitars.com/photos/day ... /index.htm

I'm thinking about adding 5mm SeaDek nonskid to the side decks for additional comfort. Has anyone tried that?

[MrPlywood]

I keep considering this, but I've got a boom tent that needs the full height coamings. That said, I don't use it very much, and would probably enjoy the lowered coamings. I wonder if I could figure out a way to have both... hmmm....

[GreenLake]

Check out user Calden's posts on this forum. He's no longer active, but he constructed a set of hiking cushions that seemed functional.

I've been (slowly) working along the same line. Found some suitable foam and am working on a different attachment scheme than his. Not there yet.

That said, I've always found ways to sit on the side decks somehow. With that, and more light wind days coming up, it might take me a while to complete this project.

[MrPlywood]

Thanks. I reading seeing that post. I'll check it out again.