Drill the Drain Plugs Now!

The manual for the Annapolis Wherry has you drill and install the drain plugs as one of the very last steps right after finishing. Do it now instead!

First, it’s just easier to drill the 1” hole now, before you install the bow and stern seats, and before finishing. Plus, it doesn't wreck your finished surface.

You can also vacuum up all the sawdust. If you wait until the seats are installed, you will always have sawdust and chips inside your tanks.

Drilling the hole will often chip out wood on the inside. Drilling them now will give you access to the inside so you can properly epoxy coat any bare wood. I used a spade bit and it chipped out wood on the inside. Always drill from the outside of the bulkhead into the tank!

Here is one of my drain holes. It was drilled, sanded, vacuumed up, and epoxy coated. I'll install the actual drain plug and screws after finishing, but the messy bit is done now.

Tomorrow the hull gets turned over and I'll start on the bottom. Lots of work still to do.

Stay tuned!

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