Cutting a hole in the boat
Phase 13: Mast Box and Daggerboard (Sailing Kit Only)
I'm sure I'm missing a few steps in between, since I don't seem to have any photos of the interior gunnels. But moving on: this next step is specific to the sailing kit. If you're building the Dory as a standard rowboat, none of this applies to you. If you're building the sailboat, at least in the sloop configuration, you need to install the box for the mast and cut a hole in the bottom of the boat for the daggerboard.
Cutting a hole in the bottom of your boat sounds scary, but here's the approach I think works best: install the daggerboard trunk first, using all of the required hardware. Measure everything out on top, mark it with lines, and drill the holes from the top down for the screws and other hardware.
You'll likely need a second person for this step. Someone needs to hold the daggerboard trunk in place while you come in from underneath and drive the screws.
Once that's set and the glue has fully cured, use a router to cut out the hole. Then sand and epoxy the area thoroughly, since it's very difficult to access and work on later.
