Rear window tape - above or below?

[stigaro]

I know this is a dumb question and I'm over thinking this, but I'm about to drill my rear window so I want to do it right. Step 11 on Page 38-02 says to "Apply a line of tape to the outside of the window. Align the edge of the tape with the edge of the skins." Does this mean to apply the tape on the part of the window below the skins (ie, the red line in the figure below), or above the skins (blue line in the figure)?

I guess my issue is that I don't understand the need for the tape anyway. Does it make drilling easier? Or is it to protect the rest of the window from the edge of the skins during the drilling?

 

[mc607]

The tape will go where the blue line is. It will replace some of the protective coating that you just peeled back. It is to protect the window from scratches and it will also indicate the perimeter of where you will scuff the outside of the window that will receive the sealant. Keep it nice and tight to the edge of the skin so you don’t see any scuff marks after completed. I used an angle across the roll bar and cedar shims to push the bottom of the window aft as much as possible. Makes for a better fit. YMMV

 

[stigaro]

Aha, that makes sense. Scuffing doesn't happen until well after the holes are drilled, so it didn't occur to me that taping was done now for it. The angle you used looks like a nice way to keep things in place. I'll look at doing this. Thanks.