I have been shaping/carving some small slammer-type wake baits. I am almost to the point of placing my joints. The system I have originally decided on was to cut a v notch into the bait. On one side I will be using a cotter pin epoxied into the bait. On the other side I planned to first cut a small notch into the bait. Then drill a small pilot hole from top to bottom. I  then planned to take a small finishing nail and drive it through the pilot hole, then through the cotter pin and back into the bottom of the bait half. After thinking about that further, I now have a question with my top coat. I had planned to top coat each half before this process but now that will be impossible unless I drill the holes afterwards  :-[ I plan on this method to bring the joints fairly close. Is there anyway I can do this with the method I have planned out or should I consider a new joint method?

PS- I hope you understand my explanation of my joint system and problem. If not I'll try to illustrate later.

drill the holes first and then stick the end of  a nail into each

when it hardens you can then pull the nail back out, sand down the small "volcano" that was around the nail, and then set the nail in. You should cover the nail head with some more finish or superglue to keep the water out.

Awesome. I think that will work.