Hi mark
I had a WB 8 for years (see my avatar photo), and found a
photo where the alu strip is fixed to the
hull. The sponsoons then slide in that alu profile, starting at the bow, and pulling backwards. I have not got a photo that shows how far from the bow the alu profile starts.
BTW the black
paint on the bottom is (was) antifoul and and that lasted 10 years or so, making the
dinghy more unattractive to steal as well.