sledgebone
Recruit
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 5
I purchased a 16' aluminum boat last fall and some of you guys helped me determine what I actually bought.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=449848
Now that spring is arriving it's time to get working on it. I've searched for a few days and it seems the aluminum gunwale for these old tins is hard to come by. I've been thinking of a few ways to replace it, mainly to increase the strength to keep the flex down.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
The grey lines are the boat side and the approx 90 degree bend at the gunwale. What I plan on doing is using exterior plywood and trace the profile on it and cut it approx 3" wide. After I get the outer perimeter of the boat cut out, I will make an exact template to have it twice as thick (total thickness undetermined). Next I plan on putting bolts through the bottom layer, screw the two halves together, fill all the screw holes and then epoxy and glass around the entire surface. The corners will be rounded to prevent the cloth from taking the sharp corner. The holes for the studs will be drilled through the lip and a nut and washer will be added.
Does this seem like a decent idea, or is there a similar solution that easier? I plan on mounting rod holders and a hunting blind to the gunwale.
Thanks for the help,
RC
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=449848
Now that spring is arriving it's time to get working on it. I've searched for a few days and it seems the aluminum gunwale for these old tins is hard to come by. I've been thinking of a few ways to replace it, mainly to increase the strength to keep the flex down.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
The grey lines are the boat side and the approx 90 degree bend at the gunwale. What I plan on doing is using exterior plywood and trace the profile on it and cut it approx 3" wide. After I get the outer perimeter of the boat cut out, I will make an exact template to have it twice as thick (total thickness undetermined). Next I plan on putting bolts through the bottom layer, screw the two halves together, fill all the screw holes and then epoxy and glass around the entire surface. The corners will be rounded to prevent the cloth from taking the sharp corner. The holes for the studs will be drilled through the lip and a nut and washer will be added.
Does this seem like a decent idea, or is there a similar solution that easier? I plan on mounting rod holders and a hunting blind to the gunwale.
Thanks for the help,
RC