Shelter Island Boat Works

The old gunnels were extremely rotted so I ordered replacement oak clamp and rub rails from the Dinghy Shop. They were made by Anchorage in Rhode Island, the original and current maker of Dyers. After I received them (it took many months), I found them crudely steam bent. So, I had to do some remedial steam bending to get them to fit properly. Some previous owner had greatly altered the fiberglass shear line (ground down) at the bow in their attempt to fix the bow rub rail, so the new stock rails needed some alterations for a proper fit.

The rails came with copper rivets, roves and some screws. I varnished the inside surfaces to seal them. After the steam bending fixes it took some muscling to get them seated properly. However, once clamped and seated the riveting went rapidly. Rivets were placed every 4″ along the rails with 2″ spacing at the bow.

The gunnels were not conforming to the bow. A previous owner must have ground down the glass to fit a breast hook that had rotted away. I made a mahogany breast hook covering, backed by oak. it will also provide a hand hold for moving the dinghy.

And then varnish.

… and done varnishing