Gunwale

The gunwale is the top edge of a boat. Pronounced more like and sometimes spelled gunnel. The gunwales need to be installed early on in the construction of this dinghy, because they add some rigidity to the sides and help smooth out any wobbles in the 1\4 inch plywood.

 The plans call for the gunwales to be made out of 11 foot pieces of 3\4 by 1 1\2 wood of your choice.

A solid piece of wood that size is pretty difficult to bend into the shape. The sheer sweeps in and up quite sharply at the bow. I decided to make my gunwale from two pieces of wood and laminate them together in place on the boat. I brought some wood up from Virginia for this purpose.Some White Oak and some Black Cherry. The first job is to plane and rip the rough lumber down to the desired size and shape. I hope it goes without saying that you do not have to be this fancy I just like to make things difficult.

This is a wide board that a friend Michael Boethe Schmit gave to me many years ago. I have a base that is bolted to the bottom of my skill saw that runs along a guide board to give me a long straight cut.

Then the pieces get a pass through cousin Daves planner.

Fingerboards help make for a consistent cut and save fingers. I made my inner wale L shaped so it covers the top edge of the plywood sides. The strip of white oak was passed through the router to give it a rounded shape.

I left the gunwale long at the bow so I had something to grab and pull with to wrestle the the gunwale into the curve at the bow. A piece of light rope and a pile of clamps are holding the port gunwale in place while the epoxy sets.

Next goes the outer oak strip held with clamps and temporary drywall screws.