Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

Inside sheer rail repair

A portion of the inside sheer rail is missing. Is it possible to join a new piece to the existing rail, or do I need to replace it altogether?

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Permalink Reply by Andy Pruitt Heisler on July 24, 2018 at 9:20pm

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Permalink Reply by David Witton on July 25, 2018 at 7:58am

Seems like to do a decent job, you'd want to scarf the missing piece on - that means removing the existing piece. At that point, it might be simpler to install a new inwale (inner gunwale)

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Permalink Reply by Andy Pruitt Heisler on July 25, 2018 at 8:50am

Thank you David. If I replace it, what kind of wood do you recommend?

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Permalink Reply by David Witton on July 28, 2018 at 7:40am

White oak or ash. Kurt's suggestion is right on (as usual) and will add a bit of strength to that area. I'd add blocks to both sides.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Pruitt Heisler on July 30, 2018 at 2:16pm

Thank you David! Are "Inner Gunwale" and "Inner Sheer Rail" different names for the same thing? I read "sheer rail" on plans in the Drift Boats and River Dories book. But maybe I was looking at the wrong piece.

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Permalink Reply by David Witton on August 1, 2018 at 7:45am

Gunwale (pronounced "gunnel") is defined as "the upper edge of a boat's side". It defines the sheer line of the boat, and on dories consists of an inwale and and outwale. So yes, sheer rail and gunwale describe the same piece.

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Permalink Reply by Kurt Selisch on July 26, 2018 at 9:14am

Hate to butt in here, but in case David is away from the computer awhile. White oak is the typical material. I might also recommend installing transom wedge blocks that fit between the hull panel and inside handrail or inwhale. This will support the inwhale in that long span from #1 frame to the transom. Here is a pic of a transom wedge block. White Oak is also typically used for this.