Wrestling with gunrails

This is a job for two persons, really. Long and semi-elastic wood pieces which need to be bent and squeezed into the hull, wanting to jump out of the place destroying sharp and fragile edges and shaped ends.

But I work alone so some sort of systematic approach was needed.

I started with measuring the length along sheer plank. I use paper masking tape - it is almost non-elastic and sticky. Even if it stretches a bit - that’s not a bad thing: the piece will be a bit too long which is always a good margin.

Transferred to the piece.

I take stem and transom profile using a small wood block and transfer them onto gunrail.

Cutting with handsaw and trying on the boat. Stem looking good, transom-end is a bit too long, as expected (or hoped!).

I pair it with a thin saw until it can be pushed into position.

Before gluing I copy the piece onto the next gunrail plank which will be glued on the inside.

And so comes gluing. Stem profile fits nicely although I managed to damage rubrail edge when wrestling with the gunrail…

While this side cures I repeat the procedure for measuring and cutting rubrail for starboard side.

To fit it in place single-handed I first insert pointy edge into stem cavity and clamp the piece close to the stem. It will not fit all the way to the stem at this angle yet.

Next I slowly bend the gunrail while moving towards the transom, placing it on frame tops. Once close to transom I place a clamp as a frame which will hold the batten if it jumps out of position.

Now I can safely put transom end onto the transom. Ilur has this part angled so I use it as a convenient wedge, pressing down the batten alongside.

It moves all the way down while the stem end goes into its proper place. It goes even more smooth when the glue is spread, acting like a grease.

By the end of this weekend I managed to glue entire port gunrail and half of the starboard side. And I run out of clamps!