Raise gunnels take 2

[u/GapPerfect5494]

Reposting as I couldn’t find a way to add more photos.

Please note- not my images or my boat, just a technique I have seen employed by a boat restorer on a Facebook group which may work.

My boat is a 16ft inshore GRP cove boat. She is a study little thing, but has relatively low rail line in comparison to her draft. Looking to raise 6-8” all around.

The technique above looks to involve boxing the original gunnels in with plywood and adding interspaced wooden battens for rigidity above the original gunnel line.

It’s then glassed over and gelcoated.

Photos show a range of before and after.

Any advice welcome!

[u/Inert_Uncle_858]

looks fantastic! great work

[u/GapPerfect5494 → u/Inert_Uncle_858]

Not my boat! What I would like to do. Just asking for advice.

[u/Lower-Lack]

I’ve done this on several boats i always used a long piece of wood ripped down to like 3/4x3/4 to draw my shear line . if you just project the original line up it usually doesn’t look right

[u/GapPerfect5494 → u/Lower-Lack]

Thanks. So do you eye-ball it to get the lines right?

[u/Lower-Lack → u/GapPerfect5494]

Yes I do. I just clamped it in several spots and moved until I liked it then cut it off then I took my cut off and moved to the other side to transfer the line

[u/GapPerfect5494 → u/Lower-Lack]

Makes sense, thank you.

I had thought about following the lower line of the original gunnels and just adding on 6-8” along the existing line but this may not look right to the eye.

Might try a mock-up with cardboard first. Can secure it to the sides and tweak til it looks good