Sort of an opinion poll

Is it potato or patato, gunwale or gunnel? That is not my real question........ the opinion I am looking for is to screw or not to screw.

Big selling point for screws........ it is easier to replace a gunwale if screwed on. But, I think if I have to replace a gunnel, it will be a bit more serious repair than just the upper edge of the canoe.

I am leaning toward thickened epoxy glue. What way did you go?

I always screw my gunwales on. Cant imagine how hard it would be to replace a damaged gunwale that had been epoxied or glued on. I have replaced my screwed on gunwales before and those get "stuck" on from the spar urathane on the hull and the oil finsh from the gunwale.
I think if you epoxie /glue you are setting yourself up for heartache
CB

built 3 canoes and glued them all.
not sure what could damage the gunnels so bad they need to be replaced
yet keep the canoe floatable. (like you said)

my first canoes gunnels got all scratched up and some water damaged happened. i sanded them down completely and revarnished and they now look new.

ok...... score so far is:

Screw: 1
Epoxy: 1

I think this will turn out as I expected. But I do like to read the pros and cons

Well I have only replaced them on my MR Slipper and I went with the original screw style. But spaced them 7" apart to help make measuring fish easier.

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
Sort of an opinion poll

Is it potato or patato, gunwale or gunnel? That is not my real question........ the opinion I am looking for is to screw or not to screw.

Big selling point for screws........ it is easier to replace a gunwale if screwed on. But, I think if I have to replace a gunnel, it will be a bit more serious repair than just the upper edge of the canoe.

I am leaning toward thickened epoxy glue. What way did you go?"

Joe,

The main reason I chose to epoxy directly to the sides of the finished hull is because I did not want to penetrate the hull with screws. I figured that by drilling holes through the hull I would be exposing the wood core to potential water seepage and decay. No mater how well sealed with varnish there will still be the possibility of water getting into the unsealed joint between the gunwale and the side of the hull providing a path to the wood core. Once the water is there it will remain and do it's damage.
I can't imagine ever having to replace the gunwales as mine have stood up well for the last 7 or 8 years. If I ever do need to replace them I could easily saw away most of the wood and sand the remaining gunwale wood down flush with the hull without going through the glass cloth. As I said mine are still like new so I don't ever anticipate replacing them.
I believe that some kevlar canoe gunwales may fail due to the cap style gunwale used which is not finished inside the groove before assembly with through hull screws allowing water to get underneath.

Dick

Put me down for screw.

I read a bunch about both, but in the end I was just more comfortable working with a drill and screws than epoxy.

screw: 3
epoxy: 2

Started cutting my ash gunnel stock today. I had some 15/16 #1 common. On ripping, I found why it was common....... anyway, it made great kindling for my wood stove tonight.

Tomorrow I am off to pick up some lengths of select white ash. I will have to scarf to get the length I want. On a positive note, I made one sweet scarf jig (1:8) for my table saw. Works good

I'll let you guess.

nice
and tied up 3 all

One more for screws...just to break the tie:)

Mostly for the reasons Cedarboy listed. Someday the gunnels will need to be replaced, and I'll be happy I used screws on that day.

Both.

I vote for both as well. I like epoxy, but think about what is holding the inside and outside gunwales together...a 1/4" strip of cedar with fiberglass on either side of it. What happens if the fiberglass separates from the cedar? What happens if the cedar cracks?

I epoxy the the gunwales on, and add screws at the seat hangers, thwart, and yoke.

Screws (no epoxy) take the lead with 4
Epoxy (no screws): 3
Screws and epoxy: 2

Question for the screw users: what kind ?

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
Screws (no epoxy) take the lead with 4
Epoxy (no screws): 3
Screws and epoxy: 2


Question for the screw users: what kind ? "

For anything under a gunwale I use stainless. For anything exposed I use bronze.

Stainless with those decorative washers.

Another vote for Both

As for the type of screws, I used Stainless steel counter sunk and covered with a plug.

And the poll shows:

Screws (no epoxy) still in the lead with 4
Epoxy (no screws): 3
Screws and epoxy: 3

Had a successful day dry fitting my inwales and soon I will add one more vote for screws and epoxy.

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
And the poll shows:


Screws (no epoxy) still in the lead with 4
Epoxy (no screws): 3
Screws and epoxy: 3


Had a successful day dry fitting my inwales and soon I will add one more vote for screws and epoxy.


"

Will that be your vote? FYI, you don't get a vote until the boat survives the BWCA! LOL!

Both on ours.