I'm after some advice for how to proceed with repair or replacement of the gunnel(s) on a Dagger Legend 15. While poling a few weeks ago the kneeling thwart ripped out a section of gunnel:
I'm trying to decide if I can get away with patching in a replacement section (I was thinking about a 1 metre length) even if just for the winter or I should just bite the bullet and replace both gunnels. I'm only so-so with this kind of project so expect it will be rather lengthy and fumbling - also its cold outside and the days are short and there is nowhere to work on the boat under cover - so wondering if a patch might keep it going until the days warm up. Winter isn't a downtime for me so need the boat going again.
Looking at the point of break - the wood looks rather grey and I wonder if this part or even the whole gunnel has rotted. Despite the fact that the boat is used on white water a lot I don't have the heart to put on vinyl gunnels - but I have noticed that Endless river do a 1 metre section of vinyl which might work as a patch until the summer.
What are people's thoughts - how long a task is it to do both sides? I've found the Fyne boat site who seem to do ash gunnels and an article from Instructables on how to replace.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks
I'm trying to decide if I can get away with patching in a replacement section (I was thinking about a 1 metre length) even if just for the winter or I should just bite the bullet and replace both gunnels. I'm only so-so with this kind of project so expect it will be rather lengthy and fumbling - also its cold outside and the days are short and there is nowhere to work on the boat under cover - so wondering if a patch might keep it going until the days warm up. Winter isn't a downtime for me so need the boat going again.
Looking at the point of break - the wood looks rather grey and I wonder if this part or even the whole gunnel has rotted. Despite the fact that the boat is used on white water a lot I don't have the heart to put on vinyl gunnels - but I have noticed that Endless river do a 1 metre section of vinyl which might work as a patch until the summer.
What are people's thoughts - how long a task is it to do both sides? I've found the Fyne boat site who seem to do ash gunnels and an article from Instructables on how to replace.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Thanks