Gunwale Build assistance

Hello Folks,
I'm working on building a Clarks Fork styled drift boat and I am not sure who to attach the gunwales.
Do i start the outwale in line with the hill and then do spacers in to the inwale so there is no over hang?

Can anyone who might have a bit more experience then I weigh in?

Thank you,
GabrielJG

 

By outwale do you mean the rubrail?

 

Kind of, its the outer most part of the gunwale so if that is the other name then yes

 

The terminology is gunwale (pronounced gunnel) often has an outwale and an inwale as reinforcement. These are distinct from the rubrail. I believe they got their names from the fact that a ship with cannons, or guns, used the reinforced outer edge of the deck, the bulworks, to attach the gun's breeching lines and tackle to. I'm not sure where I learned that, so maybe I'm making it up.

-Will

 

Personally, I would want the outwhale to be a rubrail on a driftboat, then add stiffeners to the inside and then the inwhale. My reasons are not complex, jist that the outer portion can be sealed to the hull and keep water out versus the side with spacers being more difficult to seal.

 

Can you post a sketch or photo of what you want?

 

Would you attach with screws first or just glue/ epoxy clamp

 

On my last little boat, I steamed the rub rail piece in a long tubular bag like that is used for food storage and clamped it to the sheer line still hot in the bag, per a video from 'Tales from a Shipwright'.
This method allows the initial clamping to happen long before the part cools and stiffens and avoids the mad dash from steam box to boat.
I did open up the bag after clamping to allow the water to drain/dry.
Once it cooled, I took it all the way out of the bag and re-clamped it to the hull with thin spacers. I let it dry overnight and then did epoxy and screws to fix it into place.

Some people build the inner wales with a rail and spacers on the bench and then fit it to the boat.
I have seen old timers making the scuppers (spacers) one at a time and placing them on a boat at the seasonal waterfront museum in Bayfield, WI. It was a labor of love.