Mud Guppy Gunnel Repair

By Ray McCarthy

When Ray bought this 2000 Sturdee Amesbury skiff, it had a trashed starboard front gunnel. He used a saber saw to cut out the damage on the gunnel. The removed section was fitted with a new oak strip, and he used thickened WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy to bond in the replacement strip.

After the epoxy cured, he planed the scarfed oak strip, beveled the edges, redrilled screw holes, inserted stainless steel screws, and then applied wood putty.

The bow piece was also damaged, so while performing the gunnel repair, he removed the bow piece. The section was replaced with a new piece of mahogany; it was bedded in 105 Epoxy Resin® and 205 Fast Hardener® thickened with adhesive filler, and then the cleat was reinstalled.

To finish the wood for the sun and the sea, he sanded the oak gunnels and sealed them with 105 Epoxy Resin and 207 Special Clear Hardener®. This was followed by five coats of Minwax® Indoor/Outdoor Helmsman® Spar Urethane. Now the boat is ready to head off to the marsh!

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