Prospector16 wrote:
IMO if you are redoing gunwales get rid of the wood altogether. Wood gunwales look great but they are a lot more effort to care for. I'd go either for aluminum for the sake of weight, or plastic if price is the main factor. Though sounds like you already have something.
I have replaced the gunwales on at least a dozen canoes, probably more.
I have some woodworking tools and skills and regunwaled two canoes in wood. I’ll not do another. I don’t have enough inside storage and don’t like even minimal re-oiling upkeep. If there is a lot of stem rise bending the wood to fit can be a struggle without steam bending.
If you have the skills and tools and access to long lengths of ash or ect to rip and router and sand and countersink your own DIY wood gunwales, and inside storage, have at it.
More so if you have serious woodworking skills. Maybe a rabbet to cover the hull sheerline material, some scallops for drainage and tie down points, recessed decks with exotic inlaid wood. I love the look and functionality of that craftsmanship. I do not have that level skill. No more wood gunwales for me.
I have regunwaled two canoes in aluminum. Also never again. Unless (maybe) using a 2-piece aluminum gunwale system, if there is much stem rise getting the unbent aluminum gunwale to seat with the sheerline edge in the channel without crimping can be pure frustration.
Even using a rubber mallet, a couple putty knife guides, a holder/helper or two alongside and multiple profanities, one piece aluminum gunwale installation is a PITA. Nope.
Two piece aluminum gunwales systems, or gunwales factory-bent match to the curve and sheerline rise of the hull may be different; I have never installed either.
Vinyl gunwales with aluminum inserts are “drill holes and pop rivet” easy to install with minimal tools or helpers. Drill, pop rivet tool, 3/16” pop rivets.
The hardest part may finding the correct plastic deck plates, with an inwale and outwale channel slot that matches the replacement vinyl gunwale cross section, and with the matching stem > angle. The teensy Wenonah-style decks caps are easier in that regard.
And, if you area anal about deck plate fit, the correct stem tip layout, either recurved back, straight up and down or projected outwards.