Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by Troy on 08/23/08 - 7:35 AM

I am planning a little refinish work this winter on my 85 Outrage. I noticed a post where it appeared that the gunwhales were left on the boat rather than removed while refinished. My first instinct would be to remove the wooden parts completely, refinish, reinstall. Are the gunwhales quite difficult to remove?

Posted by regentsbay on 08/23/08 - 10:18 AM

No actually its quite easy. Just dig out the plugs and unscrew the screws, do the side bars first and then the actual gunwales. That will allow you to clean all the years of crud that has built up. You will be suprized at the amount of dirt and mud that is laying under the gunwales. This also allows you to sand the joints much easier and have a more professional job.

Posted by regentsbay on 08/23/08 - 10:27 AM

I forgot to add that this will allow you to remove the end caps and at this time its very easy to polish them out without doing and damage to the rub rail

Posted by Joe Kriz on 08/23/08 - 10:48 AM

It really depends on how bad your gunwales are.
Some are so bad that some people have had to run them thru a planer. You would obviously need to take them off to plane them.

Mine weren't all that bad so I did not find it necessary to remove them.
http://www.whalercentral.com/readarti...icle_id=31

Posted by Troy on 08/23/08 - 7:50 PM

Thank you gentlemen. I don't believe that my wood is in terrible shape. Mostly the problem is that the previous owner put some stained varnish over the gunwhales. Fortunately, he didn't touch the other teak on the boat. I am encouraged by your comments and will remove the gunwhales to make sure that I do a great sanding and refinishing job. Thanks for the tips about plug removal. I will post pix soon and of course post after-pix later. Frankly at this point we are having so much fun on the boat that all of the "stuff" can wait a while longer. Cheers! :D

Posted by Barryg on 08/24/08 - 1:56 PM

I also will be redoing my gunwales soon. I have noticed the piece of rubber between the joints. What is that and can you replace or buy it some where. thanks bg

Edited by Barryg on 08/25/08 - 3:25 PM

Posted by Troy on 08/24/08 - 3:08 PM

I don't know for certain Barry, but it seems that we can buy about any part for
Whalers. I bet that one will be no different. Perhaps it will be obvious when we take the wood off.

Posted by regentsbay on 08/24/08 - 3:45 PM

I asked this same question just a few weeks ago on W/C and the answer was Black Polysulfide Caulking was used at the factory. When you get your gunwales apart you will see where the caulking was used.

Posted by Barryg on 08/24/08 - 5:47 PM

If it is caulk it may be better for me to finish it like Joe did. THe wood on my boat is not to bad of shape. Troy what are you catching in Iowa ?

Posted by Binkie on 08/25/08 - 3:29 AM

#10

Removing plugs. Some folks like to use epoxy or a glue that will make it impossible to remove without damaging surrounding wood. At some point most plugs will need to be removed. If not by you, then by some future owner. If you use Elmer`s wood glue or even just varnish, the plug can easily be removed. It won`t loosen over time so why make extra work for yourself or someone else.

rich

Posted by kamie on 08/25/08 - 5:40 AM

#11

Unless the gunnels are so bad you need to plane them down why bother to remove them. It's really easier to sand and varnish right on the boat.

Posted by donp on 08/25/08 - 9:29 AM

#12

I just refinished sanding and staining my gunales myself on my 1982 revenge. I used a hand sander and started with 60 grit. My gunale were in bad condition, but I must say they came out looking nice.

Question. Where does the water go when it's between the gunnels and rub rail? Should this seam be chulked?

Posted by Binkie on 08/25/08 - 11:28 AM

#13

I would definitely caulk the seam between the gunwales and deck. If water is present under there, it will just sit there until it eventually evaporates, and will start to rot the teak.. Teak is not rot proof. the only way to know if water is present, is to remove the wood, so if you have any breaks in the caulk or no caulk, thats what I would do.

rich

Posted by Barryg on 08/25/08 - 1:48 PM

#14

I am realy surprised that no one has done this and taken pics(removing gunwales). THis seems to be a common maintenance point of interest>I guess I am spoiled with all the other pics that are available to us on WC BG

Edited by Barryg on 08/27/08 - 2:55 PM

Posted by Troy on 08/25/08 - 2:17 PM

#15

You're right Barry. It would be a nice thing to have photo-illustrated. It doesn't sound too tough, but why not learn via photo? I will certainly attempt to post mine when the time comes, but it won't be until the snow flies in Iowa. As far as what we are catching here is has been a slow summer. We had the floods early which really affected the fishing. The most fun the kids and I have had is anchoring in a shallow spot and pulling out sunfish. I heard the Wipers are biting well now, so we'll probably attempt some of those this weekend. Nothing here will compare the the ginormous fish you have in your photo! :D