Gunnel guard source for dinghy?

[Jeff Kelety]

Hi all -

Can anyone point me to a source for the fabric-covered gunnel guard used on dinghys? I see some in the West Marine catalog, but seems a bit too large at 1.5" diameter for a small dinghy. So I was thinking there is a slightly smaller size appropriate for this application (but who knows, maybe everyone uses 1.5"). Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

[This message has been edited by Jeff Kelety (edited 01-02-2002).]

[Jeff Kelety]

Hi all -

Can anyone point me to a source for the fabric-covered gunnel guard used on dinghys? I see some in the West Marine catalog, but seems a bit too large at 1.5" diameter for a small dinghy. So I was thinking there is a slightly smaller size appropriate for this application (but who knows, maybe everyone uses 1.5"). Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

[This message has been edited by Jeff Kelety (edited 01-02-2002).]

[Jeff Kelety]

Hi all -

Can anyone point me to a source for the fabric-covered gunnel guard used on dinghys? I see some in the West Marine catalog, but seems a bit too large at 1.5" diameter for a small dinghy. So I was thinking there is a slightly smaller size appropriate for this application (but who knows, maybe everyone uses 1.5"). Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

[This message has been edited by Jeff Kelety (edited 01-02-2002).]

[Scott Rosen]

Jamestown Distributors sells Dacron canvas gunwale guard. The 1/2 Round is 1 3/8 diameter. The 3/4 Round is 1 1/4 diameter.

I have the 3/4 Round on my 9.5' Nutshell and it fits and looks just fine.

[Scott Rosen]

Jamestown Distributors sells Dacron canvas gunwale guard. The 1/2 Round is 1 3/8 diameter. The 3/4 Round is 1 1/4 diameter.

I have the 3/4 Round on my 9.5' Nutshell and it fits and looks just fine.

[Scott Rosen]

Jamestown Distributors sells Dacron canvas gunwale guard. The 1/2 Round is 1 3/8 diameter. The 3/4 Round is 1 1/4 diameter.

I have the 3/4 Round on my 9.5' Nutshell and it fits and looks just fine.

[Jeff Kelety]

Thanks, Scott!

jgk

[Jeff Kelety]

Thanks, Scott!

jgk

[Jeff Kelety]

Thanks, Scott!

jgk

[Art Read]

....or you could do like my old skipper and just split an old, condemned firehouse lengthwise and pound it on with copper tacks... Very "salty". (The sole of an old rubber boot folded over the stemhead is a nice "finishing" touch as well) http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Art Read]

....or you could do like my old skipper and just split an old, condemned firehouse lengthwise and pound it on with copper tacks... Very "salty". (The sole of an old rubber boot folded over the stemhead is a nice "finishing" touch as well) http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Art Read]

....or you could do like my old skipper and just split an old, condemned firehouse lengthwise and pound it on with copper tacks... Very "salty". (The sole of an old rubber boot folded over the stemhead is a nice "finishing" touch as well) http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Jon Agne]

There are two different types. One type has the rubber interior actually joined to the canvas exterior (there's a word for it, but I cannot remember it at the present), and the other type just has a foam interior inside of a canvas sleeve. I've used both...the former is the better. Try Hamilton Marine.

http://www.hamiltonmarine.com/

[Jon Agne]

There are two different types. One type has the rubber interior actually joined to the canvas exterior (there's a word for it, but I cannot remember it at the present), and the other type just has a foam interior inside of a canvas sleeve. I've used both...the former is the better. Try Hamilton Marine.

http://www.hamiltonmarine.com/

[Jon Agne]

There are two different types. One type has the rubber interior actually joined to the canvas exterior (there's a word for it, but I cannot remember it at the present), and the other type just has a foam interior inside of a canvas sleeve. I've used both...the former is the better. Try Hamilton Marine.

http://www.hamiltonmarine.com/

[rbgarr]

Jeff-

Be prepared for an expensive per foot cost for the stuff.

I was bemoaning how costly it was a couple of years ago when I lucked out at an estate auction. The auctioneer held up a garbage bag and pulled out 60 feet of 3/4" gunwale guard. Only a few knew what it was (the auctioneer had no clue) and I was able to get it for 50 cents per foot.

Last summer I got a 6" Danforth Constellation compass for $10. The auctioneer was calling it a sextant(!)

[rbgarr]

Jeff-

Be prepared for an expensive per foot cost for the stuff.

I was bemoaning how costly it was a couple of years ago when I lucked out at an estate auction. The auctioneer held up a garbage bag and pulled out 60 feet of 3/4" gunwale guard. Only a few knew what it was (the auctioneer had no clue) and I was able to get it for 50 cents per foot.

Last summer I got a 6" Danforth Constellation compass for $10. The auctioneer was calling it a sextant(!)

[rbgarr]

Jeff-

Be prepared for an expensive per foot cost for the stuff.

I was bemoaning how costly it was a couple of years ago when I lucked out at an estate auction. The auctioneer held up a garbage bag and pulled out 60 feet of 3/4" gunwale guard. Only a few knew what it was (the auctioneer had no clue) and I was able to get it for 50 cents per foot.

Last summer I got a 6" Danforth Constellation compass for $10. The auctioneer was calling it a sextant(!)

[TomRobb]

There's always three strand laid rope. Soak it in boat sauce first, let it dry, attach w/ pan head screws thru one of the strands (burried in the other two.)
Finest-kind salty unless you go for the working tug look and hang old tires off the sides as fenders http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif

[TomRobb]

There's always three strand laid rope. Soak it in boat sauce first, let it dry, attach w/ pan head screws thru one of the strands (burried in the other two.)
Finest-kind salty unless you go for the working tug look and hang old tires off the sides as fenders http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif

[TomRobb]

There's always three strand laid rope. Soak it in boat sauce first, let it dry, attach w/ pan head screws thru one of the strands (burried in the other two.)
Finest-kind salty unless you go for the working tug look and hang old tires off the sides as fenders http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Donn]

I'm going with a variation of Art Read's solution, for my Sturdee 16. She has a very wide and substantial oak rubrail. I bought 50' of unfitted 1.5" double wall firehose from a firehouse supply firm ($60..don't need 50', but that's the shortest length they sell), and am stuffing it with 2' lengths of closed cell foam pipe insulation. The hose will then be fastened to the outboard edge of the rubrail with panheads and finishing cup washers.

Smaller diameter firehose is available.

[Donn]

I'm going with a variation of Art Read's solution, for my Sturdee 16. She has a very wide and substantial oak rubrail. I bought 50' of unfitted 1.5" double wall firehose from a firehouse supply firm ($60..don't need 50', but that's the shortest length they sell), and am stuffing it with 2' lengths of closed cell foam pipe insulation. The hose will then be fastened to the outboard edge of the rubrail with panheads and finishing cup washers.

Smaller diameter firehose is available.

[Donn]

I'm going with a variation of Art Read's solution, for my Sturdee 16. She has a very wide and substantial oak rubrail. I bought 50' of unfitted 1.5" double wall firehose from a firehouse supply firm ($60..don't need 50', but that's the shortest length they sell), and am stuffing it with 2' lengths of closed cell foam pipe insulation. The hose will then be fastened to the outboard edge of the rubrail with panheads and finishing cup washers.

Smaller diameter firehose is available.

[Dave Hadfield]

I used the gunwale guard sold in the Hamilton Marine catalogue. It's formed white plastic with an edge that hooks over the top, and has a slot in its face for a 3/8 rope to fit in, so that it's the rope which does the fending-off.

It was heavier than I thought, and still a bit hard on the finish of the mother-ship. I wouldn't use it again.

Previously, on an 8ft punt, I used 1 inch nylon rope, but it sagged rather badly, and wouldn't stay up in place on the corners of the boat, and it's the corners that always strike the ketch, making dents.

Looks like you're on the right track.

[Dave Hadfield]

I used the gunwale guard sold in the Hamilton Marine catalogue. It's formed white plastic with an edge that hooks over the top, and has a slot in its face for a 3/8 rope to fit in, so that it's the rope which does the fending-off.

It was heavier than I thought, and still a bit hard on the finish of the mother-ship. I wouldn't use it again.

Previously, on an 8ft punt, I used 1 inch nylon rope, but it sagged rather badly, and wouldn't stay up in place on the corners of the boat, and it's the corners that always strike the ketch, making dents.

Looks like you're on the right track.

[Dave Hadfield]

I used the gunwale guard sold in the Hamilton Marine catalogue. It's formed white plastic with an edge that hooks over the top, and has a slot in its face for a 3/8 rope to fit in, so that it's the rope which does the fending-off.

It was heavier than I thought, and still a bit hard on the finish of the mother-ship. I wouldn't use it again.

Previously, on an 8ft punt, I used 1 inch nylon rope, but it sagged rather badly, and wouldn't stay up in place on the corners of the boat, and it's the corners that always strike the ketch, making dents.

Looks like you're on the right track.

[TomRobb]

Nylon streaches rather badly (for this purpose), especially when wet. If you were to go with rope, hemp or manila even would be most salty. Dacron ought to work but wouldn't need the boat sauce except for looks pehaps. Personally I never liked the plastic stuff or the hose thing, but they work ok. Look better, IMHO, on plastic boats where they're more fitting aesthetically.

[TomRobb]

Nylon streaches rather badly (for this purpose), especially when wet. If you were to go with rope, hemp or manila even would be most salty. Dacron ought to work but wouldn't need the boat sauce except for looks pehaps. Personally I never liked the plastic stuff or the hose thing, but they work ok. Look better, IMHO, on plastic boats where they're more fitting aesthetically.

[TomRobb]

Nylon streaches rather badly (for this purpose), especially when wet. If you were to go with rope, hemp or manila even would be most salty. Dacron ought to work but wouldn't need the boat sauce except for looks pehaps. Personally I never liked the plastic stuff or the hose thing, but they work ok. Look better, IMHO, on plastic boats where they're more fitting aesthetically.

[Art Read]

I don't know Tom... I've always found the image of a beat-up, weathered, old skiff with paint chips and a rusty, tin can "bailer" floating in the bilge, adorned with fire hose rubrails speckled with various colored paint dripings quite "appealing" somehow. Perhaps NOT quite the thing for a bright finished Whitehall however... http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Art Read]

I don't know Tom... I've always found the image of a beat-up, weathered, old skiff with paint chips and a rusty, tin can "bailer" floating in the bilge, adorned with fire hose rubrails speckled with various colored paint dripings quite "appealing" somehow. Perhaps NOT quite the thing for a bright finished Whitehall however... http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Art Read]

I don't know Tom... I've always found the image of a beat-up, weathered, old skiff with paint chips and a rusty, tin can "bailer" floating in the bilge, adorned with fire hose rubrails speckled with various colored paint dripings quite "appealing" somehow. Perhaps NOT quite the thing for a bright finished Whitehall however... http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[Scott Rosen]

I'm more concerned with preventing scratches, gouges, dings and other marks on Patitence's topside paint, than with the appearance of the gunn'l guard on my dinghy. I don't think rope gives as good protection as the gunn'l guard or firehose.

[Scott Rosen]

I'm more concerned with preventing scratches, gouges, dings and other marks on Patitence's topside paint, than with the appearance of the gunn'l guard on my dinghy. I don't think rope gives as good protection as the gunn'l guard or firehose.

[Scott Rosen]

I'm more concerned with preventing scratches, gouges, dings and other marks on Patitence's topside paint, than with the appearance of the gunn'l guard on my dinghy. I don't think rope gives as good protection as the gunn'l guard or firehose.

[JimConlin]

I don't think there's a functional substitute for canvas & foam 'gunwale guard'.
The cotton stuff has a life expectancy of 6-7 years in New England. I expect that the dacron stuff will last longer. Too early to tell.
It's only expensive until you consider the value of your topside paint.

[JimConlin]

I don't think there's a functional substitute for canvas & foam 'gunwale guard'.
The cotton stuff has a life expectancy of 6-7 years in New England. I expect that the dacron stuff will last longer. Too early to tell.
It's only expensive until you consider the value of your topside paint.

[JimConlin]

I don't think there's a functional substitute for canvas & foam 'gunwale guard'.
The cotton stuff has a life expectancy of 6-7 years in New England. I expect that the dacron stuff will last longer. Too early to tell.
It's only expensive until you consider the value of your topside paint.

[KarlSchmid]

Scott,
Is the West Marine stuff still canvas over foam? The last time I checked it was nylon over foam.

[KarlSchmid]

Scott,
Is the West Marine stuff still canvas over foam? The last time I checked it was nylon over foam.

[KarlSchmid]

Scott,
Is the West Marine stuff still canvas over foam? The last time I checked it was nylon over foam.

[Scott Rosen]

Karl, I use the stuff from Jamestown Distributors, which is Dacron over foam. The foam is stuck to the Dacron very well. The Dacron has a nice finish--much more like real cotton canvas than you would get from Nylon.

[Scott Rosen]

Karl, I use the stuff from Jamestown Distributors, which is Dacron over foam. The foam is stuck to the Dacron very well. The Dacron has a nice finish--much more like real cotton canvas than you would get from Nylon.

[Scott Rosen]

Karl, I use the stuff from Jamestown Distributors, which is Dacron over foam. The foam is stuck to the Dacron very well. The Dacron has a nice finish--much more like real cotton canvas than you would get from Nylon.

[Carlsboats]

Have you tried Fawcett Bros. in Annapolis? I have bought canvas-covered stuff from them several times, and find that it lasts 6-10 years on dinghies (which, admittedly, are kept indoors most of the year).
One way to exend the life of the cotton-covered stuff is to give it a wash coat of thinned, white paint after installing. CARLSBOATS

[Carlsboats]

Have you tried Fawcett Bros. in Annapolis? I have bought canvas-covered stuff from them several times, and find that it lasts 6-10 years on dinghies (which, admittedly, are kept indoors most of the year).
One way to exend the life of the cotton-covered stuff is to give it a wash coat of thinned, white paint after installing. CARLSBOATS

[Carlsboats]

Have you tried Fawcett Bros. in Annapolis? I have bought canvas-covered stuff from them several times, and find that it lasts 6-10 years on dinghies (which, admittedly, are kept indoors most of the year).
One way to exend the life of the cotton-covered stuff is to give it a wash coat of thinned, white paint after installing. CARLSBOATS