I've just cut some mahogany for the rubrails. They are exactly 3/4 inch thick and 1 inch wide and not bendy at all. I'm really concerned about getting them onto the Skerry.
Did you guys have any trouble installing the rubrails? any tricks?
Christine

http://www.christinedemerchant.com/skerry.html

That part is a bugger. I was working from a kit and the rail stock that came with the kit broke when I was trying to bend it around the hull. CLC replaced it with a different color and cut of mahogany that took the curve nicely with a lot of effort applied by me.

I think some others split their rails into three or four strips instead of two to make it easier to take the bend. Maybe they will post their experiences here.

I had difficulties and broke a rail. In the end I soaked some towels in boiling water and wrapped them around the rails and let it soak for 15 minutes. I took them off and clamped the rails to the hull till they dried and they sort of developed a memory. But it was an anxious time

Hi Christine ~ I had no trouble with my rails, and I used a ton of clamps...borrowed all of the neighbor's clamps both sides of me plus all that I had to hold the rails in place.
When I originally asked John Harris about the rails breaking, he told me that the earlier Skerry kits used a different wood and that the new kits had no problems...he was right.
Good luck with yours.
I believe that you will find info on rails in this forum with a search for "rails."
Kyle

Thanks for the info.
I had done a search under rubrail and gunnel and did not get anything.
RAIL brought a wealth of information, not all reassuring I'm afraid.
I lucked out and got a really nice board but it is very dense and quite rigid.
I'm thinking that after the scarfs have really set maybe I'll suspend the rails between workhorses and put a weight in the middle and gently coax the boards for a couple of days. That would give me a head start on the curve and the wood would not suffer such a sudden bend all at once. Is that crazy?
Christine

http://www.christinedemerchant.com/skerry.html

or you could try a variation on steam bending.....

I'm presuming that you're following the plans, so that your rail pieces are currently longer than they will be when finished (i.e. you're going to be trimming a section from each end when you're all done.)

Archers know something about how to bend a long piece of wood into a nice curve....so imagine making a giant bow without the arrow!
--cut a small notch in each end on what will be the outside, wet down the rails with hot water, put a space heater nearby, and tie the ends together with a long line that you slowly tension to coax the rails into a fair curve that approximates what you'll need.

The water will raise the grain, but you can sand it smooth again once it dries.... and wait until it is totally dry before you epoxy it.

Or, you could try doing it dry, but if the wood is that stiff, it probably won't hold the curve very well. Or, if the wood won't bend well, you may need to rig up a steam tube and steam it.

One more thing...make sure you've got the scarf joint oriented correctly when you do all this (diagonal side up)

Good luck

Julie K.

Hi Christine,

My rails came in 2 pieces which I applied one at a time. It is good to get them on in one length as it forms the final curve of the sheer. They bent around easily once they were put on with about 15 clamps a side. It is very important to have the opposite rail held on with clamps while fixing the other in place, to ensure the hull finishes up straight.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I will try and prebend it a bit first by just wetting then steaming if it is not enough. I think that will work.
Meanwhile, back to sanding, and sanding, and sanding...
Christine

Its working! Wetting the rubrails and putting a weight on them I am able to bend them. I will give it a couple of days and I don't think there will be any problem at all installing them on the boat.
Christine