A customer recently brought an old gunning boat to me for repair.

It was strip built perhaps 1930 vintage, needless to say no epoxy was used just nails. It has steam bent oak ribs and cedar strip planking.

The customer wants me to epoxy-fiberglass the hull to make it watertight. there are large cracks between the very dry planks and some gouges and rot. I will need to fill (with thickened epoxy) the cracks etc before glassing.

The question is, should I seal the entire boat-hull with epoxy inside and out or is varnish inside sufficient to keep the wood from absorbing water?

Any other sudgestions?

I plan to measure the boat to produce plans for the home builders. It is from the Merrymeeting Bay area of Maine, built for two hunters, powered by oars during transit and single scull out the transom for hunting. a rare and unusual boat.

--eric