: 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

Eric,

The director of the local wildlife refuge has a layout boat of similar construction and vintage. He has done a restoration similar to what you propose. I'll try and contact him and relay any of his opinions or thoughts. John Gardner writes on the Merrymeeting boat in one of his books. Can't wait for the measurements!
Bob