So, for finishing my gunwales, should I plan to go with epoxy/varnish, or oiled finish only..and why?!

Shawn

: The glass is in epoxy. I've never worked with polyester, though folks I knew
: then were using it.

: I can't think of much I'd change on the boat. For every time I've thought it
: caught too much wind when lightly loaded on open water, there have been a
: couple of times I was pleased to have the freeboard! Sometimes I've
: thought that a properly shaped center thwart/yoke would be nice for the
: carries, but the simple curved thwart I actually put in it has worked well
: enough that I've let it stay.

: I used redwood for the hull. It was conveniently available in long clear
: lengths. And sitka for the gunwales and a couple of accent strips. I was a
: little concerned that the spruce might not wear very well as an outer
: rail, but it's still in good shape.

: One other thing I did was put a 'traditional' half round brass stem band over
: the outer stem. It has taken some of the wear that might otherwise have
: scuffed up the glass. And it looks good!

: Ed