I understand wanting to use the materials you have on hand and have already paid for.

You could mechanically fasten the wood to your aluminum gunwales. But it is unlikely you will be able to get a much tighter skin by stapling, rather than by lacing - the issue is that that type of vinyl material just doesn't stretch.

Wrinkles formed during skinning will have to be either ignored, if they are small enough, or cut and glued . . . and you'd have to do that with either skinning method. I think lacing will be simpler, quicker and easier, and it works fine (I've done it). You can snip and pull out the lacing material after the boat is skinned.

Or, as mentioned, you could skin the boat with fabric, and use the vinyl to construct some float bags . . . .

Good luck! The Sea Rider is a great boat.

Dave Gentry
Gentry Custom Boats, LC