I am looking to replace the front gunnels on my Polar Kraft. The current gunnels are beat up and square. I would like to replace with round pipe type gunnel 2-3" [or bigger] diameter. Rather than fab it up I thought it would be so much easier on me and my dad if I drilled the rivets out of the old and replace with the new and then weld the new on.
Anyone know where a guy could buy some? I'm looking at about 12-14 feet [3 pieces of 4'+ or so] of needed material.
Not looking for any fancy shapes just round.
Thanks a bunch
Randy

Randy, we use to modify our old Polar Krafts by using 2ea 1.5 dia aluminum tubes on the gunnel one on each side of the side. Throw some stitch welds along them along the bottom edge and then burn them down the center. This was after removing the factory gunnels. It worked great for pulling nets and when running boards for clams.

Thanks for the reply Mitch. Do you happen to have a photo of that gunnel?

Do a search for Aluminum extrusions and look for something local. You might have to search a bit but alot of them hace drawings on their sites.

Sorry, no I don't. Sold the hull back when commercial clamming became unprofitable in the 90's.

Get you some 1.25 sch 80 and a skill saw and just rip it. Slip it over the sides and weld it. That will be cheaper than some type of extrusion.

Yeah thats what I'm gonna do. I'm trying to decide if I wanna bigger pipe on the front with slightly smaller on the sides or vice versa. If I had the bigger pipe on the side and the slightly smaller on the front it would help channel my gill nets up onto the front deck.
You know if this is my only problem in my life right now, I got it made.
Randy

The best way I can describe the double tube gunnel is this. OlO

Raise the upper edge of the tubes slightly higher than the side material creating a valley, stitch welds along the bottom sides and a full weld on the top in the valley.