What Are Gunwales on a Canoe?

Gunwales are essential canoe parts that serve several important functions. They are available in a variety of materials, which vary in weight, strength, beauty and amount of maintenance required for their upkeep. You can select gunwales when ordering your canoe that fulfill the basic structural requirements and meet your demands for maintenance and aesthetics.

  1. Location

    • Gunwales are the long, rounded edges on each side of the canoe at the top edge of the hull. They run the entire length of the canoe, except at the ends where the nose plate attaches to the top of the hull.

    Functions

    • Gunwales provide structural support to the hull, which helps the canoe keep its shape. They support and provide attachment points for the seats, thwarts and yoke. Gunwales also prevent water from splashing over the top of the canoe.

    Materials

    • Gunwales are made from a variety of materials. They are usually made of wood, aluminum or vinyl. Wood gunwales are the most aesthetically pleasing, but they can be easily scratched. They also weather and must be maintained to keep their beautiful appearance. Aluminum is strong and light, but not very aesthetically pleasing. It may crimp upon impact, which weakens its structural integrity. Vinyl is comparatively heavy, but it is durable, requires little maintenance and is easy to replace if needed.

    Maintenance

    • Vinyl and aluminum gunwales don't really require maintenance. They may need to be replaced if the aluminum kinks or the vinyl is badly scratched or cracked. For aluminum or vinyl gunwales, drill out the rivets, attach the new gunwales and rivet them in place. Wood gunwales require more maintenance, especially if left outside. Lightly sand the gunwales with 100-grit sandpaper. Then oil the gunwales with Gunwale Guard or some other type of marine-grade oil. Oil seeps into the wood better than varnish and won't scratch as much as varnished wood. Oil the gunwales three to four times a year if they're left outside, for best maintenance, or whenever the wood turns gray, for minimal maintenance. To replace wooden rails, remove the screws, take off the old gunwales and screw the new ones into place.