The Hull Exterior
​​​The bottom and side walls are scarf-jointed marine plywood, sealed on the outside with two coats of WEST Marine epoxy and reinforced by well-wetted layers of 6 oz. fiberglass cloth for strength and abrasion resistance.
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Two Primer Coats
The outside of the hull is primed with two coats of Interlux brand Pre-Kote (4280 gray) and painted with two coats of Interlux Brightside Enamel (4247 Sea Green).
Two Finish Coats
The Gunnels/Gunwales
​The gunnels, in combination with the stem and the stern, comprise the main structural elements of the Au Sable Riverboat boat. Taken together, this is a tension/compression ring that works with the ribs to give strength to the hull - all while minimizing weight.
The gunnels (gunwales) on Leaping Trout are a three-part lamination of two hardwoods - ash and black walnut - fastened to the sides, bow, stern and ribs with epoxy and silicon bronze screws. The picture nearby illustrates the extra care we invested in detailing as we built. Most builders will make junctures, transitions and fastenings to be as simple and as fast as possible. Not so here. This is called fairing. Creating a simple, stylistic transition between the gunnels and the transom took some thought. We believe that if something is worth doing - it is worth doing right.