The capping rails that JLJ make are from Iroko. We do all the machining and processing ourselves, from receiving the sawn boards from the importer, thicknessing, machining the scarf splice to achieve the length, and the underside groove to take the Gunwale lip on the boat. This scarf splice join is set up in a jig and resin bonded with West Resin, absolutely bomb proof!
To achieve the curvature of the Gunwale profile we steam treat the critical area of most deflection. This is then formed in our jig and left to dry out, this curvature when removed from the jig is set and will arrive with you to more or less this shape and ready to fit.
This shows the rail ready for its final fitting on Katerina. We have pre-oiled it using Rustin’s Danish Oil, a product which has proved its credentials over the past eight years in the South Ionian Sea. Both rails on Katerina were pre-fitted and the bow stem head cut in. With all the fixing holes pre-drilled and countersunk it’s a straight forward task for 2 persons. In order to avoid the sometimes bad original holes in the boat Gunwale lip, we have used a different spacing.
Before the capping rail is oiled I pre-cut the housing for the stem head fitting. In the case of Katerina it the original, repaired and buffed up. It still has its ID number stamp clearly visible, 1120.
The second picture shows the capping rail in late November before the making and fitting of the new pair. Not a good state!
All ready now for applying the deck and rail fittings
After a summer in the sun of the South Ionian Sea, with a little regular care these capping rails still look good. The second picture shows Angie, our March 2021 rebuild, being enjoyed by George and his wife this past summer. This is what he said about our beautiful boats.
These blogs on ‘How to Do It’ are indeed built up after a number of years of actually having hands-on experience of manufacturing, with continuity through to the present day. If you need help or guidance you can speak with the guys that make all of this fine joinery