BULWARK RAIL CAP LUMBER

evenin Clyde,

timely diagram and topic. I just lost two days on the bulwark overseeing and procuring what I hope will be some good rail cap material (see photo) It is full 2 inch thick white oak, freshly cut, and stacked today with ends sealed. I could barely lift 1/2 of the 23' long boards. Note the natural curve! The wide end is probably 16", the narrow10 to 12. Maybe by early summer it will be dry if I set up a temporary solar (clear plastic and very low energy fan just to keep the air barely moving). for the record, white oak is 63 lb/ft cubed wet and 47 lbs/ft cubed dry. I like the idea of the side bands because you could fasten from the top down into them instead of the bulwark proper, at least to anchor the rail cap. Also, it is reaching the point where the bulwark, with 2 1/2 " pine, and two layers of 3/8 ply on side fiberglassed, and now lets say 1 inch oak side piece topped with the rail cap,................. would all probably eliminate the need for a rubrail. Of course that is not considering esthetics, but if the outside side piece was wide enough it might look good. Put your thought and brush to that and see if we can work something that looks good. Might even have that sidepiece and cap finished with a penetrating type brightwork that could be constantly renewed without sanding off a surface finish. Or, with the bulwark/cap rail still serving as rub rail as well (could put narrow stainless or bronze bar to take the abrasion), we could put one decorative strip of wood right below the scuppers. friend bob