Custom Woodwork

We are wood craftsmen at heart.

The best way to give your fiberglass boat an old-world, artistic feel is thoughtfully applied wood trim. From rubrails and seats, to custom bow plate inlays and stern sheets, every piece we build becomes part of what makes your boat uniquely yours.

Wood Trim Options

In addition to good looks, in some cases wood trim pieces can also serve a practical purpose. For example, wood oarlock risers on the gunwales make it easier to recover on the oarstroke, allowing you to row smoothly in choppy conditions. We also can affix a decorative rope rail accent to wood trim, which adds an especially striking detail and offers the wood a degree of protection from scraping/rubbing. The rope looks like classic cotton, but is actually a modern material. We bed it with marine grade polysulfide compound so that it adheres well and cleans up easily.

As you look through our website you will notice the great variety of custom wood work we have done for our customers. Each boat ends up being unique and special for their owner. The gallery below shows a few samples of woodwork options.

The price of custom woodwork depends, of course, on how much labor is required. Contact us to discuss your desires and for a price quote. We think you’ll find us very reasonable and your boat will be gorgeous!

All of our custom-built boats can be upgraded from standard vinyl rubrail to laminated wood trim. The wood we use depends on the boat: 
  • Cedar is used on our traditional 8–14′ dinghies (Navigator, Captain’s Gig, Whitehall, and others). It’s lightweight, durable, and classically beautiful — an important consideration on smaller boats where weight matters. Pacific Northwest yellow cedar gives a warm golden tone. 
  • Mahogany is used on our larger skiffs (17′ Jersey Skiff, 17′ Salish Voyager, 16.5′ Melonseed, 15′ Lobster boat, and the 12′ Scamp). Its rich reddish tone complements every color combination we’ve seen a customer dream up. 
  • Teak with an oiled finish is no longer available upon request due to a US trade embargo on Myanmar. Teak is a classic for good reason, though it does require routine maintenance with regular teak oil application.  
 

All laminated wood trim is finished with epoxy and varnish. We strongly recommend storing wood-trimmed boats indoors or under one of our custom canvas covers — with proper protection, our wood finishes are low-maintenance and can stay beautiful for decades. 

More than Looks 

Wood trim can be practical as well as beautiful. Wood oarlock risers raise the oarlock position on the gunwale, making it easier to recover on the oarstroke and row smoothly in chop. We can also add a decorative rope rail accent — it looks like classic cotton but is a modern material, bedded with marine-grade polysulfide for easy cleaning and lasting adhesion. It’s a striking detail that also protects the wood from scrapes and rubs. 

Pricing depends on the scope of the work. Contact us to talk through your ideas — we think you’ll find us very reasonable, and your boat will be gorgeous.