Need suggestion on ordering & shipment of gunwales (or mak..

I've been speaking with REI regarding a gunwale (and other parts) order
for my 16' fiberglass Old Town canoe.

I also spoke with Old Town. Here's my beef and sticking point, not sure
what to do.

Old Town informed me they can only ship gunwales *with a canoe order*
to a dealer (in this case REI) to minimize shipping costs.

REI has informed me that they cannot guarantee that's the case and
wants to charge me $200 for shipping (when placing the order) which
they will then partially refund if the gunwales are shipped with a
canoe order.

Has anyone had an experience they can share with having gunwales
shipped? I wonder if there's any other way to get gunwales, another
dealer? shipped to me? etc. I can't take the risk of paying $200 to
ship $80 worth of parts, that's asinine.

Has anyone ever made their own gunwales? I do have access to equipment
and some knowledge of TIG welding and was thinking maybe I should make
these babies out of aluminum. ANY SUGGESTIONS as to what gauge aluminum
I would want to use to make these? They obviously need to bend to fit
the curve of the hull when riveted on.

HELP!

-Tom

On 6 Mar 2006 10:34:49 -0800, "TT" wrote:

>I've been speaking with REI regarding a gunwale (and other parts) order
>for my 16' fiberglass Old Town canoe.
>
>I also spoke with Old Town. Here's my beef and sticking point, not sure
>what to do.
>
>Old Town informed me they can only ship gunwales *with a canoe order*
>to a dealer (in this case REI) to minimize shipping costs.
>
>REI has informed me that they cannot guarantee that's the case and
>wants to charge me $200 for shipping (when placing the order) which
>they will then partially refund if the gunwales are shipped with a
>canoe order.
>
>Has anyone had an experience they can share with having gunwales
>shipped? I wonder if there's any other way to get gunwales, another
>dealer? shipped to me? etc. I can't take the risk of paying $200 to
>ship $80 worth of parts, that's asinine.
>
>Has anyone ever made their own gunwales? I do have access to equipment
>and some knowledge of TIG welding and was thinking maybe I should make
>these babies out of aluminum. ANY SUGGESTIONS as to what gauge aluminum
>I would want to use to make these? They obviously need to bend to fit
>the curve of the hull when riveted on.
>
>HELP!
>
>-Tom

There are some boat building newsgroups and some forums. And there's
the Duckworks Web site.
--

r.bc: vixen
Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc..
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.
Really.