# ultralight eastport pram rails

**URL:** https://forum.clcboats.com/t/ultralight-eastport-pram-rails/49035
**Category:** Builder's Forum
**Created:** [September 22, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/ultralight-eastport-pram-rails/49035 "2021-09-22T16:35:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Dennis\_Annotti1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dennis\_Annotti1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Dennis_Annotti1)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/ultralight-eastport-pram-rails/49035/1 "2021-09-22T16:35:58Z")

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I am building a ultralight eastport pram dingy and have cut the rails out of mahogany. &nbsp;There are 2 rails 1/2" thick that get laminated along top of boat. &nbsp;They rails seem stiff and dont want to easily bend to floow the top shape that curves in both vertical and horizontal. &nbsp;Would steaming these help make them bend easier or is there another trick? &nbsp;The seem on the verge of cracking when i just bend them around side of boat and dont bend them in vertical direction to match shape along top. ![](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dannotti/51504922355/in/dateposted/) ![](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dannotti/51504922355/in/dateposted/)

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### Author: ![Mark\_Nye](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex007/user_avatar/forum.clcboats.com/mark_nye/32/18_2.png) [@Mark\_Nye](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Mark_Nye)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2021, 7:29am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/ultralight-eastport-pram-rails/49035/2 "2021-09-23T07:29:43Z")

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&nbsp; &nbsp;Try a heat gun.&nbsp; Clamp/tape one end to the boat (no glue) and apply pressure while heating and gradually moving forward, adding more clamps/tape as you go.&nbsp; You can feel it when the wood gives, but don't hold the gun one place too long or you will burn the wood.&nbsp; Once the wood cools, it will hold the shape so you can unclamp and glue.

![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48637805458_81a74e4e66.jpg)

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### Author: ![Dennis\_Annotti1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dennis\_Annotti1](https://forum.clcboats.com/u/Dennis_Annotti1)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2021, 11:12am UTC](https://forum.clcboats.com/t/ultralight-eastport-pram-rails/49035/3 "2021-09-23T11:12:55Z")

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&nbsp; &nbsp;Do you apply any water to rail first?
