Rub Rail Project, IFFY, Worth it?

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:19 pm

After gutting 90% of this boat and getting a good inspection of everything!! My rub rail inner support has some serious rotting in a few areas. This looks to be possibly the most difficult repair to make on the entire restoration. Is it a good idea? would you do it? Lots of frozen screw studs to drill out, a good bit of wood support to replace if not all. Maybe its not as bad of a project as it looks at first glance. In my mind in a complete restoration, if its moisture damage its getting replaced and things like this need to be done now while the entire boat is opened up.

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:25 pm

You might as well do it now. You already have the boat opened up and good access to it so now is as good a time as any. Hate to see you put it in the water without doing it and 'bump' a piling and knock the rail loose to where you have to tear apart the work you just completed. That would s*ck in a BIG way! JMO

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:34 pm

Needless to say, that the rub rail is what hides the deck to hull joint. Any structural fatigue here, and you'll have a flexible flyer.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:35 pm

I agree 100% unfortunatly I was only able to unscrew 13 of the 102 outer screws, the rest either spin or are froze up even with a nice hammer drill driver

she deff looks like a tough project, cabin not so bad but helm area and deck

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:43 pm

Jeff, I have all new rub rail for mine and remove all the old. Some screws, stainless, I had to use a grinder to cut the head then unscrew with a vicegrip once the rail was off. For those that turn I would just use the loosening rub rail to provide outward force than they would come out using light screw drive pressure.

It was not easy.

but got it off.

Beacon did not have the rail but mached it at "www.rubrails.com/" they shipped me the rail in a 4 inch pvc pipe.

Not on yet but will be, going to use square drive stainless screws to re-install.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:48 pm

heres the pics of what mine look like Larry