rub rails

[fishkisser99]

Rub rails on port side are coming un pinned...looks like they were riveted, initially. 

Anybody had luck with peeling off the outer rub rubber, re-riveting the inner rubber, and re-seating the outer rubber? 

Thanks for any information you can provide!

--mja

[freezerfiller]

I've done that before on my Mastercraft and it worked fine. Just remember steel rivets rust and you will need to use aluminum rivets (unless they make stainless which I've never seen) Use soapy water to reseat the outer rubber and try not to stretch or bunch it or you'll end up with a gap, or excess which if you cut will end up being a gap down the road.

[fishkisser99]

Thanks--looks like aluminum rivets were used initially, and I'll certainly follow suit. Might have to glass a bit around the pulled-out spots though.

[WaterDog]

Fishkisser, I have a 1996 190cc Sea Pro and had the rub rail popping off when I bought it. Now they normally do not just come apart even though they are just rivets holding it on. Look further for impact damage. You need to check the hull to deck joint. What happens is (and this happens to all boats) they take a impact from docks or boats...whatever and the factory epoxy snaps, this causes the rivets work out and the rub rail sags.

In both cases it is fixable, one fix is simple. The other, lets just say we only want to do this once, so do it right.

If the rivets just gave way you can remove (drill and tap out) and replace them or insert a #12 SS pan head screw about 1.25 inches long. Put some 3m 4200 in the holes to seal those screws. Water loves to follow threads. The rub rail insert will fit with these in place. This pic shows it pretty clear. When you remove the rub rail rivets apply some pressure to the hull and check to see if you create a gap between the hull and deck flanges. If so read below. The pic shows one screw going through the rub rail then the deck flange then finally the hull. The separation happen between the deck and hull flange area.



If you happen to have hull deck separation, Remove the rub rail.
Use a heat gun and scraper to clean out all the old epoxy and silicone BETWEEN the hull deck joint.
Then some 100 grit sand paper folded then slipped between the joint and ran back and forth with give the 5200 something to bond too.

Here's a trick for anyone sanding fiberglass. Wear long sleeves and gloves if possible. In the heat of the summer this can be impossible so do this. Any exposed skin spray with your wife's best hair spray. It will create a barrier and won't allow the fibers to get into your skin. When done just wash with soapy COLD water.

Clean the area with acetone. You can use wood shims to create a wider space between the two to make life easier, the fiberglass will flex without cracking.
Once this is done tape off below the seam so clean up will be easier.
Apply 3M-5200 at the joint and put the rub rail back on with the screws mentioned earlier. Do not tighten down hard yet. Wait 8-10 hours and then tighten all you can. This will allow the 5200 to set a bit (not much, it takes 48 hours to fully cure) and you wont squeeze it all out with this method.
Clean up the extra 5200 (acetone works well but wear gloves) and wait 48 or more hours before you insert the rub rail bumper. This takes some pressure to insert and you want the 5200 cured before you go banging on the hull.


This fix is used in professional boat restoration. IMO it's the best method for this damage. We all see videos of people sealing this area with silicone and such. There is no need for this if the factory bonding agent is still doing its job. When water begins to come in from this area silicone is a short term fix unless the factory only used silicone in the first place which is not the case on Sea Pro's.

[gnrphil]

Jul 7, 2021 7:26:47 GMT -6 WaterDog said:

Ok, I went and made a account. Was trolling last night with a case of insomnia when I posted the above. 

Wish I could go back and clean it up a bit but can't. 

If you'd like to copy and clean that up and post it again I'll remove the original post for you, let me know.
Welcome aboard.