Rub Rail, can I do it myself?

gotime34 · 06-13-2005, 04:20 PM

The rub Rail on My 34' Scarab has seen better days. I need to change it but want to stick with the chrome/stainless look. Can I do it myself? To me it just looks like a lot of holes to drill and a little bending around the corners. Where can I get the material? Any tips or techniques? Thanks in advance for any help.

Audiofn · 06-13-2005, 04:47 PM

There are a few places to get the Material. Taco is the most popular. It is not real hard it is time consumming. Put the plastic filler in hot water to soften it. Push it in don't pull it in or else you will have a issue with the rubber shrinking.

Jon

mmwalters · 06-13-2005, 05:45 PM

Check your screw centers.Try to match the new rub rail to the old. Will make your job much eaiser

hillbilly24 · 06-13-2005, 07:18 PM

also when making the bends don't try and do it off the boat. Screw it on until you reach the point that it needs to be bent then just use a dead blow hammer to gently work it around.

Wally · 06-14-2005, 09:40 AM

More then likely alot of the screw hole wont line up.....in that case either 5200 them closed or epoxy them so you dont have any problems with water getting in

Wobble · 06-14-2005, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotime34

The rub Rail on My 34' Scarab has seen better days. I need to change it but want to stick with the chrome/stainless look. Can I do it myself? .

No,

2 man job + attractive beer and pizza runner minimum.

Helped a friend do a 27 Pachanga, went back with the solid white nylon type molding. Where we drilled and countersunk holes where we wanted them. You might as well forget most of the previous screw holes except one where you start. We filled all holes with marine-tex. That way if you hit previous holes screw still bites hard.

Lots of tape and patience, hot water and heat guns are good too.

gotime34 · 06-14-2005, 03:36 PM

Dammit, sounds like more work than I wanted to hear. There will be 2 of us, and there will definately have to be cold beer.

aTX427 · 06-14-2005, 08:03 PM

It is a lot easier than you think. Two of us did my 38 in one weekend. Don't bother trying to line up the old holes, just 5200 them and drill new. I used Taco white base with an SST insert - if you do the same use 1" long #6 screws on both the base and 1/2" #6 on the insert. A heat gun worked real well on the base and dead blow on the insert. Like the others said screw it on then form it around the corners.

gotime34 · 06-15-2005, 07:36 AM

Awsome, Thanks for the help. Looks like I'll be doing that next weekend.

Audiofn · 06-15-2005, 07:46 AM

When I replaced mine instead of using screws I through bolted all of them except three in the very bow that I could not reach. This way I never have to worry about the screws backing out ever again....

I think that they were 10/24's with washers and nylock nuts on the inside.

Jon