What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

What is the best white silicone to use on the underside of a rub rail? I'm familiar with the 3M 5200, but have heard that it can get hard and come loose. Anyone using anything better?
Thanks,
Steve

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

West Marine carries a bunch of types. Life Chaulk for one. What about bathtub silicone?

Why are you wanting to seal under the rubrail? I'm assuming you are having a deck to hull joiunt leakage problem? Best to remove the rubrail and seal directly at the joint itself.

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

Please, do not use silicone. Use 5200, 4200, life caulk, life seal (which is close to silicone but much better) anything but silicone. Ive never heard of 5200 coming off, as a matter of fact, its nearly impossible to get off if you want to. As with anything, the surface has to be preped right.

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

You prep the surface, and 5200 will still be on there after 3 generations of people lived and died trying to make it come off. (it will come off with proper chemicals).

5200 is for PERMANENT installations.

Great stuff.

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

Silicone won't stick well. 5200 is a structural adhesive. It will NOT release.

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

anyone ever used this stuff to remove 5200?
ran across it recently.
just curious if it works.

DeBond 2000®Marine Formula™

http://www.marineformula.com/

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

Are you talking about sealing the bottom EDGE of the rubrail? I wouldnt do it. Some do to clean up the gap between the hull and the rail. What it may do is trap water behind the rubrail and seep back into the hull or just sit there I would think. Very minimal I'm sure..but still a pita. I just put new SS rail on my boat and left the small gaps alone. Just had to work a little harder getting everything to line up.The corners are impossible to flush out..

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

I used it with good results. Needs to soak into the sealer to loosen it up.

Re: What's the best silicone for rub rail?
 

The boat came from the manufacturer with a bead of silicone / 5200 ? run all the way around the boat on the underside of the rub rail. I am just cleaning up the look a little bit, some of it started coming loose so I pulled it off. Not sure if it was just cosmetic or what? What ever was on there wasn't that hard to get off, so it probably wasn't 5200 . Think I'll just leave it off. Thanks for the advice.
Steve