White Rubber Rub Rail
 

Anyone found a product that will keep the white rubber rub rail insert clean above the transom protecting it against the black exhaust soot?

The white rubber rub rail around the transom gets covered in black exhaust soot. I trailer the boat and clean it at the end of every weekend with black steak remover, magic eraser, and acetone but it still starts to yellow after a season or two. I have another new insert to install and would like to prolong its bright white life.

I don't know which engines you have. But, if you have the 496HO's, there was a flash update in '03 which resolved a large part of the soot issue. I went from having a black transom every time out to just a light film after the update.

Whenever I have a mark on my rub rail that can't be washed off, I use 400 grit sandpaper. Works like a charm.

I use a litle carb cleaner ona rag and it will clean it right off

plum crazy,could you give me soom info on the flash up-date,I have a 2003 ,358 sonic,thanks

Contact Mark at Precision Marine(pmefi.com). He'll want to know your ECU revisions and SN's.

peteandbetsy, could you post when/if you find something out, I too have an '03 358 and would be curious as to what you hear. Thanks in advance.

As I understand it, Mercury had to correct the voltage to the fuel injectors.

I use some laquer thinner about once a season and run over it....seems to clean it up well.

Vettex,i Will Keep You Up Dated With The Info That I Got From Pmefi,also Laquer Thinner Work Well For Me,thanks All

thanks Pete.

I too use Laquer Thinner..........works well.

either acetone or laquer thinner but be careful around the paint

I put new in last year, but I use 3m oxidizer remover/wax on mine!

Rub Rail
 

Jim,

Expplain how you did the rub rail, step by step and where you purchased it???

We are thinking of replacing ours this season. I am assuming it is white?

Mike

Yes, I have HO's and I forgot about the flash update. I research a little when I first got the sonic and some thought the flash may have reduced the top end. Did you notice any performance difference? With your posting a new best of 76 I guess it didn't hurt enough to notice. Anyway, this is what I need, just eliminate the black soot.

Thanks

Thanks everyone, I think I'll try some of these ideas to clean the current white rubber insert at the transom better before I install the new one.

I bought mine from Sonic, but I used a heat gun to heat the insert than used a flat blade screw driver to bend the tab in also used a deadblow hammer to seat the insert in the channel.

You might want to start a thread about it I know some guys soak it in a hot bucket of water to loosen it up!

I have the same issue with mine getting dirty with everything that touches it. All cleaners above work well and I have also used gojo w/ pumice. the grit in the gojo works well.

I've always wondered if cleaning it with these products takes away whatever protectant (if any) that was on the rubber insert. I wonder if once we get it clean, we could put something on it to seal the pores of the rubber so dirt doesnt penetrate so easily ??? some type of clear sealant ? or will that just yellow over time, and then you cant get it off ???

The insert is very easy with a heat gun. Especially with 2 people. Heat 1 to 1.5 feet at a time and push it in.

We bought ours from Sonic and put it in two weeks ago. Took Bill and I about 1.5 hours. Left it in the sun on black asphalt to warm it up. Used Simple Green, a flat blade screw driver and a rubber mallet. Not hard at all.

Patti

Thanks Plum, I had forgot about the ECM update. I had them updated by Merc last June and it's amazing how much cleaner the transom stays! Still haven't put on the new rub rail insert, maybe next spring...

Since I started running my Gibson turn-downs, I've had no transom soot at all! :drink:

How does it sound with the turndowns?

Sounds great. It's just the right amount of noise. You can still have a conversation while running at cruise because they direct the sound at the water. More importantly, it makes the noise police happy in the no-wake zones.