Caulking at top of rub rail on 2000 Hunter 290

[danstanford]

The caulking (looks like silicone) that has been run around the top edge of the rub rail of our boat is coming off in many places. Is this a factory seal or has some previous owner put it there and I can remove it? You can see in the picture that it is bad where it has been in the water.
Thanks,
Dan

 

[centerline]

It could be any number of products that you are dealing with, and possibly a quality sealent, but no matter because it can be removed.... and probably without much trouble because it obviously isnt adhered too well.

Too many people seem to have a need to put sealer some place without the thought of prepping the surface they want to seal.... and the job ends up botched.... and then they blame everything except their methods.

When you reseal it, you can seal the top of the rail, but dont apply sealer to the bottom.... any moisture that gets in under the rail must be able to drain away..

 

[Justin_NSA]

It probably wasn't one of Hunter's better ideas to have a seam below the waterline. If you remove the caulk, you may uncover a leak. You may end up redoing it. Other 290 owners will probably chime in.

 

[Sailgunner]

Same rub rail on our 2000 410. No caulk. I would remove it and not reinstall. If there is a leak in the hull joint it should be fixed.

 

[Jim 5757]

+1 on Sailgunner's response! Similar issue with our Morgan 28OI; no amount of sealer on the outside will resolve the issue of a failed hull-to-deck joint. Since we repaired that, we've had NO leaks.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Is this a factory seal or has some previous owner put it there and I can remove it?

This will give you a little more info on the subject.

http://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...previous-owner-wasnt-fix.169826/#post-1193770