Discolored rubrail

[Patti Summers]

Our 1987 Cat 27 has a dark yellow looking rubrail. We are not sure what color it was when new but it looks awful now. I know it can be replaced (not easily or inexpensively) so before we do that, does anyone know if it can be recolored or painted. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Walt]

Try Acetone

Try cleaning the rub rail with acetone. Use lots of rags and don't get it on the hull or topsides. That will remove all kinds of grease and crud.

 

[LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners]

Brushing thinner

I tried acetone on my rubrail - it worked...eventually. Then someone suggested brushing thinner. It worked instantly and beautifully. WARNING: Brushing thinner is nasty stuff, so keep a couple pair of rubber gloves nearby. The stuff eats right through them after a little while. Maybe chemical gloves would be a better choice. But you will be amazed at the difference it makes with very little rubbing. Don't let it get on anything else and keep it out of the water. It's also very cheap.LaDonnaPS: Your rubrail is supposed to be a yellow color. Mine was all chalky & blackened, now looks new!

 

[Amy]

New Rubrail Better

I just replaced my old yellow rubrail on my Catalina 34, due to hurricane damage, with nice, new gray rubrail straight from the Catalina manufactures. Remarkably, it was far cheaper than I expected, about $80 for the entire boat. (Compare that to the catalog prices of rubrail in West Marine or Boat US.) As far as installation, I had it done in a boat yard, but it was apparently not difficult. It slips right into the old tracks. All you need is a rubber mallet. And the difference it made in the appearance of my boat was worth every cent!

 

[Erik]

If it's not damaged, but only discolored...

Seapower Inflatable Boat Cleaner works very well on grey rubber rubrails. I use it every few months on mine. It also conditions the rubber to keep it soft. I got the cleaner from West Marine.

 

[Peter Clancy]

Try Goof Off!

The Home Depot and many paint stores carry a product called Goof Off. Painters use it to remove dried latex paint from carpets, etc. It works quite well on rub rails and lifelines and is inexpensive.