Does anyone know where I can get a replacement for the rub rail on the cabin sides of my 1981 Hunter 33? It currently has a flat gray-colored rubber strip approx 1/4" thick and 3/4" wide that runs along the cabin sides a few inches above the port lights. It appears to be attached with some adhesive backing only, but I haven't really tried to pull it off yet.
Just getting ready to do some painting and want to remove and replace. Thanks for the help!
Since you say that you are getting ready to repaint anyway, may I suggest a potentially time saving and ascetically acceptable (or even visually improving) alternative?
That is: 1) The rubber strip is not original the Hunter teak strip from back in appx 1980 when the boat was manufactured. So a prior owner removed it and covered it up with a rubber one (yuk!). 2) Provided that your portlight frames don't leak, (and even if they do) the teak strip really really serves no purpose of function. 3) Except back in the 70's and early 80's, when customers still revered the look of old wooden boats, production manufacturers like Hunter, Catalina, Pearson, Columbia, and the like would "sprinkle" some teak onto the the new-fangled fiberglass construction. 4) So consider: Pull off the rubber strip. Don't replace. Fill and fair (with epoxy or marine grade 3M bondo) what might remain of the screw holes that originally affixed the teak strip to the edge of the cabin top above the port frames. Then paint over.
Immediately after I bought my 1980 Cherubini Hunter 36, I first thought to renew my teak strips after painting. But after standing back, I really liked the look of them not being there. Much cleaner open look. A plus is that I never need to keep sanding an re-varnishing them. Or worry about drip leaks into the cabin through the screw holes.
Attached is a picture of my "no strip" boat.
