Rub Rail installation

[Dale]

I have a MacGregor 26x and need to replace or reinstall my rubrail. What type of caulk or sealer do you recommend. Also there is silicone caulk in the area where the rail was; this is very difficult to remove. Got any ideas or magical solutions?

 

[Johnny Henson]

Vinyl insert

I recently replace the vinyl insert in my Catalina 22. I don't know if that's what you are considering, but it was fairly simple. The old insert simply pulled out, and the new one was installed using a heat gun to make the vinyl/rubber stay flexible. I used a putty knife to force it into the groove/slot. Catalina Direct recommends placing the replacement insert in a pail of hot water, but this does work; it cools off too quickly. No caulk was used. If you are replacing the entire rubrail, then this advice may be of no use.Johnny HensonGreenwood, MS

 

[Johnny Henson]

Correction - HOt water does not work

Correction:The pail of hot water does not work; it cools off too quickly.

 

[Jim WIllis]

Rub Rails etc

Not done this job myself, but have done someting very similar- installing vinyl weatherstripping on a slot in on a '60 Cad.1. Remove old silicone sealant with IG Pink or other of our cleaners (if you have them) otherwise use toluol.Xylene type product ("Goof off" is one)..2. Do the job on a hot day if possible, but in anycase, use a heat gun to soften the vinyl (stretches out narrow like liquorice) to get in the groove.3. The big secret is to use Spray silicone (a lubricant that actually evaporates after a while) to make the strip slide in easier.I learned a lot of this from a great upholstery shop in Mountain view CA.If you need to glue vinyl down (removing silicone first with a little carbon tet Brakeclean from CRC) there is a great product from TAP plastics.com that is actually a liquid vinyl. You can even use it glue on car mouldings that have lost their clips.ThanksJim W

 

[Justin]

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