Rub Rail replacement

Mar 1, 2016
274
Oday 28 Tracy's Landing
I have a 1984 Oday 28. the prior owner replaced the rub rail with a teak rub rail that needs maintenance. I've been considering putting an original rubber type rub rail for lower maintenance and better bumping protection. Would appreciate advice on how to take on such a job.
 
Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Just do some generic research on after-market replacements. When I was doing this job for my C-22 I didn't want a aluminum channel with stainless screws like the original. I found that there are many aftermarket substitutes that use a plastic track with rubber insert. My local chandlery had a bunch of sample sections so you could look at the profile of the various sections they offer. The best deal would be to look online for purchase. Most are made for powerboats, but as long as you have the right surface contour they should mount up easily. Once you find out what companies make a variety of styles go to the websites where you'll see how they function and install. Get a long tape measure to see how many lineal feet you will need.
FYI, I ended up reinstalling my original aluminum channel on the C22 because a replacement rubber insert was available for $99, I used 3M 4000 UV to bed the rail and screws hoping to avoid future corrosion. Most of the after market options I priced out were at least $400 for 50 lineal feet.
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Paint the teak with Brightsides that matches your topsides.
 
Feb 26, 2004
22,986
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Rubrails shouldn't have to do any "work." That's what fenders are for. :)
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Rubrails shouldn't have to do any "work." That's what fenders are for.
More Haiku! - Fenders shouldn't have to do any work. That is what dock lines are for. :D

There is nothing more satisfying than taking a glancing blow off the fuel dock and knowing your rub rail is getting a nice buff-out!
Here is what I did. Probably not in your budget but the rubrail still looks like new years later.
 
Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Paint the teak with Brightsides that matches your topsides.
That's actually a good idea, it's often recommended to distance cruisers who are going to the tropics and don't want to deal with teak maintenance. The only thing I would add is that you seal the teak in epoxy first, sand with 120 and varnish it (but you only need two or 3 coats, not 8), then your prime and paint with Brightsides. That way, years later, the paint can easily be stripped from the teak and it is not soaked with paint into the grain. Preserves resale value if the teak can be restored to 'brightwork'.
Because I over-engineer everything... I would remove the teak rub-rails all together so they can be fully sanded and cleaned prior to epoxy sealing on all sides as well as within the screw holes. Then varnish and give it several weeks to cure (you'd be surprised at how long varnish stays soft). It sounds long and tedious, but you'd be way better off doing this indoors over the winter rather than on the boat. Another bonus... I'm not sure how your deck is secured to the hull, but if there is an overlap flange it will collect dirt, grime, and mold up behind it. With the rubrails removed you have a great opportunity to wire brush out that gap and fill/level with 3M 4200 (which can be sanded). Also, epoxy pot the screw holes. Doing all this with fresh bedding compound when the rails go back on ensures no leaks from the screws.
 
Jul 26, 2009
291
. . .
If you decide to go down the replacement route, give Rudy at D&R a call. Not only can he supply you with the OEM rub rails, he can probably tell you how to go about it too.

No affiliation, just a happy customer from years past.

http://www.drmarine.com/default.asp
 
Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Great idea. Have you done that?
Not on my boat, LOL... I actually took all my teak brightwork off and replaced it with King Starboard milled replacement pieces. I have seen more than one Westsail 32 with painted brightwork, one is here at my club on Harbor Island. That boat has miles of teak and other brightwork, almost all of it is painted. This is challenging to do it tastefully with the color scheme of the boat, the one I am talking about is actually mostly pastel colors but it looks really cool like it belongs in Bermuda or the Bahamas.
 
Sep 6, 2015
110
Unknown snipe delaware bay
+1 on starboard or other similar material. I stripped off all the teak on my snipe and routered/milled replacements out of synthetic material.
Eric
 
Apr 26, 2015
663
S2 26 Mid On Trailer
If you do replace it and the 28 is like a 23 with the hull to deck joint under the rub rail, check the joint and reseal where required. I had water in the bilge only when I washed the hull and it was coming in when I sprayed water from below the rub rail when on the trailer. I spent a few hours with a hawkbill knife removing the old dried out caulk. Then I made a nozzle for a tube of 5200 that would get the caulk in the crack under some pressure. No more leaks. I also smoothed out some high spots in the flange so the new rub rail fit better than the original.
 
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NYSail

.
Jan 6, 2006
3,136
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
As berner said d & r will have exactly what was there. I replaced my original rub rail when bought the boat. Able to seal the deck hull joint as well. Worth the time and looks great! And takes a beating.......
 

CYQK

.
Sep 11, 2009
592
beneteau first 42 kenora
Second what gunni did for a rub rail
Stu glad your perfect and don't ever anticipate the need (WHAT!)
Bottom line is balance what you want it is a good idea with your budget and app
Gary
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,376
-na -NA Anywhere USA
Taco Marine is a major supplier and manufacturer of rub rail for many companies. Cannot remember the others but as pointed out, can be expensive.
 
Oct 9, 2020
6
Oday 27 Gibsons Landing
If you do replace it and the 28 is like a 23 with the hull to deck joint under the rub rail, check the joint and reseal where required. I had water in the bilge only when I washed the hull and it was coming in when I sprayed water from below the rub rail when on the trailer. I spent a few hours with a hawkbill knife removing the old dried out caulk. Then I made a nozzle for a tube of 5200 that would get the caulk in the crack under some pressure. No more leaks. I also smoothed out some high spots in the flange so the new rub rail fit better than the original.
LeeandRick

I have an ODay 27 that leaks in heavy rain that I suspect is coming in via the hull and deck joint. When you replaced the rubber rub rail did you also replace the white plastic rub rail rigid holder or did you reuse it?
 
Apr 26, 2015
663
S2 26 Mid On Trailer
LeeandRick

I have an ODay 27 that leaks in heavy rain that I suspect is coming in via the hull and deck joint. When you replaced the rubber rub rail did you also replace the white plastic rub rail rigid holder or did you reuse it?
We pulled the entire rail off, dug out any loose caulk, scraped the joint, and then re-caulked with 5200, and replaced the plastic rail and the insert. Drilled the holes in new locations when we replaced the rub rail holder. Never had another leak. We noticed it leaking mostly when we washed the boat and sprayed from below because a previous owner had put silicone on top of the rub rail. We un-rolled the rub rail in the sun to let it straighten but still needed a heat gun around the tight bends.
 
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