Rub Rail

[W.P. Smith]

Hello,
I'm a new Hunter 410 owner. Does anyone have any experience in removing the rub rail. I'm currently 000s of miles from the boat, in need of replacing two chain plates that requires removing the rub rail to accomplish. From a distance it appears to me that an 'end cap' should be found at the bow of the boat. After the caps removal, I'm thinking the rail may be pulled off the keeper all the way around the hull. All responses will be greatly appreciated.

W.P. Smith

 

[Sailgunner]

I plan to remove mine at the stern to fix the deck to hull joint. You need to heat the rubber to remove it. It might come off if you try as suggested from the bow back. The other thing I plan to do is remove the metal that is screwed on the rub rail. Mine has peeled back at midship after several encounters with wood pilings when going into marinas. Why the heck Hunter put the metal joint at midship beats the heck out of me.

 

[W.P. Smith]

So if I understand you correctly, your plan is, heat the rail while pulling from the stern ( forming a rub rail 'U' at the stern ). I agree, the metal strip seems to be a unnecessary attempt at a cosmetic enhancement. Are you planning to perform this job soon? If so, please let me know how you make out, I'll do the same however, I'm considering delaying the project until I have good intel.

Thanks for your reply,

W.P. Smith

 

[Sailgunner]

Plan to pull the boat around July 5-7. Will work on it then.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

take a photo of your rail and address appropriate removal to Al Fooks with this site. He will know.

 

[viper]

The metal strip is not just cosmetic..... Hunter did not go to the cost and labor of a screw every so many inches for cosmetics.... Heck, the rubber rub rail is not very cosmetic to start with and new models come w/o... It is however very practical.

I just had my entire rub rail replaced (almost 6k with labor). 90 plus feet of continuous heavy rubber (break is at bow as mentioned.. ), that expands and contracts with temperature which varies port to starboard sides in the sun....

Pullling that much rubber tight enough to stay on the Keep, is not easy, especially if installed in the spring in 75 degrees , and then a summer day comes along at 95. My stern does not have the stainless strip at all on the stern. Its too loose w/o any stainless to hold it on... so we are having to add some stainless back there to keep it from coming off in your hand when you grab on from the RIB...

Regards

 

[Hunter Ad Bot]

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Rub rail for Hunter sailboats

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[Crazy Dave Condon]

Like I said contact Al Fooks on this one. He used to build them.

 

[DSqr]

I just had the rub rail replaced on my H376. They started at the bow and worked their way around the boat. It was a bear of a job, that left wrinkles in the rub rail. After working on it for almost 2 weeks, someone came up with the bright idea of using a fork lift to pull the ends at the bow. I now have the smoothest rub rail on Lake Michigan.