Rub rails: To seal or not to seal?

[RON20406]

Is there a benefit to seal the upper and lower edge of an existing rubrail (where it abuts the hull) with a thin bead of sealing/bedding compound of your choice? Especially as a boat ages and the rail may not be perfectly flush in all alreas with the hull. Any comments would be appreciated. Best, Ron

 

[Bob J.]

Ron,

My sabre has a teak toe rail that's bolted thru the rub rail. Water works it's way between the deck/rub rail & leaks thru the toe rail bolts. I'm planning on sealing the upper side of the rub rail (deck side) in addition to bedding the toe rail bolts after I paint her topsides next year. I wasn't planning on sealing the bottom of the rub rail (hull side) just in case water does get in there at least it'll find its way out, hopefully not thru the toe rail bolts into the cabin.

I think this makes sense but then again it is a boat so all bets are off!

Bob

 

[r.oril]

The rub rail on my 26D had shrunk about 6 inches but on a hot day I was able to slide it back together.

 

[Jordan grant]

What boat?

Is there a benefit to seal the upper and lower edge of an existing rubrail (where it abuts the hull) with a thin bead of sealing/bedding compound of your choice? Especially as a boat ages and the rail may not be perfectly flush in all alreas with the hull. Any comments would be appreciated. Best, Ron

Ive got a mac tg s that leaks like sieve.wken it rains or I rinse with salt water. It comes lp in behind rail and thru cap/hull join andown inside liner to bilge. I need to do mine. A bead of silicon around top will probably suffice. And best to remove rail first to clean out all the accumulated crat