Rubbing edge return to normal

E

east coaster

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Apr 10, 2010
142
Catalina 310 166 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
The photo illustrates my problem. Had to remove the rubber part (rubbing edge to me) to repair underlying Fiberglass, now have to get it back in position without destroying it or distorting the grey rubber. No it was not cut, simply pulled out of its aluminum frame to allow full access to complete the repair. How to attach something to the rubber and get it back in the aluminum guide. Waiting for a warm day here in Nova Scotia to help with pliability and stretch. Yesterday was 70 F and today is 45F with rain showers. Your suggestions are appreciated, thank you.20260612_131332.jpg
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
14,002
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The only solution is heat and tension. Gently warm the rubber with a heat gun, being careful to avoid burning or scorching it. The rubber has contracted along its whole length back to the last anchor point and will need to be warmed back to that spot. With the boat in the water, it will be more difficult.

I did this once on a Tanzer 22 which has a sizable rubber rub rail. We did it on the hard with me warming the rub rail and the biggest guys in the marina pulling on it. I was afraid we were going to pull the boat off of its cradle.
 
E

east coaster

.
Apr 10, 2010
142
Catalina 310 166 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Thank you both. Fortunately the boat is secured starboard side to the dock which simplifies to some extent the operation.
 
M

max_sailing

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Jul 28, 2024
73
Catalina 310 238 Berkeley, CA
I installed all ~60' of that same sized rub rail on my Catalina 25'. I started by soaking in a bucket of hot water, but that didn't work - it cooled too quickly. Heat gun was the trick. I never experienced any melting or burning, despite some liberal application of heat. I'd heat up about 2' at a time, snap it in, and then move on.

Good luck!
 
Indysailor

Indysailor

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Oct 10, 2009
1,093
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
I did something similar a long time ago. Gentle heat worked, I just put it in a black garbage bag in the sun for an hour, but a heat gun should do it. One thing- the joint where old meets new will fill with gunk and crud.Consider screws to keep the joint in place and black caulk to seal. If done well it won't look too horrible, but compares well to constantly dealing with a mess at the joint.
 
sailme88

sailme88

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Jan 19, 2010
1,368
Catalina 34 Casco Bay
I replaced the entire rub rail a few years ago. Catalina Direct suggested a bucket of hot water to soak the rubber in. The bucket gig was a flop... Heat gun worked the best. The use of liquid soap was a bad idea.. Hand also got slippery , TOO SLIPPERY.. It was done on the hard using staging. Couldn't imagine trying to do this on the water as it takes a lot of pushing, thus reaction ...
 
Richard19068

Richard19068

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Jun 11, 2004
1,918
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
east coaster said:
How to attach something to the rubber and get it back in the aluminum guide.
Click to expand
That's really the question. I had a similar issue a while ago although not quite as long of a stretch as yours.

I assume the rubber rub rail is a bit convex and has a hollow area on the inside (against the boat). I might suggest trying to get the thickest piece of rope you can through that hole and tie a loop to it. Then you can apply the heat gun along the length of rub rail while someone pulls back the rope applying enough tension to stretch it out without distorting the hole.

My problem was a few times I got it stretched out enough but when the tension was taken off it contracted too fast for me to get the retaining screw in place. I needed someone to hold the rubber in place to keep that happening and eventually got it.

Good luck.
 
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