This might be a "stoopid" question....But I am ignorant, so bear with me... The older McGregors used the rubrail bolts to join the deck to the hull. (I assume the newer ones do too...) I realise that this may have been a simple way to join them in a production minded manner...(fast and durable). The current issue of Good Old Boat, has an article about a "fender-esque" style rubrail that you would just deploy when you got to a dock. Which got me thinking, and leads us to my question...Would the boat be more sturdy and solid, if the deck to hull join was glassed in (inside and out), instead of using a mechanical join? I think that there might be some strengthening from the rubrail itself...But I don't know... I am having to replace a large section of rubrail on the starboard side, not to mention all of the other things to do... so now would be the time to do away with it altogether if it is a good idea...(and with it sectioned on the starboard side, it might not help strengthen the hull as much as it once did, anyway.) Any thoughts?
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clearly the deck to hull would be stronger if glassed... in addition to thru bolts. IIRC, macgregor used 5200 at that seal, and the many thru bolts. I would not recommend NOT using the thru bolts, but you could glass the section(s) inaddition to the bolts. of course your problem would be finishing the bolt heads. with no rub rail to hide the old heads. rub rails are not that expensive, unless you have lots of free time.... I'd buy new rub rails to hide the heads... (plus how would you re-tighten them) (imho of course) fwiw, leaks are a big problem on that seal... life calk or similar would be my choice.
clearly the deck to hull would be stronger if glassed... in addition to thru bolts. IIRC, macgregor used 5200 at that seal, and the many thru bolts. I would not recommend NOT using the thru bolts, but you could glass the section(s) inaddition to the bolts. of course your problem would be finishing the bolt heads. with no rub rail to hide the old heads. rub rails are not that expensive, unless you have lots of free time.... I'd buy new rub rails to hide the heads... (plus how would you re-tighten them) (imho of course) fwiw, leaks are a big problem on that seal... life calk or similar would be my choice.
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