Transom Plastic Trim Piece

[Aldo]

Have any of you done anything creative to replace the "U" shaped piece of plastic on the stern that connects the 2 sides of the rub rail? Catalina Direct calls this piece the "Transom Trim", and sells it for $17.95. I've replaced this piece at least twice so far, and it's time to replace it again. I once saw a boat that the owner must have made this piece from teak, and that looked good, but it must have taken a little while to make, because the surface under the trim is far from flat. Anyhow, my question is have any of you done anything creative relative to this trim piece?Thanks, Aldo

 

[Ken]

agree

I agree its a flimsy piece of trim that seems overpriced, but compared to other Chandeliers every price CD has is high. Not one of the first go to places to get anything for me. You could use modeling clay to get a form of the hull under the trim then lay one up using epoxy. Or you could just use to trim ends for the rub rail, then fair and finish the area. I'm going to change out the small rub rail and will most likely do this to my own boat since there is no trim for the larger rub rail.

 

[NautiDuck]

Aldo, spend the $18

And get back to sailing. When I can replace a boat part for $18 I do a little happy dance.

 

[Bugsboat]

What are your favorites?

I have a 1990 Catalina 22 and I need other resources for parts. Can you recommend someone other than Catalina Direct?

 

[Dick of Sylvan]

Prolong Trim Life

Aldo: After you replace the trim again, you probably could prolong its life by covering it with something while the boat is unused. I've found that simply putting a paper bag over the rubber ends of my swim ladder while the boat is stored outdoors overwinter, greatly increases their lifespan. Dick

 

[NautiDuck]

Bugsboat

I am a fan of Catalina Direct for some things. They are not inexpensive but they have just about everything you could want for your C22. The thing I liked most is their kits, like the standing rigging kit. It is already fitted to your boat. Not cheap but well worth it in my book. For more generic components I go online and use google to search for the item. I currently buy from about 6-8 online stores and the prices vary greatly. I just bought an Edson pedestal guard (I now have a C250) from a place in Maine that was $90 less than any other store! I found a 300' anchor rode at one place for $170. Same rode elsewhere was $250+. These products get marked up hugely so the online stores can really cut prices. I rarely go into a boat store any more. Buying online is the answer for me.Recent purchases at:defender.cometrailer.comreddenmarine.comgo2marine.comcyber-marine.com

 

[John]

Starboard solution

I've had rapid deterioration [sun?] and a need to replace this part on both a 22 & my current 25. I finally cut a new one from some Starboard I had left over from another project. I made it heavier than original. Very satisfied.

 

[Aldo]

Thanks for all the replies

Thanks Ken, Randy, Bugsboat, Dick, and John for your replies. You had good ideas that hadn't crossed my mind. It's been plenty cold here, and we are suppose to get our first significant snowfall in a day or two. I've been working on making new covers for all of the teak on my boat from Sunbrella. I had previously made them from white Naugahyde about 15 years ago, but now it's time to replace them. I chose Sea Grass Green Sunbrella fabric this time, because I thought it would look good with the brown stripes on my boat, and I wanted to add some color, since I was tired of looking at the dirty white naugahyde covers. This project has been going well, and since I have the old covers as patterns, and I can see the areas where they were stressed and add extra material on the inside of the covers in the stressed areas, which will be where the snaps will go. I work on them a little every night. By spring, I should be ready to uncover the boat and start installing the snaps. Relative to the little plastic cover for the stern, I'll have to look at it again when I uncover the boat. As I said, I hate to spend money on something so junky. Ken: I usually spend most of my boat money at West Marine, since they have a few stores near where we keep our boat. They are convenient, and that's probabyly why we shop there. Randy: I agree, that $18 isn't much, and I not doing any sailing now, not even with our radio controlled sailboats. Dick: Your idea of covering it could work out well. I could make a cover with some of my Sunbrella scraps. Bugsboat: As I wrote above, I usually purchase boat supplies at West Marine. They were really handy last year when my son and I made a rope to wire halyard for his Hobie Cat 16. We used their crimper tool several times. We don't really spend much money on our boat. John: Your Starboard idea is good. I've never worked with that material, but I think it is similar to working with wood. I've also thought about just putting thin pieces of teak over the existing plastic piece to cover the areas that have holes in it to make it look good again.Thanks again, Aldo