Black Rub Rail Polish

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
frontier
Posts: 203
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:26 pm

Black Rub Rail Polish

Postby frontier » Tue Mar 12, 2019 6:45 am

What is the best and longest-lasting polish or treatment to use on the Boston Whaler all-black rub rails?

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Phil T
Posts: 2602
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:08 pm
Location: Was Maine. Temporarily Kentucky

Re: Best black rub rail polish?

Postby Phil T » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:18 am

No product applied is going to last a long time.

Tire dressing products are often recommended.

Some veteran members wipe the rub rail with acetone.

Personally, I don't use anything. It's a rubrail. If not damaged and worn, the boat hasn't been used.
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jimh
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Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
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Re: Black Rub Rail Polish

Postby jimh » Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:27 am

Polishing of the rub rail is only necessary when trailering the boat to a meet with other Boston Whaler owners where you will all inspect each others boat for cleanliness and shine while still on the trailer in a parking lot. Once in the water, I generally do not get sufficiently close to other Boston Whaler boats to inspect their rub rails for an indication of a reflective gleam.

Try WD40 to restore the vinyl in the rub-rail. WD40 is mostly kerosene, and it works as a restorative to black vinyl.

NLA01
Posts: 170
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:25 pm

Re: Black Rub Rail Polish

Postby NLA01 » Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:28 am

I have always used AmorAll. I would not use Acetone. It cleans it by striping a layer of the plastic off like sanding it but by dissolving it.
Archie

frontier
Posts: 203
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:26 pm

Re: Black Rub Rail Polish

Postby frontier » Tue Mar 12, 2019 4:05 pm

I wonder about using Penetrol on the rub rail - the stuff that works so well on the RPS Z legs.

Jefecinco
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Location: Gulf Shores, AL

Re: Black Rub Rail Polish

Postby Jefecinco » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:22 am

I use 303 Protective restorer for all the vinyl upholstery and the rub rail.
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dtmackey
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Re: Black Rub Rail Polish

Postby dtmackey » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:17 pm

Jefecinco wrote:I use 303 Protective restorer for all the vinyl upholstery and the rub rail.


Acetone attacks plastic, so it might be good for removal of the top layer that's damaged from the UV, but I would not use this as my go-to for annual maint. 303 ingredients are plastic safe and also contain UV protection to prevent future damage. I have a bottle and never used it, but would give this a try based on the idea that UV protection is a good idea.

D-