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Author Topic:   Rubrail replacement.....the hard way!

Bigshot posted 11-25-2002 12:28 PM ET (US)
Not that it was that hard to replace, the center section is very hard or should I say stiff.
Pat(Swellmonster) called around 10:00 and said he was swinging down. About 11:00 he was close. 10 phonecalls later he was in my canal....STUCK. The tide was out, WAY out. Well since he was stuck and I had a case of beer, why not install a rubrail? I got up early saturday and it was really windy so I ventured outside and started ripping off my rubrail. I removed all the old rivets with pliers or a drill and filled the holes with 5200 fastdry(my eye). Pat then marked where the old holes were so we would not drill there. With 3 people it was not that bad once you got started. The inner tan piece and the outer black insert are very maluable. The center section is like cement in a coil. The trick was, being we could not find any clamps and hairdryers do NOTHING, is to have one person holding the inner piece on and the center piece straight(Pat). My Father(Nick) held the immediate section(2') straight and flush. My friend Brian(just on the bow) stepped on the top to keep it down. I(Nick) drilled and then pop riveted the rail on. We did the rivets about every 8-10" down the sides. the bow we did about every 3". While we were at it I ran new wire for the lights. The whole project took about 5 hours but it looks factory fresh. Really spuces up the boat nicely. We used every rivet as well. I then changed my oil and fixed my speedo pickup and was able to use the boat Sunday. Winter projects....I hate them!
I wish to thank Pat, my parents, my wife, Brian, Twin Cities marine for the rubrail, Phillip Morris for the smokes and the Miller Lite, and the fire ants who went out of town for the day being not 1 bite.
JimU posted 11-25-2002 03:08 PM ET (US)
One way you can keep tension on the rubrail is to use a ratchet tie down. Tie it off to a a stationary object and pull tight. Beats having a person hold it. My bride showed me how after refusing to be my mule on a similar project.
David Jenkins posted 11-26-2002 06:45 AM ET (US)
What type of wire did you use for your lights?
Bigshot posted 11-26-2002 08:55 AM ET (US)
Trailer light wire. The one that comes with the kit that you rarely use because your wiring is still good just that your lights are rotting off....yeah that one. I used the nice green/brown one. Perfect length and duplicate of original wire.
Swellmonster posted 11-26-2002 03:59 PM ET (US)
We used thick aluminum pop rivets.
I thought we ran that wire to hook up some speakers to listen to Buffet music going down the river....;')

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Author	Topic: Rubrail replacement.....the hard way!
Bigshot	posted 11-25-2002 12:28 PM ET (US) Not that it was that hard to replace, the center section is very hard or should I say stiff. Pat(Swellmonster) called around 10:00 and said he was swinging down. About 11:00 he was close. 10 phonecalls later he was in my canal....STUCK. The tide was out, WAY out. Well since he was stuck and I had a case of beer, why not install a rubrail? I got up early saturday and it was really windy so I ventured outside and started ripping off my rubrail. I removed all the old rivets with pliers or a drill and filled the holes with 5200 fastdry(my eye). Pat then marked where the old holes were so we would not drill there. With 3 people it was not that bad once you got started. The inner tan piece and the outer black insert are very maluable. The center section is like cement in a coil. The trick was, being we could not find any clamps and hairdryers do NOTHING, is to have one person holding the inner piece on and the center piece straight(Pat). My Father(Nick) held the immediate section(2') straight and flush. My friend Brian(just on the bow) stepped on the top to keep it down. I(Nick) drilled and then pop riveted the rail on. We did the rivets about every 8-10" down the sides. the bow we did about every 3". While we were at it I ran new wire for the lights. The whole project took about 5 hours but it looks factory fresh. Really spuces up the boat nicely. We used every rivet as well. I then changed my oil and fixed my speedo pickup and was able to use the boat Sunday. Winter projects....I hate them! I wish to thank Pat, my parents, my wife, Brian, Twin Cities marine for the rubrail, Phillip Morris for the smokes and the Miller Lite, and the fire ants who went out of town for the day being not 1 bite.
JimU	posted 11-25-2002 03:08 PM ET (US) One way you can keep tension on the rubrail is to use a ratchet tie down. Tie it off to a a stationary object and pull tight. Beats having a person hold it. My bride showed me how after refusing to be my mule on a similar project.
David Jenkins	posted 11-26-2002 06:45 AM ET (US) What type of wire did you use for your lights?
Bigshot	posted 11-26-2002 08:55 AM ET (US) Trailer light wire. The one that comes with the kit that you rarely use because your wiring is still good just that your lights are rotting off....yeah that one. I used the nice green/brown one. Perfect length and duplicate of original wire.
Swellmonster	posted 11-26-2002 03:59 PM ET (US) We used thick aluminum pop rivets. I thought we ran that wire to hook up some speakers to listen to Buffet music going down the river....;')