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Author Topic:   Older 13 footer 3 piece rub rail

Vic633 posted 11-26-2008 10:10 AM ET (US)
Is there a trick to getting the black rubber portion back into the track or do you just muscle it. I have taken off a portion of my rub rail to run wires and finding it very difficult to place back. I've used heat and a screwdriver to try and force it but the plastic seems to rigid to want to compress. My other issue is i have cracked some of the moulding trying to force the rubber back. Would it be easier to start over with a new rub rail. I have seen some on eBay but they are close to 2 hundred dollars shipped. Are there other products out there that (although not original "gasp") might work just as well?
as always,, thanks for your help
Victoria.

Tom W Clark posted 11-26-2008 10:28 AM ET (US)
Victoria,
Usually a little heat from a hair dryer or heat gun will soften the black insert and with a little tension and soapy water it should pop back in with no trouble.
However, the age of the rub rail insert and receiver track may the reason why you are having difficulty. All plastics become stiff and brittle with age.
The rub rail kits sold on Ebay are often terrible deals. The kit for a 13 should only cost about $100 from a Whaler dealer. Call Sue Lodel at Twin Cites Marine; she'll give you the very best price of all:
http://twincitiesmarine.com/
macfam posted 11-26-2008 09:59 PM ET (US)
In addition to what Tom wrote, I also add a rubber hammer to tap the black insert into place.
jimh posted 11-28-2008 01:07 PM ET (US)
Information about installation of rub rail inserts is given in the REFERENCE section in an article on that topic:
Rub Rail Replacement
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/rubRail.html
The article mentions the use of a heat gun to soften the receiver track. The vinyl insert can also be heated and softened prior to installation. The flexibility and pliability of these vinyl and plastic components varies with their temperature, and it is highly influenced by the ambient temperature. If working on a hot summer day in the 90-degree range and in direct sunlight where the black vinyl will become quite warm, a heat gun may not be necessary. On the other hand, if working in a cold garage in the middle of winter, a heat gun will be a necessity.
Vic633 posted 11-28-2008 07:48 PM ET (US)
Thanks for all your help, the heat gun on the black portion of the rub rail was the key, that and a little elbow grease and a few chipped nails later and its all back in one piece.
Thanks again.

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Author	Topic: Older 13 footer 3 piece rub rail
Vic633	posted 11-26-2008 10:10 AM ET (US) Is there a trick to getting the black rubber portion back into the track or do you just muscle it. I have taken off a portion of my rub rail to run wires and finding it very difficult to place back. I've used heat and a screwdriver to try and force it but the plastic seems to rigid to want to compress. My other issue is i have cracked some of the moulding trying to force the rubber back. Would it be easier to start over with a new rub rail. I have seen some on eBay but they are close to 2 hundred dollars shipped. Are there other products out there that (although not original "gasp") might work just as well? as always,, thanks for your help Victoria.
Tom W Clark	posted 11-26-2008 10:28 AM ET (US) Victoria, Usually a little heat from a hair dryer or heat gun will soften the black insert and with a little tension and soapy water it should pop back in with no trouble. However, the age of the rub rail insert and receiver track may the reason why you are having difficulty. All plastics become stiff and brittle with age. The rub rail kits sold on Ebay are often terrible deals. The kit for a 13 should only cost about $100 from a Whaler dealer. Call Sue Lodel at Twin Cites Marine; she'll give you the very best price of all: http://twincitiesmarine.com/
macfam	posted 11-26-2008 09:59 PM ET (US) In addition to what Tom wrote, I also add a rubber hammer to tap the black insert into place.
jimh	posted 11-28-2008 01:07 PM ET (US) Information about installation of rub rail inserts is given in the REFERENCE section in an article on that topic: Rub Rail Replacement http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/rubRail.html The article mentions the use of a heat gun to soften the receiver track. The vinyl insert can also be heated and softened prior to installation. The flexibility and pliability of these vinyl and plastic components varies with their temperature, and it is highly influenced by the ambient temperature. If working on a hot summer day in the 90-degree range and in direct sunlight where the black vinyl will become quite warm, a heat gun may not be necessary. On the other hand, if working in a cold garage in the middle of winter, a heat gun will be a necessity.
Vic633	posted 11-28-2008 07:48 PM ET (US) Thanks for all your help, the heat gun on the black portion of the rub rail was the key, that and a little elbow grease and a few chipped nails later and its all back in one piece. Thanks again.