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Author Topic:   Alternative rubrail for a Montauk

crabby posted 06-08-2014 08:09 PM ET (US)
After owning this boat for almost 30 years it's time for a new rubrail. Rather than stay stock I would like to use something a bit more heavy duty. Does anyone here have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Paul
Binkster posted 06-09-2014 11:24 AM ET (US)
Hey Paul, I installed an original Whaler rubrail on my 13 footer 5 years ago, and it was a bit of a pain to do, but it worked out well. I also felt it wasn't as heavy duty as I would like. So now I'm at the point in my 15 footer restoration where a new rubrail needs to be installed. I thought I would go with a more heavy duty and supposedly easy to install rubrail for this boat. So I ordered and recieved a TACO FLEXABLE RUBRAIL KIT online. It looked like it would be an easy install and the price was about the same as OEM Whaler. It is a two piece deal, rubber rubrail and a rubber round insert. Lay it out in the sun till it warms up, screw it at one end of the hull, have another person stretch out the rubber rail, a couple of screws at the bow, stretch it around the other side of the hull and a and a couple more in the other side of the stern. Do this while the rubber is warm, really simple and took very little time. OK, now starting back at the stern, with a tube of 5200 run a line of the adhesive behind the rubber rail and screw it to the gunwale every six inches. Well, myself and MJ did this last Saturday, it was certainly easier than Whaler OEM, She said it looked great, I had my misgivings. So yesterday I attempted to install the rubber insert after running the electric bow light wires. Instructions say heat the insert with a heat gun, Youtube video says soften it in a pail of hot soapy water. Neither way would work. When you stretch the rubber rail it narrows the gap for the insert. I worked for a half hour got about 2 feet of insert installed. So I stand back, something is wrong, this rubrail gives the hull a different look, something maybe like a Carolina Skiff. OMG.
So I remove the entire rubrail and at the present time it sits in my garbage can waiting for pickup.
This morning I ordered a can of De-Bond Marine Formula, to remove the 5200, then I'll fill the new existing screw holes, and order OEM Whaler rubrail.
My opinion is a different rubrail will cheapen and give a Whaler a different look, not in a good way.
Thank you for giving me a place to vent my frustrations from the last couple of days.
rich
Jefecinco posted 06-09-2014 03:49 PM ET (US)
Crabby,
Have you considered the new Boston Whaler OEM rub rail for your boat?
The rub rail on my 1981 Sport 13 is, I believe, original and it's badly beaten up. I intend to replace it. I'll replace the bow light and the wiring as part of the process.
My Montauk has the current all black rubber rub rail. It's pretty heavy duty and looks like the rub rail on a small commercial boat. It's very effective and takes abuse well. I would like to use the current style rub rail on my 33 year old Sport.
I've not yet heard if this is a practical project and if it would require any modification to the Sport hull or to the new rub rail.
If anyone can advise me on this I welcome the information.
Butch
contender posted 06-09-2014 05:14 PM ET (US)
Taco Marine, look them up they make all kinds of rubrails for boats, I used this on my whaler redo Easy to put on just takes time best to have two people one to screw it in and the other to keep it tight, I pre drilled mine ever 6 inches and use stainless screws with t heads from Fastnel...good luck
contender posted 06-09-2014 08:54 PM ET (US)
Crabby check your mail for some pictures, I used a taco rub rail with a red insert
Binkster posted 06-09-2014 09:11 PM ET (US)
rich, I put that Taco rubrail on same way you did, but it looked out of place on a Whaler.
rich
Binkster posted 06-10-2014 01:22 PM ET (US)
I think if you are restoring a Whaler than obviously you need to use original or remakes of original parts, but even if you are building a custom job as I am, as far as the hull is concerned you should stay as original as possible, that means using original style rub rails and bow light. Both of these items are unique to Boston Whaler. The only deviation to the hull I made is the decals, that are now black. I bought that Taco rubrail a year ago, long before I needed it. I certainly wasn't trying to save money. I don't knoe what I was thinking. As far as interior modifications are concerned, the sky's the limit, as long as you keep the whaler integrity, and it looks like something that whaler should/would have built. Many classic Whalers interiors are uncomfortable and dated.
rich
contender posted 06-10-2014 05:38 PM ET (US)
Bink, Ill send you some pictures as well, did two whalers with the taco rubrail and a red insert, I really do not think it looks bad at all, (to each his own) and peforms well at banging on the dock pilings does not dent or hurt the rail. Check your mail...Rick
crabby posted 06-10-2014 11:30 PM ET (US)
Contender:
That looks good especially with the FLY colored hull. I wish I had the time to deal with the whole hull, but currently the rub rail is so ratty looking it will have to be done first.
I don't see that red insert on the Taco site. Do you think that rub rail would accept a three strand rope insert?
I am not concerned with a stock appearance as this boat has gone well beyond anything I would want to restore to original looks. It mostly needs to be functional since this is the boat I take into the shallows and the marsh, fish hard and beat the crap out of.
Thanks again for the thoughts guys!
Paul
contender posted 06-12-2014 01:04 PM ET (US)
The rope will fit, not sure about the size (1/2 I think) the trouble with rope it get dirty easy and it harder to clean,unless you go with black rope, Its also harded to put in, the rubber insert gives and you can stretch it if needed. I also think if you go with the rope idea, the braided would look better. I purchased my rub rail from a marine liquidation store in Palm Beach Fla, they had a couple of different colors ( white, black, red, green and blue and I think some others) inserts for the rail when I purchased it.

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Author	Topic: Alternative rubrail for a Montauk
crabby	posted 06-08-2014 08:09 PM ET (US) After owning this boat for almost 30 years it's time for a new rubrail. Rather than stay stock I would like to use something a bit more heavy duty. Does anyone here have any suggestions? Thanks in advance, Paul
Binkster	posted 06-09-2014 11:24 AM ET (US) Hey Paul, I installed an original Whaler rubrail on my 13 footer 5 years ago, and it was a bit of a pain to do, but it worked out well. I also felt it wasn't as heavy duty as I would like. So now I'm at the point in my 15 footer restoration where a new rubrail needs to be installed. I thought I would go with a more heavy duty and supposedly easy to install rubrail for this boat. So I ordered and recieved a TACO FLEXABLE RUBRAIL KIT online. It looked like it would be an easy install and the price was about the same as OEM Whaler. It is a two piece deal, rubber rubrail and a rubber round insert. Lay it out in the sun till it warms up, screw it at one end of the hull, have another person stretch out the rubber rail, a couple of screws at the bow, stretch it around the other side of the hull and a and a couple more in the other side of the stern. Do this while the rubber is warm, really simple and took very little time. OK, now starting back at the stern, with a tube of 5200 run a line of the adhesive behind the rubber rail and screw it to the gunwale every six inches. Well, myself and MJ did this last Saturday, it was certainly easier than Whaler OEM, She said it looked great, I had my misgivings. So yesterday I attempted to install the rubber insert after running the electric bow light wires. Instructions say heat the insert with a heat gun, Youtube video says soften it in a pail of hot soapy water. Neither way would work. When you stretch the rubber rail it narrows the gap for the insert. I worked for a half hour got about 2 feet of insert installed. So I stand back, something is wrong, this rubrail gives the hull a different look, something maybe like a Carolina Skiff. OMG. So I remove the entire rubrail and at the present time it sits in my garbage can waiting for pickup. This morning I ordered a can of De-Bond Marine Formula, to remove the 5200, then I'll fill the new existing screw holes, and order OEM Whaler rubrail. My opinion is a different rubrail will cheapen and give a Whaler a different look, not in a good way. Thank you for giving me a place to vent my frustrations from the last couple of days. rich
Jefecinco	posted 06-09-2014 03:49 PM ET (US) Crabby, Have you considered the new Boston Whaler OEM rub rail for your boat? The rub rail on my 1981 Sport 13 is, I believe, original and it's badly beaten up. I intend to replace it. I'll replace the bow light and the wiring as part of the process. My Montauk has the current all black rubber rub rail. It's pretty heavy duty and looks like the rub rail on a small commercial boat. It's very effective and takes abuse well. I would like to use the current style rub rail on my 33 year old Sport. I've not yet heard if this is a practical project and if it would require any modification to the Sport hull or to the new rub rail. If anyone can advise me on this I welcome the information. Butch
contender	posted 06-09-2014 05:14 PM ET (US) Taco Marine, look them up they make all kinds of rubrails for boats, I used this on my whaler redo Easy to put on just takes time best to have two people one to screw it in and the other to keep it tight, I pre drilled mine ever 6 inches and use stainless screws with t heads from Fastnel...good luck
contender	posted 06-09-2014 08:54 PM ET (US) Crabby check your mail for some pictures, I used a taco rub rail with a red insert
Binkster	posted 06-09-2014 09:11 PM ET (US) rich, I put that Taco rubrail on same way you did, but it looked out of place on a Whaler. rich
Binkster	posted 06-10-2014 01:22 PM ET (US) I think if you are restoring a Whaler than obviously you need to use original or remakes of original parts, but even if you are building a custom job as I am, as far as the hull is concerned you should stay as original as possible, that means using original style rub rails and bow light. Both of these items are unique to Boston Whaler. The only deviation to the hull I made is the decals, that are now black. I bought that Taco rubrail a year ago, long before I needed it. I certainly wasn't trying to save money. I don't knoe what I was thinking. As far as interior modifications are concerned, the sky's the limit, as long as you keep the whaler integrity, and it looks like something that whaler should/would have built. Many classic Whalers interiors are uncomfortable and dated. rich
contender	posted 06-10-2014 05:38 PM ET (US) Bink, Ill send you some pictures as well, did two whalers with the taco rubrail and a red insert, I really do not think it looks bad at all, (to each his own) and peforms well at banging on the dock pilings does not dent or hurt the rail. Check your mail...Rick
crabby	posted 06-10-2014 11:30 PM ET (US) Contender: That looks good especially with the FLY colored hull. I wish I had the time to deal with the whole hull, but currently the rub rail is so ratty looking it will have to be done first. I don't see that red insert on the Taco site. Do you think that rub rail would accept a three strand rope insert? I am not concerned with a stock appearance as this boat has gone well beyond anything I would want to restore to original looks. It mostly needs to be functional since this is the boat I take into the shallows and the marsh, fish hard and beat the crap out of. Thanks again for the thoughts guys! Paul
contender	posted 06-12-2014 01:04 PM ET (US) The rope will fit, not sure about the size (1/2 I think) the trouble with rope it get dirty easy and it harder to clean,unless you go with black rope, Its also harded to put in, the rubber insert gives and you can stretch it if needed. I also think if you go with the rope idea, the braided would look better. I purchased my rub rail from a marine liquidation store in Palm Beach Fla, they had a couple of different colors ( white, black, red, green and blue and I think some others) inserts for the rail when I purchased it.