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Author Topic:   Cleaning up a rub rail

Frank O posted 06-14-2014 10:41 PM ET (US)
Today I made an initial stab at cleaning up the rub rail on my 1995 Outrage 21. The railing has whitish streaking in many places, and as a starting point I thought I'd rub it with acetone.
On my boat, I can easily see two main visible parts of the rub rail. There is a fatter, lower part which I'm guessing would be called the rub rail insert. Above it is a thinner part -- would this be the receiver, or the L-molding? You can see these sections in the picture below:
http://www.inkbox.net/whaler/parts/rub-rail.jpg
The picture was taken *after* I'd applied the acetone. As you can see, the insert (lower section) cleaned up nicely, but the upper section is still quite streaky. Applying some elbow grease along with the acetone didn't seem to do much.
I'm wondering -- is the upper part harder to clean because it's a different kind of material? Or I wonder if on my boat it's older? (I know a shop did some work on the rub rail for me a few years back, but I'm not remembering if that included replacing the insert.)
Any suggestions on how to clear up the part that's harder to clean?

Phil T posted 06-15-2014 06:45 PM ET (US)
Have you tried wet sanding by hand?
Frank O posted 06-15-2014 07:42 PM ET (US)
Not yet -- I'd just heard that acetone works wonders on rub rails, so started with that.
I'm thinking that for sanding you'd go very fine on the grit? Would a Scotch Brite-like abrasive pad be as good a choice as sandpaper?
Jeff posted 06-15-2014 11:17 PM ET (US)
Lacquer thinner works much better on both the plastic and rubber parts of the rub rail. After a wipe down do the lacquer thinner, I usually then wipe a heavy gear lube like oil on the rub rail and finish with a 100% silicon tire polish like tire wet or Meguires tire shine.
The tire polish works great to keep up the shine.
I have also wet sanded old rub rails with 600 grit paper to bring color and then did the lacquer wipe down process. The wet sanding brought the old red rub rail on my Newport back to life.
Frank O posted 06-16-2014 01:43 AM ET (US)
Thanks, I'll give that a try next weekend.
jwestwood posted 06-16-2014 03:19 PM ET (US)
Frank: Although I have not yet tried this, I wanted to throw this out in hopes that others have tried it and might concur. There is a paint additive called Penetrol that works very well on sun damaged auto vinyl parts and on faded gelcoat. You can find it at paint retailers. I will be trying it on my rubrail and expect good results. I believe you will find that it lasts much longer than "tire shine" type products. Good luck and let me know if you try it.
Frank O posted 06-16-2014 09:47 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the idea re Penetrol. It appears, however, that it's probably not available here in California due to the VOCs. If anyone knows anything to the contrary, I'd be interested to hear.
64nauset posted 06-16-2014 11:25 PM ET (US)
Here's something
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/tire+rejuvenator.do?sortby=ourPicks
It's for tires, but I use it on hard black plastic parts on the car. It will make sun faded plastic look new and dark black again, with a very smooth and even finish. Overage onto gelcoat or paint is not problem and cleans up easily with any alcohol including cheap whiskey. Two coats makes it even darker, and shinier.
Binkster posted 06-17-2014 11:11 PM ET (US)
64, now I'm thinking of using the product you recommend on the black plastic front and rear bumpers and black plastic side trim on my 2005 Pontiac Vibe, but I don't want it to look like the trim has been painted, if you know what I mean.
rich
64nauset posted 06-18-2014 12:16 PM ET (US)
I know what you mean Mr. Binkster. This product was designed for concours show cars and it makes black plastic or tires look new and fresh. It doesn't look like paint at all, nor does it look like armorall etc. Hard to explain, but I use it on the cars and boat once a year. Be sure surface is clean and free of other dressings before application, and apply in the shade. Seriously sun-faded black trim comes back nicely and stays that way. I messed up the link so here it is again:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/tire+rejuvenator.do?sortby=ourPicks

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Author	Topic: Cleaning up a rub rail
Frank O	posted 06-14-2014 10:41 PM ET (US) Today I made an initial stab at cleaning up the rub rail on my 1995 Outrage 21. The railing has whitish streaking in many places, and as a starting point I thought I'd rub it with acetone. On my boat, I can easily see two main visible parts of the rub rail. There is a fatter, lower part which I'm guessing would be called the rub rail insert. Above it is a thinner part -- would this be the receiver, or the L-molding? You can see these sections in the picture below: http://www.inkbox.net/whaler/parts/rub-rail.jpg The picture was taken after I'd applied the acetone. As you can see, the insert (lower section) cleaned up nicely, but the upper section is still quite streaky. Applying some elbow grease along with the acetone didn't seem to do much. I'm wondering -- is the upper part harder to clean because it's a different kind of material? Or I wonder if on my boat it's older? (I know a shop did some work on the rub rail for me a few years back, but I'm not remembering if that included replacing the insert.) Any suggestions on how to clear up the part that's harder to clean?
Phil T	posted 06-15-2014 06:45 PM ET (US) Have you tried wet sanding by hand?
Frank O	posted 06-15-2014 07:42 PM ET (US) Not yet -- I'd just heard that acetone works wonders on rub rails, so started with that. I'm thinking that for sanding you'd go very fine on the grit? Would a Scotch Brite-like abrasive pad be as good a choice as sandpaper?
Jeff	posted 06-15-2014 11:17 PM ET (US) Lacquer thinner works much better on both the plastic and rubber parts of the rub rail. After a wipe down do the lacquer thinner, I usually then wipe a heavy gear lube like oil on the rub rail and finish with a 100% silicon tire polish like tire wet or Meguires tire shine. The tire polish works great to keep up the shine. I have also wet sanded old rub rails with 600 grit paper to bring color and then did the lacquer wipe down process. The wet sanding brought the old red rub rail on my Newport back to life.
Frank O	posted 06-16-2014 01:43 AM ET (US) Thanks, I'll give that a try next weekend.
jwestwood	posted 06-16-2014 03:19 PM ET (US) Frank: Although I have not yet tried this, I wanted to throw this out in hopes that others have tried it and might concur. There is a paint additive called Penetrol that works very well on sun damaged auto vinyl parts and on faded gelcoat. You can find it at paint retailers. I will be trying it on my rubrail and expect good results. I believe you will find that it lasts much longer than "tire shine" type products. Good luck and let me know if you try it.
Frank O	posted 06-16-2014 09:47 PM ET (US) Thanks for the idea re Penetrol. It appears, however, that it's probably not available here in California due to the VOCs. If anyone knows anything to the contrary, I'd be interested to hear.
64nauset	posted 06-16-2014 11:25 PM ET (US) Here's something http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/tire+rejuvenator.do?sortby=ourPicks It's for tires, but I use it on hard black plastic parts on the car. It will make sun faded plastic look new and dark black again, with a very smooth and even finish. Overage onto gelcoat or paint is not problem and cleans up easily with any alcohol including cheap whiskey. Two coats makes it even darker, and shinier.
Binkster	posted 06-17-2014 11:11 PM ET (US) 64, now I'm thinking of using the product you recommend on the black plastic front and rear bumpers and black plastic side trim on my 2005 Pontiac Vibe, but I don't want it to look like the trim has been painted, if you know what I mean. rich
64nauset	posted 06-18-2014 12:16 PM ET (US) I know what you mean Mr. Binkster. This product was designed for concours show cars and it makes black plastic or tires look new and fresh. It doesn't look like paint at all, nor does it look like armorall etc. Hard to explain, but I use it on the cars and boat once a year. Be sure surface is clean and free of other dressings before application, and apply in the shade. Seriously sun-faded black trim comes back nicely and stays that way. I messed up the link so here it is again: http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/tire+rejuvenator.do?sortby=ourPicks