CONTINUOUSWAVE

How is the black outer piece of the rub rail removed on a 1987 17-footer?

The black "insert" is slid into the white "receiver".

The navigation lamp wiring is in the gap between the two.

The black insert is vinyl. Warming the vinyl will make it much more pliable. The more pliable the black vinyl insert in the rub rail becomes, the more easily it can be gently pried out from the receiver or pushed back into place in the receiver.

Most thermoplastic material loses rigidity with increasing temperature.

To warm the black vinyl insert in a rub rail, a electrically operates hot air gun can be used.

Working on removal or replacement of the black vinyl insert in the rub rail on a warm and sunny day will naturally warm the vinyl and reduce the amount of heating needed with a hot air gun.

A typical warm air hair dryer works well for warming the black vinyl rub rail insert in a 1987 Boston Whaler boat.

Take care not to overheat the black vinyl rub rail insert if a powerful high-wattage hot air gun is used.

I know this may seem silly to mention but you need to remove the insert starting from the stern where it ends.