13-footer: Rub Rail Removal Problem

[sk3nelson]

The rub rail on my 13-footer is difficult to removed because there are pins and screws that do not have a head on them that would allow the pin or screw to be unscrewed. These pins or screws have a small round hole in the top,

Q1: what are these pins or screws?

Q2: how can pins and screws that retain the rub rail on a 13-footer that do not have a head be removed?

[macfam]

[The pins or screws that have a small hole in them] are rivets. Drill them out. Fill holes with MarineTex. Replace with stainless screws.

[jimh]

The rub rail on my 13-footer...

When asking for advice about a problem on a particular Boston Whaler boat, please include the model year (in four digits) and any other designator for the boat such as its model name, for example, SPORT, STANDARD, SUPER SPORT, and so on.

Since you have not provided the model year of your 13-footer, readers will have to speculate about its year of manufacture.

In initial manufacture of most classic-era Boston Whaler boats, the plastic track for the vinyl RUB RAIL was secured to the hull using aluminum pop-rivets.

To remove the rub rail plastic track from the hull, the head of the rivet must be drilled out. The internal portion of the rivet remains embedded in the hull. Generally this portion cannot be removed without causing a larger hole to be created. Generally the remaining shaft of the rivet is cut off to be flush so as not to interfere with replacement of the plastic rub rail receiver track. The existing holes can be filled with a good sealant or an epoxy resin mixed with filler material.

Questions about replacement of the rub rail on classic-era Boston Whaler boats are among the most commonly asked. See the FAQ in the REFERENCE section for further advice on this topic. Reading the entire FAQ is recommended for anyone new to Boston Whaler classic-era boats.

VIsit the REFERENCE section and read the FAQ:

https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/

The FAQ answer concerning rub rails is given at

https://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q13

Note that the article about replacement of rub rails was written 23 years ago, so the costs mentioned and sources may no longer be completely up to date.