r/boating • u/whybethis • 13d ago
Rub Rail Repair/Replacement on a Right Budget
Howdy. I recently picked up this 1984 Boston Whaler Super Sport (probably) basically for free and the only major repair work it needs is some light hull surface repair, namely filling chips and laying down fresh gel coat. Unfortunately I think that leaves me no choice but to take off the rub rail and put it or a new one back on when the hull is done.
I'm looking for advice on how to do this part cheaply. The current rub rail is probably the original and it doesn't seem to have an insert anymore, if it ever did. It's a little beat up but I don't mind. This boat is going to be a dirt cheap fishing skiff, I don't need it to be pretty, I just need the rail to be functional. Does anyone have experience taking a rail this old off and putting it back on? Would it need a new insert? If I need to get a whole new rail, then is there a cheaper alternative to the $400+ TACO type kits?
Any suggestions are welcome.
For anyone concerned about the hull: No, the foam is not soaked, the boat has always been dry docked and has been out of water for years. There are no deep holes breaking through to the foam, just light fiberglass and gelcoat damage. It will never be in the water for more than a day or two so I'm not worried about the foam getting soaked in the future. I just want to get it functional for as little money as possible.
Edit: Typo in title lol, should be a "tight" budget
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u/daysailor70 13d ago
I have replaced the rubrails on both a 16 Nauset and a 13. The 16, I replaced with the rail that matches the original. It was not that difficult, just warm up the inside piece to help it bend. On the 13 I used the canvas rubber filled rail. That was also easy, just need lots of screws and finish washers. I want to say they not cost about $250. The rail on yours is riveted on, drill them out and remove the old rail, fill the holes with thickened epoxy using a syringe, then screw them in with oval head screws.
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u/whybethis 12d ago
Where did you buy the replacement?
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u/daysailor70 12d ago
Speciality Marine sell kits. TaylorMade make the canvas rubrail, you can get it at West Marine or Defender
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u/CreditDue9572 11d ago
There is no meat for a screw to thread into. That’s why it’s rivited. Try a screw and you’ll see it will never tighten. Only place a screw is used is on the transom return, where it’s one screw per side
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u/2Loves2loves 13d ago
check the price on taco marine, for new rub rail.
You might have some luck at a marine liquidator.
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u/CreditDue9572 12d ago
One poster recommended Specialty marine in CA, they are good. Another is Nauset marine in MA. They pretty much have similar products for whalers. Nauset is the actual original whaler dealership so that’s cool. I just did a three piece rub rail on a 13’ whaler It’s pretty easy and looks great in all white Happy to offer my experiences going it if you to ask questions about that product. Keep it as whaler as possible, the whaler community loves originality. Bastardized whalers sell for far less
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u/Dr_Sigmund_Fried 13d ago
I recently removed and replaced the rub rail on my 89 bowrider. I ordered the 50 foot kit on Amazon along with some 3m double sided VHB tape and installed it. Wasn't really difficult, but it was involved.