Fixing rubber rub rail

feb · 07-23-2010, 02:04 PM

I have the typical black rubber rub rail in a stainless channel around my boat. In a couple of areas, the rubber rail has slightly popped out of the channel a couple inches here and there.

Any tricks on how to get it back in to the channel? I've tried squeezing the heck out of it but seems to require more grip than I can give it.

Slickcraft · 07-23-2010, 02:35 PM

I used a good size screwdriver blade as a tool. Compress then slide one side into the channel. Then repeat for the other side.

Over time the black rubber popped back out more frequently. Finally I had the rub rail replaced with a solid stainless steel design.

jrc · 07-23-2010, 03:00 PM

We used a rubber mallet and lubed the rubber with dish soap. If it gets real bad you might have to pull it out starting at a seam and work it back in. In this case it will always be too long to fit back and you have to cut the end.

Ron's Fiberglassing USA · 07-23-2010, 03:15 PM

Take a heat gun along with a reg screw driver. Please don't over heat insert.

NoBozo · 07-23-2010, 03:18 PM

Without seeing the rubrail it's hard to say what would work. As a guess, get a piece of wood... say 3 inches long, by an inch and a half wide, by 3/16 inch thick and shape one end into a dull chisel shape. The wood grain running lengthwise.

Get a cup of warm water with a generous squirt of dish washing liquid and mix it up. Use an old paintbrush.

Now soap up the rubrail ...and hammer the rubber back into the channel with the wooden chisel using a rubber mallet. The Soap is the KEY. You could also lather it up with a bar of hand soap as well.

NB

robmac · 07-23-2010, 04:06 PM

I agree lots of diluted soap or silicone spray ( if boat is on trailer ) and push one side in first then with a rubber or deadblow mallet tap it in place. I try to get the bottom in first so I am tapping downward to softly knock it into the channel.

07-23-2010, 02:04 PM	#1
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 209 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Fixing rubber rub rail I have the typical black rubber rub rail in a stainless channel around my boat. In a couple of areas, the rubber rail has slightly popped out of the channel a couple inches here and there. Any tricks on how to get it back in to the channel? I've tried squeezing the heck out of it but seems to require more grip than I can give it.

07-23-2010, 02:35 PM	#2
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and West Alton Posts: 3,218 Thanks: 1,174 Thanked 2,002 Times in 915 Posts	I used a good size screwdriver blade as a tool. Compress then slide one side into the channel. Then repeat for the other side. Over time the black rubber popped back out more frequently. Finally I had the rub rail replaced with a solid stainless steel design.

07-23-2010, 03:00 PM	#3
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	We used a rubber mallet and lubed the rubber with dish soap. If it gets real bad you might have to pull it out starting at a seam and work it back in. In this case it will always be too long to fit back and you have to cut the end.

07-23-2010, 03:15 PM	#4
Ron's Fiberglassing USA Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Take a heat gun along with a reg screw driver. Please don't over heat insert.

07-23-2010, 03:18 PM	#5
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Without seeing the rubrail it's hard to say what would work. As a guess, get a piece of wood... say 3 inches long, by an inch and a half wide, by 3/16 inch thick and shape one end into a dull chisel shape. The wood grain running lengthwise. Get a cup of warm water with a generous squirt of dish washing liquid and mix it up. Use an old paintbrush. Now soap up the rubrail ...and hammer the rubber back into the channel with the wooden chisel using a rubber mallet. The Soap is the KEY. You could also lather it up with a bar of hand soap as well. NB

07-23-2010, 04:06 PM	#6
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	I agree lots of diluted soap or silicone spray ( if boat is on trailer ) and push one side in first then with a rubber or deadblow mallet tap it in place. I try to get the bottom in first so I am tapping downward to softly knock it into the channel.