Sticky Rub Rail WEFCO 187-1 Where to Find and Installation

I thought I'd pass along this tip. My marine fiberglass/paint guy installed my rubrail (Wefco Rubber No. 187-1) at my house with me. I would not have known how to do this properly if he had not been there.

First, we heated the rub rail by placing it under a tarp with a space heater for 2 hours. Then, we secured one end of the rub rail at the stern. Next, he draped the rub rail across the deck and secured it with a ss screw at the bow. Next, he STRETCHED the rub rail out and onto the side. This makes it tight and it gets tighter as it cools. Then, on the opposite side, he draped the rubrail over the deck again and secured it at the stern. Once again, we had to pull and stretch the rubrail so that it snapped in place along the side. After all the screws are put in, the insert needs to be fitted into the rub rail. This was done by spraying WD-40 into the groove all the way around the rubrail. In addition, he sprayed the black insert with WD-40 while feeding it into the slot at one back corner of the boat while I pulled the insert through the track, around the boat, with a snub-nosed vice grip pliers. Finally, we cut off the excess at the stern and installed the corner caps.

Worked like a charm.

Hope this info can help others.

You can Find Wefco at http://wefcorubber.com

Daniel (2Mercs)

 

Re: Rub Rail Installation

Daniel

I'm glad you brought that up. Two more things.

My fiberglass/paint guy told me that the best way to clean the rubrail is with Acetone. Mine was very dirty after we installed it and he carefully (don't get it on the paint/fiberglass) cleaned the rub rail with Acetone. It makes it look like brand new.

Also - another tip - he told me to use a carnauba wax on the rubrail and it will help keep it clean and white. I haven't tried doing that yet but that's what he told me to do.

MarkBano

 

Re: Rub Rail Installation

Daniel,

Are you going to pull the deck when you do the transom?

jim

 

Re: Rub Rail Installation

I wish you were located closer by. I'd love to help you out with the project. Anyway, you've got my road-map already and I'm just a phone call away. Since your boat is a 1973 like mine, everything is likely to be identical.


It would probably be worthwhile to chat before you start on it because I can probably expand on a few things that will help you get it done more quickly. I was learning as I went so it was a bit slower process for me.

 

Re: Rub Rail Installation

Daniel,

I'm curious to know where it bowed? Is it all the way across including under the aft deck? Or, is it just in the motor cutout area. Are there any cracks?

A picture would be great and help me analyze the load paths in that transom.

jim

 

Looks exactly like mine did, if you go back and look at my first pictures during the disassembly of my boat.