The front Bow plate fell off, I purchased a new one but in the mean time the rub rail shrank back abut 6 inches. The rub rails are in good shape but need some attention. I have tried to stretch them back Do I need to buy new ones or is there a trick to getting them back into position.
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j177/ehall686/Sail%20Boat/P6030333_zpssalwvb3w.jpg) (http://s80.photobucket.com/user/ehall686/media/Sail%20Boat/P6030333_zpssalwvb3w.jpg.html)
I'm still making repairs even the boat is still up for sale.
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=8562.0
It takes heat and force. Wait for a hot, sunny day, then clamp a c-clamp or vise grips to the end of the rub rail, and use at least a 2:1 block and tackle rig (boom vang works well, if you have one) attached to a tree or something equally immovable to tighten and stretch the rub rail. You should have no problem stretching it several inches beyond the original length. Then clamp it to the hull to deck joint a few inches from the end, redrill the holes and bolt it on.
When the rub rail gets old enough, it does get stiff and much harder to stretch. Hutchins will sell you nice new rail by the foot, at a reasonable price. I replaced my original 1988 rub rail and was glad I did.
Wes
Yeah, Wes is spot on. In my case, I used a heat gun and a block and tackle to stretch mine back on. Watch for spring back when you try to bolt it again.
Al
I did not think of the winch trick, C clamps so it does not pull out at the other end I would think. Should I use some 3M 4200 for an adhesive to help keep it in place after the stretching?
I looked on my price list and the PVC rubrail is $2.78 a foot it work out to 120 bucks (buying a couple extra feet ) not bad but I think that I will try to get it back into place first.
Eric
Thanks for the reply
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=8562.0
Opinions on using adhesive are mixed. Some folks here have done so. I didn't; I wanted water to have an easy path to escape from the deck and not build up under the rub rail where it would contribute to mold and mildew problems here in steamy NC. Hutchins didn't glue the rub rail down, at least not in 1988. They used 5200 to seal the hull to deck joint, ran a strip of duct tape over the joint all the way around the joint (to allow the slow set 5200 to continue curing while they finished assembling the boat without seeping out and making a mess), then mounted the rub rail. When mine came off, the dried remains of the duct tape came off with it.
The duct tape had no purpose other than to prevent the fresh 5200 from dripping out. I confirmed that with Gerry Hutchins at the factory.
Wes
I had the rub rails shrink as well. - check out my solution that worked great:
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=9174.msg70170#msg70170
Jim
Jim, That looks like a fancy rig that you made to stretch that out I think that I have all the stuff to do it. It did look like your rubrail is a bit newer than mine and in pretty godd shape I hope mine makes the stretch and does not tear.
Eric