Seal Rub Rails

C

Clockwork

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Hello, new to the site. bought my first grady (204 Overnighter) last weekend. I notice that when it rains on it i get streaks on the hull from where the water is coming out of the rub rails. it seems the water gets in the rails, runs down and then streams out at various points.

isnt the top and bottom half of the boat joined under the run rail? and if so can water enter the hull there? i guess my question is whether i need to seal the rub rail or not. My last boat had a sealed rub rail but this grady doesnt appear to have ever been. Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
Hi there,

should not be too difficult (if a little boring) to remove the rub rail and apply a decent (3M, Sika) sealant - let to dry and then re-screw the rub rail in place! I guess it's worth it - I am about to do it myself in the next couple of weeks...
 
The only way to cure the dreaded 'black streak disease' is to completely seal the rub rail - top, bottom, and the exposed screws behind the insert. Good luck, I believe mariners have been chasing streaks since rub rails were invented ... :?
 
I believe that removing the rub rail and sealing the seam itself will look neater - so that the rail itself hides the sealant. Otherwise, you'll be seeing horrible sealant all over your boat!

Having said that, I hope that it is easy enough to re-fit the old rail over the edge of the boat. I've not done it yet, though... so take my advice lightly...
 
thanks. i can deal with the streaks for now im more concerned about whether this can get water intrusion or not? I haven't seen whats underneath the rub rails and they look nice so id rather not pull them unless necessary. Thanks again.
 
The top half of the hull overlaps the bottom half, behind the rub rail, by about 3/4 of an inch. It is this union that is sealed from the factory. Water shlould not intrude from rain since gravity will pull it down. This seam is difficult for water to enter through unless the sealant is shot/missing and water is being sprayed upward. The streaks will not stop by sealing this seam. The streaks appear, I think, from dirty water running down the side of the boat, over the rubber rub rail. I get streaks on my 33 Express where the water is channelled over the side, just in front of the cockpit. Some boats have a little plastic shield in such spots to direct the water away from the side so that it falls overboard without running down the boat. I also get streaks on the outside of the helm structure. The best cure I have found is an application and re-application of a good wax like collinites.
 
Did you ever pull the center strip out of the channel? YUK, it is really dirty behind there, that is likely where the dirt is coming from. I had to tighten some of the screws behind the strip and removed some sections and it was disgustingly grungy, mold and dirt and some moisture.
 
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