SR6 rub rail installation

Cgill · 07 April 2005, 18:13

Hello! Its been awhile since I have last posted, I am the guy in the US with the SR6 project boat. I have installed a new tube set myself, and I will post a blow by blow account of the procedure with photos soon. (It went very well! The stress of it all was a little much on the girlfriend though

)

My question for now is this, are there any tips or tricks on installing a rub rail? I went with the heavy duty rubstrake. (6 1/2 inches wide) I plan on one continuous run around the boat, rather than 2 sections, split at the bow.

My first thought is this: run masking tape along the center line of the tube. Then measure above and below this line to find the top and bottom of the rub rail. Then tape there, removing the center line, then proceed to prepping and gluing. (The rub rail is too bulky to use as a template itself)

A more exacting method I thought of would be to use a strip of material slightly larger than the rubstrake and tape that around the boat in position, then tape top and botom and remove material. I am sure I am making this more complicated then it needs to be, but as it was pointed out in a previous post, the rub rail is really critical for a professional look.

Is there a better way to do this?

jwalker · 07 April 2005, 22:09

Put the strake a little below centre. Ribs always catch at the stern corner and at the front corner (the area of the beginning of the curve). They rarely catch above the strake, nearly always below it. Probably because they lean slightly when making the turn to come alongside or move away.

Cgill · 08 April 2005, 15:01

Very good point. The rubstrake creates a rather large ledge that would catch on things. I opted not to go with the flat rubstrake that the stock SR6 has due largely to the aesthetics. I prefer the look of the "D" rubstrake. I hope I don't regret that decision...

boatster · 08 April 2005, 21:28

Cgill,

I agree I think the Coastguard look of the strakes really beef up the look of the boat. My SR4 already came with all this and I love it for looks and function. Do you mind telling me where you purchased your strake? And how much it cost per foot? I need to replace some pieces. Thanks.

Boatster