Sealant for Rub Railng

[mohead1]

I have several places where the rub rail caulking is gapped and I want to redo the whole thing. The stuff in there now is like a rubber compound. What should I use? Is there a easily obtainable sealant that is preferred. The stuff in there now is not RTV, its actually like some kind of cured rubber caulk.

Thanks for the help

 

[NYBo]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

3m 4200

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

3m 4200

x2 The existing is probably silicone and will have to be removed completely (including scraping) for the new to attach satisfactorily.

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

X3 on the 3M 4200

Last year I spent a day on the Colorado near Lake Havasu and was using my bilge pump like crazy. Always pumping (at least 1/2 gallon by estimate) every time I would stop or moor for the day.

This past winter, I removed all the old 3M 4200 which had plenty of caps (boy what a PITA that was) and sealed it all up with new 3M 4200.

Been at the river since last Thursday (July 28th), running all day, slip at night and only a few drops of water in the bilge. I attribute the drops from the kids boarding wet. I plan on being here until (Aug 4th) and I doubt if I will have to run my bilge pump at all.

I also used #4200 to reseal the transducer screws, and the smart tab screws.

Jeepnsam aka Boatnsam

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

Granted, 4200 is great, there's a less expensive alternative.... I used PL brand polyurethane door and window caulk for this application (it's available in white or black). So far it's lasted 4 years on my "beater" boat with no ill effects. Since it's not below the waterline I'm not at all concerned about not using a "marine" product.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

Rub rails don't leak. If you have water getting in under the rub rail, you have bigger problems that needed addressed. i.e hull joint.

 

[mohead1]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

Thanks so much for the info.....

So, to use the 3M product, i dont have to REMOVE the rail, right? Just use a tool to remove what I can get too? Metric, whats the PL door and window stuff.....like where to get it? Im assuming the 3M product is a West Marine or iboats or similar availability?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

You can get it at West Marine. If they are out of it you can also use 3M 5200. They come in tubes for caulking guns.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

Thanks so much for the info.....

whats the PL door and window stuff.....like where to get it?

Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

ALSO, get some painters tape and put one length of it on the underside of your rub rail and one length of it on the hull under the rub rail (leaving approx. 1/8 to 1/4 inch of each surface exposed). Apply the sealant, smooth it out with a wet finger, then carefully remove the tape.

Rub rails don't leak. If you have water getting in under the rub rail, you have bigger problems that needed addressed. i.e hull joint.

That's not totally correct. I've rebuilt 2 boats, one of them had no sealer between the hull and cap, and the other did but at 30+ years old, well.... The hull and cap are held together with rivets on a lot of boats, it's quite possible that there's not a perfect water tight seal.

 

[mohead1]

Re: Sealant for Rub Railng

Thanks Metric! Thats good info on the installation, I want it to look clean and neat as possible.