Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

[calebp]

Hello, I am trying to replace the hard rubber strip in the aluminum seam on the outside of my 95 glastron.

I am baffled how they get these installed. I can vigorously push & pull the strip about 4 feet, the a little past a bend, it becomes almsot impossible to pull; I just move the boat!

I've tried lubricating it, which doesn't seem to help.

Is there any special techniques to installing these utterly annoying things?

 

[79monarch]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

Are you trying to reinstall the old stuff ? If it's new and like the stuff I used on my boat you just bend it in half and stick it in as you go around the boat.

 

[calebp]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

Yeah that's what you gotta do. tunnel vision

Thanks for the reply!

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

Sonetimes it helps to warm it up a little with a heat gun. Some of that stuff is really stiff and a little heat will make it more pliable.

 

[mikastorm]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

Add axle grease lightly as you push it on.
If it gets hard to push, back it up and apply a little more.
A good pressure wash will remove(with a little wiping) the grease.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

Add axle grease lightly as you push it on.
If it gets hard to push, back it up and apply a little more.
A good pressure wash will remove(with a little wiping) the grease.

Vaseline is a little cleaner to jerk...I mean WORK with. Sorry, never happen again...apologize really sorry.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

Ok, since I just fought with mine for a few hours yesterday, here is what I learned. I used the old original stuff. I had black outside and white inside. The black softened up really well in the sun and was easy to put on. The white for some reason would not ever get really soft (I didn't try a heat gun, I was scared with the new paint). Any how I got a 5 gallon bucket of scalding water and coiled the rail in there. Let sit for 15 min. When I went to put it on I only pulled out what I need at a time and left the rest in the hot water. Here is my other tips I learned as I had to do the white twice when it didn't line up at the end.

1. Connect both ends then the middle. Then go to the middle of that and so on. If you start at one end it will be to short and you won't get ot streched right.

2. The white rail was so stiff that I had to put the top in then press in the bottom with a wonder bar (mini crowbar).


Good luck, I had enough sweat on mine I didn't need any additional lubrication.

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: Installing Rubber Seam on Outside of Boat

glass cleaner and plastic wedge I have spent countless hours putting seals on cars at work (when I had a job haha). Best combo I have found, The foaming glass cleaner in aerosol can, and plastic wedge. Also helps to have the seal pliable as stated above. Glass cleaner will evaporate so the seal doesnt move after its in and dry, whereas silicone or Vaseline will allow the seal to move around possibly causing gaps at the seam.