Rub Rail woes

[jklnhyde]

Since the entire rub rail on my 28ft Larson was crushed or corroded, I removed it and commited myself to replacing it before I priced what it was going to cost me. Now I'm wondering if there is any way I will be able to reassemble this thing without going broke.
I just know tht the aluminum rail used for rub rails on large boats is manufactured by more than one company, and cutting out distributors, transport and retailers will drop the price to an acceptable level, but is that even possible?! What the heck do I do now? What other options are there?
$500 in rub rail is 1/3 of what I paid for the boat!!
Rick

 

[Mark42]

Re: Rub Rail woes

What does the rub rail look like? How thick is it, how tall is it.

There are alternatives. Got pics?

 

[jklnhyde]

Re: Rub Rail woes

It's 1-1/2" tall and 11/16" wide. Just a normal aluminum strip with the plastic insert. I really don't want to get the same aluminum/plastic setup, but rather have a solid rubber strip going around. I was even daydreaming about how nice a thin strip of TEAK would look around the beltline...
Rick

 

[salty87]

Re: Rub Rail woes

taco marine makes all sorts of rub rails. iboats retails them though you might need to special order. they have all rubber, stainless, rope...

it isn't going to be cheap for a 28' boat but will look great when done.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Rub Rail woes

theres hundreds of rubrail manufacturers....theres also salvage yards that dot Florida like palm trees...Taco makes most rubrails - http://www.go2marine.com/productcenters/rub_rail/boat_rub_rail_taco.shtml
get an idea of whats needed..then look on e-bay motors under boat parts & accessories...or start calling salvage yards..Marine Liquidators in Dawson GA for one example.

Research - research - research....there's tons of stuff out there.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Rub Rail woes

I have a 28 foot Formula that I'm getting ready to sent to the junk yard. I won't be able to get out there until Tuesday ( 6-09 ). If this might be something you could use it's yours. All I'll need to do is figure out the length of the sections and then how much to ship it. You can pay for the shipping
I'll take a couple of closeup photo's and sent them your way. Send me a PM with your email address - probably the best way to do that.
You never know - just might work

 

[jklnhyde]

Re: Rub Rail woes

PM sent

 

[Mark42]

Re: Rub Rail woes

Body side molding will work too if you are on a budget. These run about $1.00 to $2.10 a foot. Come in 26' and 34' lengths. 2" to 2.5" high. Smaller styles are cheaper. Check out carparts.com w/free shipping.

 

[jklnhyde]

Re: Rub Rail woes

Thanx, those are very good alternatives...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Rub Rail woes

Or, you can go direct to the manufacture and skip 4 or 5 middlemen and their markup.

http://www.brunnerent.com/

http://www.johnsonrollforming.com/display.php/display/O/category/36


But... The cost of metals (aluminum) has REALLY jumped in recent months.

Thats not a bad price. Cost about $300 for enough to do a 17' boat shipped to my house with the solid aluminum (no vinyl insert).