Rubber Rubrail Sun Damage

[GBayCA]

Anyone ever get sun damage on their rubber rubrail base? I have a pretty cheap after market boat cover that doesn't fit snug around the tower. This leaves a few feet of rubrail exposed to the sun when not in use. Where exposed, the light gray rubber underneath the actual black rubrail attachment has turned dark brown...like it has been carmelized. Soap and water does nothing. Has it just been oxidized and I am SOL or has anyone had any luck addressing such a thing?

[jake's02-22i]

good question. I want to know if there is anything i could do too. mine is starting to do it too. but just because it is an 02 and getting older.

[Fast1911]

Don't know if you can clean that off, I actually painted mine and it seems to be holding up, gotta do alot of masking off though.....

[gstauffer]

for less way less than $200 you can order an new rub rail and install it youself.

[Fast1911]

for less way less than $200 you can order an new rub rail and install it youself.

He is talking about the plastic that holds the rubber rub rail, not the rubber insert, FYI

[gstauffer]

He is talking about the plastic that holds the rubber rub rail, not the rubber insert, FYI

ah, that is what I get for not reading the original post close enough.

[Fuh Sho]

this is slightly off topic but kinda similar..... the rub rail on 98 2200i has been broken (the plastic) and i dont know if i have to replace all of it? or if i can some how just cut out the bad section and replace that?

[Fast1911]

this is slightly off topic but kinda similar..... the rub rail on 98 2200i has been broken (the plastic) and i dont know if i have to replace all of it? or if i can some how just cut out the bad section and replace that?

Yes, you can replace just that piece. You will kinda see the line where the two pieces connect but it is better than drilling out 500 rivets around the entire boat. Here are a couple of pics below of the section I had to replace on my boat. I ordered the new piece from Boaters World and had it shipped to the store since it came in twenty foot lengths minimum. You can see the old broken piece lying on the ground in the first pic. How long a piece do you need? I didn't take one after I was finished, I'll try to snap one tomorrow and post it.

[Fuh Sho]

prolly about 5 feet, i need to go measure it, its on the back right corner about a foot on the transom then wraps around. Ill take a picture of it tomorrow when i go to the upoulstry shop to check on her

[Fast1911]

Here is a pic I took yesterday, it's not that noticeable unless your looking right at it......




The piece I replaced was straight down the side, not sure how you would make the turn on the back, maybe a heat gun? It is pretty rigid stuff.......