Home Made Rub Rail

[dwhite1031]

My boat is only 2 months old and I cringed everytime we put her in the slip on our recent vacation. We had stopped at a relative's place on the lake to visit and her rails got scarred up pretty good at their dock when the passing inconsiderates came flying by on their jet skis trying to see how close they could get. I searched for an aftermarket rub rail for my Tracker Pro16 aluminum to no avail so I took matters into my own hands.​

The rail is flat with round corners and I had to get something on there to protect it. So I used 3/4" Sch40 gray PVC conduit. Using my dremel tool and a saw blade attachment I cut a 1/2" slot in the length of the pvc and "snapped" it over the rail top and bottom. I'm considering having the rails Line-X'd in the future but for now this is working great.​

Dinged up​

Gray PVC​

Little heat applied​

Snapped onto rail​

Rail stays in place by compression​

And it's replaceable for $1.12 per joint of pvc conduit and a little of my time!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Home Made Rub Rail

If you want to keep your rub rails looking good, get some old firehose, and nail it all around the boat.
Seriously, if you dock at the same place, re-evaluate your mooring. You can put rubber bumpers on the pilings, or hang inflated bumpers. Depending on set up and current, you can stern anchor off the dock. Or put a mooring piling or bouy out front and tie the bow off; give enough line to get straight back to the dock, then cleat it off at an angle (problem w/ bow out is you have to climb over the motor).

 

[dwhite1031]

Re: Home Made Rub Rail

If you want to keep your rub rails looking good, get some old firehose, and nail it all around the boat.
Seriously, if you dock at the same place, re-evaluate your mooring. You can put rubber bumpers on the pilings, or hang inflated bumpers. Depending on set up and current, you can stern anchor off the dock. Or put a mooring piling or bouy out front and tie the bow off; give enough line to get straight back to the dock, then cleat it off at an angle (problem w/ bow out is you have to climb over the motor).

Thanks for tip! The closest lake to us is 135 miles away, so we never know which slip or condition we're faced with. I had to come up with something to protect my rails until I get them Line-X'd and this is working out well.​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Home Made Rub Rail

i have used it several times myself, also makes a good run for wires.