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Rub Rail cleaner

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treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/03/2011 : 14:40:26

Does anyone know the best way to get the rub rail cleaned up a little bit?

Tom
1986 C25 SR/FK #5299
Hunterdon County, NJ

Edited by - treeder65 on 05/03/2011 17:29:36

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 16:21:01

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but hard scuffs tend to be ground in and refuse to be cleaned. Replacing it is pretty easy if you want the cleanest look.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 16:42:15

M.E.K or Acetone worked really well for some of us. Soak a rag well and wipe the rail. Use hand protection.

Edited by - islander on 05/04/2011 14:56:48

treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 17:32:45

Thanks for that info. I have MEK, so I'll give that a shot first. I am in the midst of wet sanding with a jitterbug pneumatic sander. I ran the 800 over the rail and it came out flawless in a matter of seconds. Thanks again.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 17:39:30

Yep, our rubrail looked like it had dirt and/or mildew in the rubber. We tried a few household cleaners - including TSP - with unsatisfactory results. We then used MEK and it turned out like new. Observe the warnings about its use though - use gloves and don't breath the vapors. With the boat on its trailer, we stood on short step ladder so we had to reach up to the rub rail - keeping the vapors above our breathing zone. It will soften the rubber a little for a short period of time. You'll get the hang of it after cleaning the first couple/three feet.

Good luck!

Edited by - OJ on 05/03/2011 17:41:00

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 18:26:33

I use Goof Off. Has a million other uses too.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 19:36:05

That rub rail looks sweet OJ.

[url="http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/mek/health_mek.html"]Canadian OSHA on MEK[/url]

Paul

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 21:30:33

I've become kind of a fan of Collinite products, and found that a little rub-down with liquid Fleetwax removed the marks, restored the color, and kept the vinyl rail (as well as the hull) looking good for the season.

This year on my challenging dark green hull and black rubrail, I'm trying out Collinte's #845 Insulator Wax, which was highly rated by Practical Sailor. It has no cleaning or abrasive properties--it's just wax. But the process is easy--wipe on, let it haze over, and then rub lightly to a shine. My dark hull is a good test for protection--we'll see whether P/S got this right.

(O/T Note: I have recommended Poly Glow here, but that was for aging hulls. My current "pot" is entering its fifth season out of the factory. I'll continue tryng to keep the gelcoat looking good with some rubbing and wax, and might go back to a polymer finish, which is a little more like varnishing the hull, some years down the road when she's a little more aged and tired.)

Edited by - on

treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2011 : 03:29:33

Be careful with Goof-Off(xylene) also:

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/xylene/health_xyl.html

i can attest to the loss of short term memory and anxiety. I use xylene in my line of work.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2011 : 07:24:34

Has anyone else (except CateP on Mysterious) replaced the rub rail with a wood one?

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2011 : 07:59:05

I agree with the use of acetone it does the job quick and easy. (Don't care for MEK or Goof-Off because I seem to be highly sensitive to the vapors.) For the last few years I've been following up the cleaning of my rub rail with an application of Armor-All. It's Makes it look like new and seems to make it easier to clean the next year.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2011 : 14:56:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Don't care for MEK or Goof-Off because I seem to be highly sensitive to the vapors<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You can use either one, They both get the same results but MEK has a slower evaporation rate than Acetone so I would guess you wouldn't have to load the rag so often. Nether one smells like roses

Edited by - on

treeder65
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2011 : 17:46:58

Hands down MEK IMO after trying both xylene and MEK today. Same results but MEK was about 5x faster. I did the whole rail in 15 minutes.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2011 : 05:43:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by treeder65
 Hands down MEK IMO after trying both xylene and MEK today. Same results but MEK was about 5x faster . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Someone here recommended MEK last year, and someone else posted the link for polishing gel coat - both resulting in what you see above. All these contibutions make this forum the great site that it is . . .

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 05/05/2011 : 06:43:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Don't care for MEK or Goof-Off because I seem to be highly sensitive to the vapors<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You can use either one, They both get the same results but MEK has a slower evaporation rate than Acetone so I would guess you wouldn't have to load the rag so often. Nether one smells like roses

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's not the smell, It's the Broncial irritation that I object to. But I may just be more sensitive to it than others.

Edited by - Renzo on 05/05/2011 06:46:55

Captain Max
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 09:51:49

Someone mentioned replacing the rubrail, got me wondering. Can you get different colors for the rubrail?

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 10:56:19

I believe Catalina Direct sells grey or tan.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 12:24:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Captain Max
 . . . Someone mentioned replacing the rubrail . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">And someone else mentioned what a big PITA replacing the rubrail can be . . .

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 20:04:37

The old rubrail insert just peels out of the aluminum channel. Get the same cross section shape at WM or your supplier of choice in your preferred color and it isn't bad to put the new stuff in once you get the it started.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 21:06:20

I've heard soaking it in a bucket of warm/hot water will help it be more pliable and slide in to the track easier. Never done it before so take the comment with a grain of salt.

Edited by - on

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