Rub Rail Screws

aero3113

I’m thinking about resealing all 90,000 rub rail screws. Am I asking for trouble in any way or is it just as straight forward as it looks? I would do one screw at a time.

Liberty44140

The bow rail screws on my 342 were through bolt with nut so you’d need to do one stanchion and all 4 bolts at a time. Issue really is access underneath, I had to cut and patch the vinyl overhead liner underneath  but that one was hidden in a shelf 

Handymans342

Did you mean the rub rail or bow railing mounts? @aero3113

aero3113

@Handymans342 , your right! Rub rail!! 

skennelly

I did mine on my 270.  No hurdles.

YYZRC

Do you have a leak?

aero3113

YYZRC said:

Do you have a leak?

I don’t know. I have some standing water in my swim platform. I’m wondering if rain water is coming in through them. I might as well do them all. I have the drains on the platform cleats so maybe I’ll put a bead around the base of them also.

LaRea

On mine, several screws broke off and/or stripped.  Plan to replace all screws with new ones.  I took the rail completely off.  If I remember right, I found a few hidden screw holes that didn't have screws, so I sealed them.  

Handymans342

LaRea said:

On mine, several screws broke off and/or stripped.  Plan to replace all screws with new ones.  I took the rail completely off.  If I remember right, I found a few hidden screw holes that didn't have screws, so I sealed them.  

Same on mine. 

aero3113

That’s what I’m worried about. I don’t want to have to worry about breaking any screws!

Handymans342

aero3113 said:

That’s what I’m worried about. I don’t want to have to worry about breaking any screws!

Then leave it alone

aero3113

Yea, I just might. There are 5 sections of stainless trim. Are there screws holding the white rubber on also underneath?

Handymans342

Nope

YYZRC

@aero3113 your caulk is dirty!!

Handymans342

You could work each one carefully without breaking to see if they come loose. If they do, remove and inject some 4200 and reinstall. Do not use drill. Also, if tight, take a hammer and tap on the screwdriver a few times. If they won’t come loose they are pretty sealed. Rinker installed a pressure treated wood plywood behind causing some screws to rust. 

LaRea

If you take the whole thing off, any screws that break can be removed with vise grips.  Not a big deal.  It's a 2-person job to handle the long sections.  

Aqua_Aura

Just put your boat in the water!!! It's too late for these projects. 🌞

aero3113

LoL! Your right @Aqua_Aura ! I still have to fix some paint chips on the exterior of the arch and wax above the rub rail. I’m hoping to get the arch done tomorrow.

Liberty44140

Agree with AA, this is a fall or winter project, not a week before launch project Maybe just do the area by your leak....

Pat310

Last year I cleaned and re-caulked the underside of rub rail as some of the caulk was separating. Once dry I went around the rub rail tightening every screw by hand.  None turned more then a quarter turn. By the way, did the same for tightening the bow rail and same result. No more then 1/4 turn. Most were tight.  Luckily none of the nuts on them spun

LaRea

Liberty44140 said:

Agree with AA, this is a fall or winter project, not a week before launch project Maybe just do the area by your leak....

Worth a try, but you can't tell where the water enters.  You only know where it ends up. 

Black_Diamond

My 342 has several screw and nuts holding the rub rail on. Would be a disaster to take off.  The screws are 4-6” long too. 🙄