Boat Rub Rail Insert Kit for 50 ft - Steele Rubber Products

Product Description: Choosing the Right Rub Rail Insert for Your Boat

Rub rails serve a function similar to that of bumpers on automobiles, acting as protective barriers designed to absorb the shock from minor impacts and safeguard the hull of a watercraft. Given that boats frequently make contact with docks and pilings, manufacturers have created a sacrificial insert strip, known as a rub rail insert, to bear the brunt of these impacts.

Typically, rub rail inserts fit snugly into a channel located along the center of a boat’s rub rail. Most options available on the market are made from either vinyl or metal. However, the rub rail inserts produced by Steele are crafted from robust EPDM rubber. This material boasts exceptional durability, demonstrating excellent resistance to wear, including abrasion, impacts, ozone, UV rays, and extreme weather conditions—factors that often lead to cracks, shrinkage, and failures found in other materials, particularly vinyl.

Our rub rail inserts and repair kits are specially designed to fit the popular TACO Marine rub rails, which are commonly used on various boat brands such as Action Craft, Angler, Aquasport, Boston Whaler, Contender, Correct Craft, Crestline, Dusky, Gambler, Grady White, Hydrasports, Key West Boats, Mako, Mastercraft Boats, Maxum, Regal Marine, Robalo, Scout, Sea Hunt, Sea Ray Boats, Tennessee Watercraft/Yamaha, Tiara, and Trophy Boats.

Key Features of Our Rub Rail Inserts

The use of EPDM rubber in our inserts offers superior resistance against UV rays and ozone, ensuring that our products outlast many alternatives on the market. A common challenge faced by boaters during rub rail replacements is the need to heat vinyl and PVC inserts to make them flexible enough for installation, complicating the replacement process. In contrast, EPDM inserts are user-friendly, requiring no pre-heating for installation. Furthermore, EPDM rubber does not experience the same degree of shrinkage associated with vinyl. While all materials may undergo some expansion and contraction over time due to temperature changes, vinyl can shrink by up to 10% during its lifespan. For instance, a 20-foot boat could potentially lose 2 feet of rub rail (1 foot on each side), leading to unsightly gaps over time.

Measuring and Installing Your Rub Rail Insert

Measuring for the Rub Rail Insert: Due to the universal nature of the boating industry, the most reliable method for determining the right rub rail insert for your boat is to carefully pull a section of the existing insert from the rail. Make a note of its dimensions and profile (cross-section). To estimate the required length of the new insert, measure your boat's total length and beam width, then multiply the length by two and add the beam width.

Installing the Rub Rail Insert: 1. First, remove the old or damaged rub rail insert, keeping any relevant hardware like end caps or screws. 2. Clean out the rub rail track, ensuring there is no dirt or debris present. 3. Begin the installation at one end of the boat where the end cap is located. 4. Pinch and push the new insert into the rail, working your way around the boat. 5. After installation, trim any excess material flush with the edge of the track and reinstall any necessary hardware.

Repairing Your Rub Rail Insert

If you don’t need to replace the entire insert, we offer 100% marine grade EPDM rubber repair kits! These allow for small repairs without the hassle of a complete replacement, ultimately saving you both time and money. The replacement pieces in our kits are made from the same durable compound as our standard inserts, ensuring easy installation without needing to pre-heat.

Armed with this information, you can confidently choose and install the right rub rail insert for your boat, ensuring long-lasting protection against the elements while enhancing its overall appearance.

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