dingy rubrail

[A.E.Hansen]

I'm building a 12'dingy to use as a tender. The half-oval ss I have is too heavy and would damage topsides. Fire hose requires fasteners that may cause rot. Is there something gluable (eg with 5200) that is relatively inexpensive?

[Scott Rosen]

Need to get some terminology straight. A rubrail is intended to protect the boat it's installed on. A gunnel guard or fender is intended to protect other boats that come in contact with the boat it's installed on. If I read your post correctly, you are looking for a guard that will protect other boats from being scratched or damaged by your dinghy. If you check out one of the more recent posts on gunnel guard, you'll get a good idea of your options. It's pretty rare (I've never seen one) to have a true dinghy with tumblehome. If your dinghy did have tumblehome, i.e., the topsides stick out farther than the gunnel, then you would need to have some kind of fender installed horizontially at the widest part of the topsides and probably at the gunnel too. That's because the flare of your primary boat's topsides could cause it to come into contact with the dinghy's hull and gunnel. It would look ugly as hell. I've never seen such a thing on a dinghy. Every dinghy I've ever seen has the guard installed at the gunnel, and it certainly doesn't have a metal covering strip. Many people install their gunnel guard with copper tacks. I've never seen a rot problem caused by that. In my opinion, a glued-on guard would be too permanent and too difficult to repair. Plus, you'll want to paint the dinghy BEFORE you attach the guard, so the glue will be stuck to the paint, which is bad because stress on the guard could cause the glue to lift the paint from the wood; that could cause a rot problem. There's also a recent post on rubrails that may be helpful to you.

Good luck.

[John Bell]

It won't be yachty, but how about an extruded polyethylene foam swimming pool noodle?

Don't laugh, they actually work pretty well. I've got some that have a 1" hollow in the middle that when split fit perfectly over the rail of my dory. I've never glued them on though.

JB

[rbgarr]

Pete Culler suggested using unpainted pine halfround strips as a gunnel guard. I've used it on two different rowing craft and find that it doesn't scar other boats' paint and is easily replaceable, if you can find it. I have been able to get it at Home Depot and other lumber outlets.

[Sam F]

If you don't mind the color. Rob White in a Messing about in Boats magazine suggested flexible black polyethelene water pipe slit and wrapped over the gunwales. I have never tried this but have worked with the stuff in well installations. It's plenty tough. Sliting it and installing it would be tough too. If you managed to get it installed I bet it would last nearly forever. Lowes, Home Depot will have it in their plumbing departments and it's available in various diameters. I'm sure you can find a size that'll work. Hint: Leaving it out in the hot sun will make a huge difference in workability. If it's cold forget it. Sam

[steve sparhawk]

A rope guard always seems to look nice. I can't recall that I've seen how in heck you stick it to the boat, though.

[steve sparhawk]

Hey, how about putting on a pine rub rail about 1/2' thick with a groove in the outside to receive the rope. (It's not "line" until you use it in the rig?) Then the rope is sewn on with strong twine through holes drilled in the rail. Follow the lay of the twist and it disappears.

What's the odds that some real sailor will say that's how it is supposed to be done.