Aft Splash Rails/Rub Rails

[SereneWarrior]

So, I have to replace/repair the splash rails on my 53 MY. The mahogany rails are soaked through and the starboard one has rotted, as well as pulled clear of the hull on one end. It's clear to me that they are thru-bolted, but I'll be dog-gonned if I can find the interior end of the bolts. I've looked under the starboard side master stateroom bunk alongside the exhaust hose....nothing! I've looked behind the master/VIP head cabinetry...nothing! Where are these things and why aren't they as obvious as they ought to be? What am I missing here? I need to tighten down on the bolts if I am to repair the current rails or replace the bolts altogether if I am to replace the rails with the fiberglass ones sold by Sam's (or some other), but first I have to find the darned things!

 

[Angela]

I can see where mine come through. They are sort of behind the exhaust tube. Try crawling in there with a good trouble light, and maybe a mirror to look up the hullside on the other side of the exhaust tube.

I need to replace my spray rails, too. I was just looking at that earlier this evening.

 

[SereneWarrior]

Ang, just got the word from Sam's that they no longer carry these. They have sold out and the molds to make them have been discarded/lost by Hatteras...too bad, as the replacements were fiberglass and likely to last forever. I'm having the yard "carve" a new end piece and join it to the forward 14 feet or so of the worst one. They are currently stripped and drying out. We'll seal the bolt holes (yep, found'em above where I was looking...should have measured in the first place) and caulk the whole thing, then a couple coats of primer and paint should make do for a couple years. While the boat is out of the water, I'm going to do a paper trace of them now. Then, when I'm ready to do the whole job have new ones made at the carpenter's shop here at Hartges. I hate temporary fixes, but it's boating season!

 

[eze2bme]

It seems to me that Tom Slane had made some out of fiberglass for some other members here. Just a thought.

 

[rsmith]

Any reason they couldn't be eliminated? Hatt put them on some boats and not others. Mine never had them.

 

[Angela]

Any reason they couldn't be eliminated? Hatt put them on some boats and not others. Mine never had them.

Interesting thought...

These are the aft spray rails and while we usually putt-putt around rather slowly, I wonder how much water would spray up towards the aft deck sides (open windows) when on plane. Does anyone here have a motoryacht without aft spray rails who can chime in on this? I'd love to have one less item to have to maintain if it doesn't do much for the boat in the first place.

 

[SereneWarrior]

As I understand it, although they are called "spray rails" the main purpose is to serve as a rub rail that creates enough space against a piling, etc. to protect the sloping hull sides. Otherwise, a short piling or seawall could catch underneath the main deck overhang and do serious damage. I think that's also why the spray rails have stainless steel rubbing strakes on them (and why mine were pretty marked up from serving just this purpose.). I could be wrong..., but I'm going to keep mine.

 

[Angela]

I tend to agree, but then, I look at the whole side of the boat and further forward where the distance from the normal rubrail to the water is slightly greater (yet, still where the belly of the hull is not concave like the bow hullsides are), there is no spray/rub rail at the water line like there is aft and it would seem to me that that area is even more vulnerable to a short piling. I'm not challenging the notion, just making an observation. My spray rails have that SS trim on them too, but then again, so does my teak swim platform and I'd never want to lay that up against a piling for leverage.

 

[bigbill]

tom slane makes them out of fiberglass.....i think the official term is aft quarter fender

 

[Boatsb]

Made a set for a 34 out of pvc board and painted them. Tapped the hull and installed with 1/4 20 screws.

 

[davidwigler]

I'm going to need a pair too. Maybe we could get a quantity discount. Sometimes the layup is most of the labor.

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

There is a semi recent thread on the need for the aft spray rails. As I recall the consensus was they are necessary so that the hull doesn't come in contact with the doc or piling.

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

Found it, it seems I actually started it......can't remember these things, getting old !!


http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/sh...eally-Necessary-and-Effective&highlight=rails

 

[Angela]

I just went out back and took a good look at the shape of the hullside as it relates to the rubrail and whether my spray rail really is a necessary rubrail, too. Indeed, it is. The back part of the boat is a little "pregnant" looking and her belly does protrude out from the line of the regular rubrail. As you move further forward, that bulge goes away; hence, a waterline rub/spray rail isn't needed. I suspect the other models that didn't have them in the first place weren't shaped like the motoryachts back there. So, the spray rail must stay, and I must replace mine, too. If anyone gets a price on a pair of these made out of fiberglass, please do share. Otherwise, I'm sure Ed can craft a pair from fiberglass himself - him finding the time to do it is the hard part.

 

[SCALAWAG]

When I replaced mine I took a saws all cut about 2 inches off the front knocked the bolts back in a little. Two bolts front and back all screws in the center. Was not that big of a job. The most work was reglassing the end of the new rails. Hope it helps

 

[SereneWarrior]

Well, rather than append the rest of the season looking for new spray rails or having them manufactured, we're attempting a repair. The rotted end(s) have been cut off and new ends were fabricated from mahogany stock by the boatyard's marine carpenter. He cut notched joints to fit the new ends and then, used the existing bolt holes/new bolts to fix the hole reassembled spray rail to the hull. Didn't have to remove the entire rail, but just loosened the ends and pulled them an inch or so away from the hull. After stripping off all the old paint to expose the rot, that was all cut away. The new end pieces were fitted and the whole thing was then sealed to the hull with 3M 5200 and the screws/bolts tightened down. It will now be painted with a couple coats of primer and an Interlux paint that should protect it for a few good years... We'll see how it all holds up and eventually, when necessary, we'll make new rails entirely. This whole job has taken a couple weeks to think up/execute and our season can continue. While the boat was out of the water, we also did a bottom job and had the hull compounded/waxed. Was going to do that prior to next season anyway, so the haul out cost was going to be spent anyway. I love it when a plan comes together!

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

Serene, could you post some before/during/after images. I'm sure we'd all love to see the evolution of this project.

 

[Nonchalant1]

Hatteras called the front ones spay rails and the aft ones lift rails I believe. They are out of the water at low speed and when you increase speed they go into the water as the bow rises and the stern tries to sink. I see how it could help get on plane faster and also serve as a lower rub rail as noted.

 

[Salty Dame]

Mine were replaced 30 years ago with Ironbark and are still good as new. The problem is I can't keep a finish on them to save my life.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

LOLOL... How soon we forget... Tom Slane makes them and a set for the 58 TC +7 foot cockpit was not cheap... like 3500 not cheap...That's for FOUR 12 foot long pieces that needed to be joined in the middle. Take a skill saw and cut the old ones right down the length and then tap the cut off screws inside. Drill and tap for 1/4-20 screws and 5200 into place... ws

WHATEVER YOU DO DONT FORGET TO WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11e9qjlNxPk