boat rubbing strake

[Benjygardner]

Hi everyone,
I am currently renovating a 14ft cuddy boat and I need to replace the rubbing strake. I have chosen a simple D-shaped rubbing strip (link below) as they are the cheapest and most suitable for the boat. I am not sure how to bond the rubbing strake onto the boat as there are no screw holes which is how they are usually done. Should I use some bonding sealant or is there a way to do it with screws? Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks.

BOAT RUBBING STRAKE D FENDER PROFILE 24MM BASE BLACK PVC PER METRE | eBay

 

[Bouba]

There are lots are different techniques to fit them, including two part systems that use inserts to hide the screwheads...plus there are covers and end caps that can secure and make the job look neat

https://www.parmafender.com/rubbing-strakes-fitting-guides/c-lister/

Rubbing strake - Rubbing strakes - V-quipment

 

[fisherman]

I had the much bigger version. It had a metal strip slid up inside, the outside drilled big enough for, in my case, bolts.

 

[Benjygardner]

Ok, thank you. how would I install it with the two-part system if the rub rail doesn't already have drilled holes or if there is no filling strip. can you buy it separately? Is there also a way to do it without any screws or bolts and with epoxy or sealant instead?

 

[Keith-i]

I remember seeing these people advertising their sealant at the Southampton boat show specifically for bonding rubbing strakes onto hulls. SABA - SABA adhesives & sealants

 

[fisherman]

Google shows a system with pvc strip inside, and fixings that incorporate a plug for the hole in the outside profile, but it uses screws. What glue is going to stand a knock up or down when coming alongside? How about a wood strip with a rebate routered out for the D section to sit in?
How Do I Fit a Boat Fender?

 

[PCUK]

Normal method is to drill and plug the same as with timber.

 

[Keith-i]

What glue is going to stand a knock up or down when coming alongside?

Perhaps the same glue that holds the wings of aeroplanes on?

 

[fisherman]

Perhaps the same glue that holds the wings of aeroplanes on?

Good, what's it called?

 

[fisherman]

Good, what's it called?

My friend Anne Cecile de Bruyne died last year. Her dad (Norman de Bruyne - Wikipedia) knew a thing or two about aircraft glue. The problem here is the substrate, fixing, say, rubber or neoprene to wood or GRP. It's not the glue that fails.

 

[Davy_S]

If the rubbing strake/rubber goes around the hull and topside joint, the rubber is put in a boiling bucket of water, then stretched around the joints and fastened each side of the transom, all the seahog/hunter/CJR type of boats were fitted like this, no glue was used or needed.

 

[ss2016]

Perhaps the same glue that holds the wings of aeroplanes on?

I am not sure if that was serious or a joke. Anyway, aircraft wings are not attached with glue. The loads and torsion are far too high.

 

[Benjygardner]

ok thanks very much. what did you mean when you said that it is not the glue that Is the problem? I think I would prefer to do it with glue if it is possible.

 

[lusitano]

Good, what's it called?

Airfix

 

[Benjygardner]

Airfix

is that for model aeoroplanes?

 

[Gustywinds]

I am not sure if that was serious or a joke. Anyway, aircraft wings are not attached with glue. The loads and torsion are far too high.

I beg to differ, adhesives have been widely used in aircraft for over a century , particularly with wood and with aluminium where welding weakens the materail and rivets creates point loadings. It has become even more prevalent with the advent of carbonfibre. But it is never used to take shear or torsion loads. On th eexample quoted where wings are "held on"by it, the adhesive stops the wing coming out of a socket but all the lift and torsion loads are taken on the socket itself. Lotus use adhesives in the chassis of the Elise class cars as well as do Tesla

 

[ss2016]

Gustywinds, having begged to differ, you then conceded I was right ".. it is never used to take shear or torsion loads." which is what II said. Having squeezed 20000+ rivets in aluminium aircraft production and flown towards a 1000 hours carbon fibre aircraft I can not think of one where ".. the adhesive stops the wing coming out of a socket." Can you?
Bengygardner, I apologise if I have derailed your thread but I hate to see people heading off in the wrong direction. For your problem I think I would talk to Sikaflex. They will probably have an adhesive which will bond rubber in sheer and stand up to salt water. We used one of their glues to bond plexiglass to aluminium in aircraft manufacture.

 

[Benjygardner]

ok thanks very much