Rubbing Strake Replacement

[markle]

I wish this was a thread on how to, but alas it is a thread asking for help

The boat

Needs to have the rubbing strake removed. Following various leak chasing efforts I have removed yet more interior trim to see almost every bolt holding the existing strake on is allowing water in. Bolts themselves are rusty as hell and have no doubt been on for the full 40 years of her life!

Its no flood but a small seepage around each bolt.

The strake is soft in places and has had pieces replaced many times it would seem.

Does anyone have any experience of fitting new wooden strakes, how to fix thru hull etc ...

Or even experience of replacing it with some good old man man rubber and plastic?

Whatever I use and however I fix it I will be liberally applying sealant top and bottom

Look forward to some words of wisdom Mark

 

[rbcoomer]

Not familiar with the vessel, but if it's GRP does the strake also hold the top deck to the hull? A lot of smaller sportsboat designs have an 'overlap' which the rubbing strip is bolted through into a timber batten inside. If this is the case, you'll need to ensure a means to stop the hull from moving when you remove - especially if boat is still on the water! Water can thus not only get in via screw holes, but also get drawn up between the two sections if not well sealed. Once you remove a section, can you not clean up and seal with silkaflex as you go? I can't see why rubber wouldn't work, but I think they're usually undersized and stretched to get a tight seal on smaller vessels. I took the one off my 14' Fletcher and it was hard work stretching to get back on! You'd need a big bucket of hot water and work fast to achieve this on a boat that size!

 

[markle]

I did wonder about the hull deck joint, having never had the strip off I dont know! On previous boats I have owned I have had the strip off and just sealed the join and put back on but not so sure on this one! As the strip is all wood it is a challenge to remove a bit!

There is no timber inside just bolts on grp (some grp not as great as I would like).

I think I could seal as I go (ct1 will be used my new favorite over sika)

If you are on the sunny riviera I am down in Plymouth, where this boat was born. She is a 25 foot Pilgrim, the first of the Princess line when then were made by projects, may mean more to a local boater!

If you have a free day give me a shout, and bring a bucket of hot water

I guess first job is to pull her up the beach and take a section off, check the join and plan from there.

Mark

 

[Bertramdriver]

I wish this was a thread on how to, but alas it is a thread asking for help

The boat

Needs to have the rubbing strake removed. Following various leak chasing efforts I have removed yet more interior trim to see almost every bolt holding the existing strake on is allowing water in. Bolts themselves are rusty as hell and have no doubt been on for the full 40 years of her life!

Its no flood but a small seepage around each bolt.

The strake is soft in places and has had pieces replaced many times it would seem.

Does anyone have any experience of fitting new wooden strakes, how to fix thru hull etc ...

Or even experience of replacing it with some good old man man rubber and plastic?

Whatever I use and however I fix it I will be liberally applying sealant top and bottom

Look forward to some words of wisdom Mark

Let us know how you get on. This is a job on my to do list. Not looking forward to it but plan to use rubber and tons of sikaflex

 

[markle]

No no, you first I insist! I am a true gent.

Yes will report back job penciled in for some time in the next 6 weeks all being well. By all means give me a shout.

As I feared the hull deck joint is probably the most important part, I may email marine projects and see what advice they offer (being less than a mile up the road!).