Replacement rub strips for Avon dinghy

[CGirvan]

I'm trying to source a reasonably priced alternative for the PVC rub strips on an Avon dinghy. I was hoping there was a 3M non-skid tape or something similar that someone has successfully used.
Thanks.
Colin

[skipmac]

Had the rubrails peal off my old Avon. Called a dinghy repair shop and they wanted a few hundred just for a replacement, non PVC rail. I decided to reattach my old one. It had lasted 15 years and figured if a good repair gave me another 5-10 that would be the life of the dinghy.

Did a lot of research on what adhesives to use, including calls to the tech support managers of the makers of products that sounded promising. For various reasons I decided to try a new product from Marine-Tex that is more flexible and is compatible with PVC and hypalon. Order a bunch of the kits at $17 each which got me about half the rail so decided to try 3M 5200 on the other half which a LOT of CF members said they had used. So a year or so later, both sides are holding perfectly. Considering the cost I would go with 5200 all the way if I had to do it again.

[skipmac]

By the way, here's a link to the thread I started that discussed the whole process of product selection and repair.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...nd-157472.html

[CGirvan]

Thanks for the link, my search hadn't found that one. An interesting read but my situation is a bit different as I bought the dinghy 2nd hand with the rub rail missing so am looking for some sort of replacement product.

I have found replacement rub rails but at $10/ft is a bit much. I've also seen products that have been put on boats as non-skid these were either a softish rubber or a more sandpaper like product, not sure how well these would adhere to the hypalon.

It would be nice to find something to help protect the tubes when rubbing against the dock or pilings etc.

[skipmac]

I see. Not a loose rubrail but no rubrail at all.

$10/ft was about what I was quoted for a new, non-PVC replacement rubrail. I also decided that was too much, especially when they added some very expensive glue and a few hours labor to attach it.

In your situation I might look around for an old, used up, non repairable dinghy that you could strip for parts. I know there's a couple at the dinghy dock where I keep my boat in FL. Maybe some CF member might have a dinghy you could get free for nothing.

[Jim Cate]

In your place I would be tempted to go to a rubber supply house and buy flat rubber strip, maybe four inches wide and 1/8 inch thick in sufficient length to replace the missing strake. Here in Oz one such source is Clarke Rubber, but I'm sure there are similar places in BC. That would be soft enough to comply with the shape of the tubes, yet abrasion resistant enough to save the tubes. SC2000 or 4000 would do well as an adhesive... bonds very well to hypalon and to common rubber products. It has the advantage over 5200 of being a contact cement, so there is no long curing period where you must keep the new material aligned perfectly.

Jim

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

SC2000 or 4000 would do well as an adhesive... bonds very well to hypalon and to common rubber products. It has the advantage over 5200 of being a contact cement, so there is no long curing period where you must keep the new material aligned perfectly.

Jim

The curing time using 5200 was a really big pain. The main benefit, it was cheap and available locally when I needed it.

[CGirvan]

Thanks Jim
I'll try and source something locally. I would imagine gluing rubber to hypalon would be easier than PVC to hypalon.

[nautitrix]

Polymarine, polymarine.com supplies many products for pv and hypalon skiffs through defender marine in the US. Suggest going to their UK. site for advice when it is up. Admittedly a sometimes thing. They are very good at responding to emails.

[nautitrix]

Just checked their site went to products and parts at the bottom is a whole section on "strakes" which is Brit for "rub-rail".
hope it helps "EH"