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geoleo · 25-02-2015, 11:04

While exploring the used Catamaran market I have noticed that a great many Catamarans do not have any effective rub rails! Why is this? So I would buy and install after market Rub Rails. Has anyone here done this? and if yeas what and where are some good ones? Thanks.

**boatman61** · 25-02-2015, 11:08

Makes them top heavier and more prone to flipping...

Cheechako · 25-02-2015, 11:27

Howz that song go? "It's all about that weight, bout that weight, bout that weight...."

44'cruisingcat · 25-02-2015, 11:37

Not many production mono's have them either. I guess most people don't need them.

Canibul · 25-02-2015, 11:41

i had some but they kept rubbing us the wrong way.

scuba0_1 · 25-02-2015, 11:50

The decks are normally higher than any dock they would rests again so they stoped putting them in so they save cost. I saw one one on a mino the dock got right below the rail and ripped it off.

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2Hulls · 25-02-2015, 13:47

There's been one,.... er two,..... er, OK, several times when I wish I had them. I know of several Catana owners who have installed them after market. And they don't look too bad as there is a crease along the hull where they should go and where they blend in nicely. I've seen then factory installed on some of the newer Lagoons.

Dave

belizesailor · 25-02-2015, 16:30

Across a lot of different makes/models of cats I've found rub rails to be mostly useless. Good big fenders you can position in the right place are more effective. Good deck hands to handle them...even better.

One exception, I used to captain a commercial power cat which had brackets all around for 4x4" pine beams....now that's a proper rub rail ! Crush one on the dock...no big deal...bolt on another one.

windwisher · 25-02-2015, 16:58

Beefy rub rails were always standard on the Manta 40 and 42.

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jaybird1111 · 26-02-2015, 05:59

pre-1993/Crowther Catanas have rubrails, although I don't believe the first-generation Catanas did

Catalysis · 26-02-2015, 07:06

rubrails are standard on the Antares 44

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valhalla360 · 26-02-2015, 08:30

I think it's the marketing gurus wanting clean pretty lines. As someone else mentioned, a lot of newer mono's skip them also.

They are really nice when springing in or out of a dock as you can just gently lay the rub rail up against it but would never do it with bare fiberglass (keeping a bumper in place sounds good but they always want to slip out of place).

Then again, I struggle with the 6' of freeboard on a lot of the newer cats. I've seen it fairly frequently where a couple comes into a floating dock and I don't think they would be able to get tied off without shoreside help taking thier lines because the dock is 5' below the gunnel.

smj · 26-02-2015, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by valhalla360

I think it's the marketing gurus wanting clean pretty lines. As someone else mentioned, a lot of newer mono's skip them also.

They are really nice when springing in or out of a dock as you can just gently lay the rub rail up against it but would never do it with bare fiberglass (keeping a bumper in place sounds good but they always want to slip out of place).

Then again, I struggle with the 6' of freeboard on a lot of the newer cats. I've seen it fairly frequently where a couple comes into a floating dock and I don't think they would be able to get tied off without shoreside help taking thier lines because the dock is 5' below the gunnel.

That's one problem I have with the Antares 44, there must be 6'-7' from waterline to the deck. I saw one couple motor around in circles waiting for a dockhand as it seemed almost impossible to dock without one.