Mac 26 Rub Rail damage

Cary · Post by **Cary** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:39 pm

This summer my wife and I were anchored at our dock when a heavy wind came up around midnight. It lasted maybe 45 minutes or so. The dock did not do so well. Twisted like a pretzel. Anyway, we suffered some rib rail damage. About one foot of the rib rail was damaged on the port side and a small amount of damage to the rib rail near the bow. Does anyone have an idea on how to repair the damaged rib rail? One of the bolts that is covered by the rib rail tore loose also. This is a Mac 26X - 97' model.

Post by **kmclemore** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:33 pm

You probably mean the "Rub Rail"?

If so, there are several previous postings about the 26X that may be of help.....

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5504
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3038
http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3672

Cary · Post by **Cary** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:22 pm

Thanks so much for the information on fixing the rub rail. It least I now understand that it is a rub rail and not a rib rail, like I mentioned in my post.

R Rae · Post by **R Rae** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:41 pm

Two years ago during an unscheduled storm I lost about two feet of rubrail on my '02X. Some large pilings got in the way.
Well, the fellows at Blue Water convinced me to replace the whole thing, and gave me a very reasonable price on a 50 foot length of new stuff.
My local boat shop steered me away from the 5200 stuff as it can grip a lot more than is necessary, and is a real @$#%^& to remove. I went with the 25 year GE silicon white, and so far so good. A steady pull by person A, and goop application (above and below) and poke in place by person B. No question it is a two man job. But two neophytes (myself and another rooky) had the whole thing back in business within about two hours flat.

P.S. It did take about two hours prior, just to remove the original goop.

mtc · Post by **mtc** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:31 am

how much is the rail? Is there another version/model with a hard center runner to prevent other damage which will certainly occur?

I'd be hesitant to replace with original.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:51 am

Choose a rubrail with a hard center and suffer even greater installation hassle?
My factory rubrail is fine after six+ years, so I'd be fine with an identical replacement. Installation notes are great ... thanks Rae!

Post by **kmclemore** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 11:47 am

Yep, mine's fine too - it's the original so it's about 8 years old. I'd go with the factory stuff. Use a nice automotive wax after you install it so the rubber doesn't decay.

mtc · Post by **mtc** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:00 pm

after one good scrape against the dock piling, the rubber was violated. You guys have gone years?

wow.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:46 pm

Most all docks on the left coast are floaters, and many have pilings interior to the dock's outline, or just at the ends. This means the rubrail is generally above the dock, so there's not much oppty for contacting the rubrail. I'm sure it fares much worse where concrete docks or many pilings are frequent obstacles.

mtc · Post by **mtc** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:24 am

No doubt.

I was launching off a moderately constructed finger pier off of a ramp. The pilings were somewhat used, but the wind made up for any protrusions which would damage my hull/rail.

One good slam against the dock, of course the fenders moved, put a fairly good cut in the soft rail.

Had I had another rail type with a harder center I believe it would have survived the 'rub'

Most rails are surface mounted, while the Mac is a 'C' type mount.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Mac 26 Rub Rail damage

Mac 26 Rub Rail damage

Rub rail