Rubrail Replacement for Vegas V

Hi Mark and Randy,

I recently purchased a 1983 Hydrostream Vegas from eBay with (naturally) a soft floor and transom. The hull is now split in two (top removed) and the new floor including stringers and transom are installed. It will get splatter painted tomorrow weather permitting, so soon the top and bottom of the hull will be rejoined. As you know, where the top meets the bottom there is a thin lip approx 1 1\4" wide, where the old chrome rub rail held the top onto the bottom of the hull (as well as bonded) I don't want to put the old riveted rail back on, but would prefer to find some black vinyl U-shaped rail to replace it with. It will look much nicer with the blue metalflake fade to blk factory color than the dated 80's chrome rail looks. Only problem is I can't find any place with such an item. Any suggestions would be seriously appreciated. Apparently there was some kind of trick involved in the original manufacturing process as the top half of the hull has no rivet holes, so it must have been slid in somehow after the rail was installed. Not how it is going to be reinstalled, it will be bonded together from the inside and then the rail put on if I can find a suitable product.

 Thank-you, Rob

 P.S. I bought the boat sight unseen not sure it even ran, when we got the boat home and went through the motor it was found to be a virtually unused 1983 200 hp Merc with the chrome cylinders and 145-150 psi compression in all 6 cylinders. The paint on the powerhead bolts is virgin and all serial numbers match so it's not a rebuild. A real home run - can't wait to drive it.

 

Rob, 

Boy, do you have work cut out for you. Since you are changing it to the “traditional” style rub rail, you could pick that up anywhere. Bass boat companies are using the plastic V-shaped rub rail with the rubber insert. Have the local Triton dealer order one for you. Gambler boats are built around the Orlando area, you could look them up and drive over to get the rail they use.

Randy

 

 

Please submit whatever questions you have to IHRTechTalk@yahoo.com.  All questions and answers selected will be displayed on this page as they come in.  Note: though all boaters are welcome, priority may be given to I.H.R. members.  Randy can not be held responsible for any advice given.  Though his information and expertise is second to none, he has no control over what you do with your boat.  It is up to you to boat safely and act responsibly, and his advice is only to be used as a guidance for your high performance boat/motor of which you are the one responsible for the risks involved.

Thanks,
Mark C.

 

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