Otto ...
Maybe I'm to late but here’s a
rub rail supplier ....he will send samples if you ask nice [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
I have found several rails (rigid vinyl with stainless insert) that fit your profile...
While I agree that the "soft" vinyl rails is more forgiving, dent proof and much easier to put on the boat I have seen a few jobs using that rub rail that are downright ugly !!! due to the rail wavering up and down as you look at the sheer line of the boat.
The rigid/with SS will help to eliminates that plus, my personal opinion , it dresses up the boat a whole bunch and looks real nice.....The other thing is that the rigid is just that ..RIGID and transfers that "bang into the pilings" across a larger area of the rail....reducing the stress/energy on the impact point and the “fragile” F/G behind it... the soft stuff doesn’t do that as well....and if “crunched” hard enough it can start crazing and spider cracks at the site that gets hit(I'm sure if you run into things hard enough it will not matter what you have on the rail!!!!!)...Unfortunately the past owner of mine proved that point (I have soft vinyl rails) and there is a spot on the gunwale cap that has lots of crazing....and on the rub rail there is evidence of an encounter with a pole (torn rubber and tell tale tar) Me… personally I would rather have to replace a $12.00 section of SS insert than have to look at crazed fiberglass. Additionally the rigid vinyl portion of the rail has a “crown” in it which fills the void in the SS rail ….. making it more difficult to dent .
It’s a personal opinion for sure .... and no matter what kind of rail you use try to stay away from those pilings !!!!!
[ March 11, 2003, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Scott ]