any of you guys have an opinion on smart rails

RUSTYNTABATHA · #1 05-24-2013, 08:41 PM

Looked at the website and love the concept. They will be my next big purchase / Mod... they have 2 different models and im haveing trouble deciding on which one to go with !!!

Wildman · #2 05-25-2013, 07:15 AM

I love my spray rails. Well I did until they leaked, so I had to tear the teak ones off destroying them in the process and I am replacing with plastic.
I got them from here http://www.barbourcorp.com/
Mine are 15.5ft long, starting a few inches back from the bow eye, and continuing along the outter chine to the water line. I wish I had installed them while I had the deck out so I could have thru bolted them.

FishStretcher · #3 05-25-2013, 07:47 AM

3M makes a product called VHB tape. It stands for Very High Bond. They mean it. It comes in a few different chemistries. Generally it smells like a modified acrylic tape adhesive. It will stick to polyester powdercoat very well, if you get the low surface energy tape made for plastics. I used it to hold aluminum extrusions to a powdercoated chassis. When moving the equipment, the aluminum extrusion pulled a door frame out of the wall- the tape held. I don't know how it works with salt water, but it might be an option for not using screws for a spray rail. You can get it at McMaster Carr but larger amounts would be cheaper elsewhere. I think 3m # 4952 is what you would want.

gofastsandman · #4 05-25-2013, 09:22 AM

1200clams for extruded vinyl...please

pianewman · #5 05-25-2013, 10:44 AM

On my dad's '73 20'CC OB, if you bury the rail while turning into some chop/wake, they can pull the bow down...in the direction of the turn...or at least that was the impression we all had, including my dad, who has had hundreds of hours on his '74 Tsunami. He wants to get rid of them, and just deal with getting wet.
Just another perspective.

RUSTYNTABATHA · #6 05-25-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

1200clams for extruded vinyl...please

That was for the speed rails. the smart rails are 600 including all the stuff to attach them. No holes 3m tape AND construction adhesive bonding epoxy... i thought this was a pretty good price. The plastic ones mentioned above looked apealing as well.

parrott · #7 06-04-2013, 10:05 AM

Put spray rails on my MA before I restored it. IMO did not help much at all. Actually rode worse and will never put them on a boat that size again