spray rails

[scrapper]

my 23,the boat is probably the best boat i've ever owned,and i honestly mean that.the only draw back is the wet ride.do spray rails help ? and where is the best place to mount them ? i asked a local fiberglass guy about this,he was telling me,and showing me,a boat he just made shields for.question here is,does anyone's boat have these shields ? and tell me your experience,please be as honest as possible,this isn't a cheap job.
thanks

[Fr. Frank]

Yes, spray rails help. You can have teak rails custom made. Around here, I know a man who put two 10' teak spray rails on his 24' Pro-line. It cost him $600 installed. They are screwed to his hull, as well as installed with poly-sulfide caulk.

Another option is the Smart Rail. About the same price, but you gotta install them yourself. Click here.

If it were me. I would just make them out of Starboard. 5/8" x 1.5" x 8' long. I'd screw them to the hull every foot just above the hard chine, as well as using 3M's 4200 or BoatLife caulk. 5200 would have better hold, but you'd never get 'em off without pulling off the gel-coat. The cost would be under $200.

[scrapper]

thanks frank,never thought about starboard,excellent idea.i thought 5200 would not stick to starboard ?

[Fr. Frank]

thanks frank,never thought about starboard,excellent idea.i thought 5200 would not stick to starboard ?

You know, I never hear that. Maybe wiser heads can offer opinions on that.

[Bigshrimpin]

I skuffed up a piece of 1/2" starboard with 80 grit sand paper and 5200'd it in the splashwell area of my brothers boat then mounted a hatch into it. It's been there 8 years and it's still water tight.

[scrapper]

I skuffed up a piece of 1/2" starboard with 80 grit sand paper and 5200'd it in the splashwell area of my brothers boat then mounted a hatch into it. It's been there 8 years and it's still water tight.

ok,rough it up first,that makes it stick.thanks guys

so,the spray rails,these really do cut down on the water?

[PipeDreamsMarine]

my 23,the boat is probably the best boat i've ever owned,and i honestly mean that.the only draw back is the wet ride.do spray rails help ? and where is the best place to mount them ? i asked a local fiberglass guy about this,he was telling me,and showing me,a boat he just made shields for.question here is,does anyone's boat have these shields ? and tell me your experience,please be as honest as possible,this isn't a cheap job.
thanks

Jim.. A lot of 20's and 23's have them. And they do work on knocking down the spray. Put them right on the hard chine and stop them just before the console. Taco makes a plastic spray rail, price isn't too bad, Hamilton Marine makes one too, it's bigger but you can cut it down for smaller boats.. cheaper then the Taco stuff but more work to make it work.
Good luck you'll be glad you put them on..

[Old'sCool]

Starboard tends to crack at screw holes especially if overtightened or in this case, stressed very hard. I would imagine there is a lot of hydraulic force when coming off a 3'-4' wave. I would go teak.

[NoBones]

Teak !!


Ken

[Caymanboy]

I just jumped on, I have a set of PVC rails I just took of a 20', I'll let them go,CHEAP! Also, not much sticks to starboard. Email me if you are intersted in the rails.
obparker@att.net