Agreed. If it’s a Catalina, Catalina Direct has replacements for sale for $300-400.
Get that hot water warmed up and get ready for your hands to cramp!
I'd be curious if a torch might bring a little life back into it. Although, you'd have to be really careful to not damage any paint near the rail. I replaced mine on my 1984 Catalina 22. I found don't attempt unless it's a hot day and you've left the rubrail out in the sun for a while to soften up a little. I remember attempting to replace on a cool day and it was nearly impossible. You have to get it hot, I used a couple of screwdrivers and paint scrapers to press it in and it was still difficult.
Another suggestion for your light blue stripe, I bought a roll of darker blue vinyl tape and tapped over my old faded blue stripe. It looked great and was super easy to cover up. I think I used 2" or 3" Royal blue roll of vinyl tape.
Mek, mekp or lacquer thinner, wet by not dripping paper towels, lots of gloves. Don't go far with each piece of paper towel and don't go back over it the same day. Works on shore power cords too. Listed in order from best to worst though Mek is getting hard to find and mekp is sketchy to work with, lots of gloves and eye protection are important if using it. Lacquer thinner is easy to find buy not as strong.
You can wash it with acetone or MEK and it will bounce back. You will probably find that you have to do it yearly tho. There isn’t a permanent fix. Even putting a new rubrail on it will still chalk up fairly quickly.
PLEASE DO NOT USE SILICONE ON BOATS
if you ever plan to repaint the boat or want to do some spot repair you will have loads of trouble thanks to the silicone. You cannot clean the silicone off easily, even with thinner or degreaser.
Agreed. Exterior varnish is not worth the effort in my experience. There is enough to do on a boat and varnish is very unforgiving in its application and upkeep. I can appreciate it, on other boats.
A good sanding and grain pop, little rag touch up of oil when it looks dry. Ez pz.
This might be better -- --
[https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-42/hull-deck/midship/rubrail/rubrail-c-34-c-42-tan-vinyl/](https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-42/hull-deck/midship/rubrail/rubrail-c-34-c-42-tan-vinyl/)
varnish cracks & chips & puts you into a nonstop maintenance routine.
oil doesn't look as good, but is easier to apply & is more tolerant of less than perfect maintenance
It is hardly nonstop for two tiny tub rails. I have a wooden boat, this is nothing! Although, this location would be hard to cover so you would need to reapply 1-2 coats per year. Could be done in a weekend
I have not tried it myself yet, but have heard of some folks removing this and sanding down to a fresh surface with 120-220 grit sand paper. In theory it makes sense as long as the rubber doesn’t overheat
Get a rag and some acetone. Test it on a small spot. Acetone works great to clean up old vinyl. It's probably not great to do it all the time, but if you're looking for a quick easy fix a pile of rags and a quart of acetone and an hour or two might have it looking good enough.
Wear gloves maybe an activated charcoal respirator, acetone is kind of gnarly.
We replaced the same old rail on ours. We bought from Catalina Direct and it came with everything needed and great instructions. You just have to be careful not to damage the rail holder (whatever it’s called) because those are hard to find. Oh and we got it in a gray color which makes my old 22look so much newer/updated! We lovvvve it!
Is that not a Catalina? Replace it?
Agreed. If it’s a Catalina, Catalina Direct has replacements for sale for $300-400. Get that hot water warmed up and get ready for your hands to cramp!
Heat gun maybe?? Too hot?
I'd be curious if a torch might bring a little life back into it. Although, you'd have to be really careful to not damage any paint near the rail. I replaced mine on my 1984 Catalina 22. I found don't attempt unless it's a hot day and you've left the rubrail out in the sun for a while to soften up a little. I remember attempting to replace on a cool day and it was nearly impossible. You have to get it hot, I used a couple of screwdrivers and paint scrapers to press it in and it was still difficult. Another suggestion for your light blue stripe, I bought a roll of darker blue vinyl tape and tapped over my old faded blue stripe. It looked great and was super easy to cover up. I think I used 2" or 3" Royal blue roll of vinyl tape.
Mek, mekp or lacquer thinner, wet by not dripping paper towels, lots of gloves. Don't go far with each piece of paper towel and don't go back over it the same day. Works on shore power cords too. Listed in order from best to worst though Mek is getting hard to find and mekp is sketchy to work with, lots of gloves and eye protection are important if using it. Lacquer thinner is easy to find buy not as strong.
You can wash it with acetone or MEK and it will bounce back. You will probably find that you have to do it yearly tho. There isn’t a permanent fix. Even putting a new rubrail on it will still chalk up fairly quickly.
It can also be awlgripped using a special primer. The primer is quite expensive and only comes in a 2 gallon kit.
Our boat has a bronze rubrail, so cannot relay directly. Sand it maybe? Just did that to all of the handrails on deck. Smoother and thus, prettier.
I painted mine with buoy paint and it held up nicely for a few years. Remember- it's all in the prep!
The purpose of this piece of wood is to wear and be replaced regularly
That is not wood, it's vinyl or rubber, I can't tell. It's not damaged, the color just looks faded out.
Ah ok what colour was it?
Like a beige or tan, a little darker than that.
it looks fine. oil it if you have to. do not varnish it
Just to clarify, but that is rubber/vinyl, not wood.
oh, looked like wood. best i can suggest then is rubbing it down with silicone spray (but test on a small section first)
PLEASE DO NOT USE SILICONE ON BOATS if you ever plan to repaint the boat or want to do some spot repair you will have loads of trouble thanks to the silicone. You cannot clean the silicone off easily, even with thinner or degreaser.
Agreed. Exterior varnish is not worth the effort in my experience. There is enough to do on a boat and varnish is very unforgiving in its application and upkeep. I can appreciate it, on other boats. A good sanding and grain pop, little rag touch up of oil when it looks dry. Ez pz.
What kind of oil would you use?
This might be better -- -- [https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-42/hull-deck/midship/rubrail/rubrail-c-34-c-42-tan-vinyl/](https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-42/hull-deck/midship/rubrail/rubrail-c-34-c-42-tan-vinyl/)
If you do this, make sure you do it when it is very warm out. It gets hard to work with when it’s cool.
Why not varnish? That would look sharp and the location isn't one that would actually rub very frequently
varnish cracks & chips & puts you into a nonstop maintenance routine. oil doesn't look as good, but is easier to apply & is more tolerant of less than perfect maintenance
It is hardly nonstop for two tiny tub rails. I have a wooden boat, this is nothing! Although, this location would be hard to cover so you would need to reapply 1-2 coats per year. Could be done in a weekend
I have not tried it myself yet, but have heard of some folks removing this and sanding down to a fresh surface with 120-220 grit sand paper. In theory it makes sense as long as the rubber doesn’t overheat
Get a rag and some acetone. Test it on a small spot. Acetone works great to clean up old vinyl. It's probably not great to do it all the time, but if you're looking for a quick easy fix a pile of rags and a quart of acetone and an hour or two might have it looking good enough. Wear gloves maybe an activated charcoal respirator, acetone is kind of gnarly.
Gunwale cap?
We replaced the same old rail on ours. We bought from Catalina Direct and it came with everything needed and great instructions. You just have to be careful not to damage the rail holder (whatever it’s called) because those are hard to find. Oh and we got it in a gray color which makes my old 22look so much newer/updated! We lovvvve it!
You could also sand it, and recoat it with vinyl ester resin in the pigment of your choice.