Rub Rail End Caps

[daniel123]

I have a 1970s-vintage 170 with the original green rubrail -- sans one end cap. The rubrail has shrunk a bit length-wise and now is about 1/2-3/4 inch short of the transom on the gunwale, so most aftermarket end caps, such as those from TACO, do not extend far enough to both cover the end of the rail and reach around the corner to the transom. Even the one original green cap I have is borderline with the part that covers the end of the rail not extending forward enough and frankly is hard as a rock and probably not serviceable. I doubt there are any original caps around (right?) and unless someone can use mine to make a mold or fabricate some, I'll have to rely on an aftermarket piece. I have ordered a set of generic stainless rub rail ends ($18 for the pair plus $9 shipping...) that on the web site say they are 1 7/8 inches wide, which is what the rubrail measures, and they don't reach around the transom but appear that they might work and look good. I won't know if that's an outside or inside measurement (although I'd guess the former) and whether they will fit until they get here next week. I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, if you have any thoughts or alternatives, let me know! Ditto any tricks to bring the green rubber rail back to life/color. Several coats of my standby 303 Aerospace Protectant have not done the trick...

[flounderpounder225]

For restoring your color, read down into Lew's post's on this subject.
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=6717.msg48137#msg48137

[daniel123]

I'll give that sanding/buffing angle a try. Thanks, guys!

Dan

[pete]

try here  http://www.barbourcorp.com/marine-products.htm

[daniel123]

Got the generic s/s ends caps I ordered and they are not 'deep' enough in the curved part that clasps over the curved rail to surround it and rest tight against the gunwale above and below the rubber. Damn. Now I face another $10 to ship 'em back and probably a 20% restocking fee...

Dan

[daniel123]

Found T-H Marine rub rail end caps on their web site with what I am hoping is a wide enough flange (1") to reach forward to cover the space where the rub rail has shrunk forward about a half-inch from the transom corner: Model ECMW-2W. The final W is for white; much harder to locate than black. I'll keep you guys posted on whether or not they fit.

[daniel123]

Those T-H rub rail end caps work -- barely. They are the right diameter for older Asport rub rails, the "barely" in my case refers to how far forward my ends are from the transom corner; the caps just cover the exposed ends enough to give the rail a finished look.

By looking at a few pics on the site, I realize that original rub rails appear to have been wrapped around the transom corner, ending at the transom cutout (?). The fact that mine are cut off at the transom corner is just one more sign (that and the HIN# being absent) that my transom has been rebuilt. They probably just cut off the rub rail flush with the transom when they did the job. I hope this info has been helpful to someone facing a similar re-hab. Any input on where original rub rails end on a 1970s vintage 170 would be welcome!