Spray rail trouble

[Micanda]

Hi All
I have noticed over the past few months that the seams in my looks like pvc spray rails have begun to crack and separate. Not sure if I can or should repair them or replace them. Any suggestion on what they should be made out of I think I recall a post about mahogany being used. Not looking forward to taking them off but it has to be right! sorry about the big giant photo I have no idea why its so big Lol.

 

[F/V First Team]

Those are some crazy rails! Big photos are awesome, gives us all a glimpse at the issue at hand without having to press our noses right up to the screen.

Looks like it's just a regular old expansion issue. Most do this, mine have done this, just the pvc showing it's age. You can back fill it with some sort of compound that you can sand and finish, like sikaflex 292 for example, which will remain somewhat soft (not gooey) so it will ride there and flex the appropriate amount. So you would have to refinish that seam where the crack is as well as where the rail is meeting the hull. You might even consider using some 292 on that joint surface as well for the same flexing characteristic with maybe a linear polyurethane finish that would wiggle with everything, the impacts from the rail acting against the waves as well as the expansion taking place with a dark hull.

Just a thought and in no way what you absolutely should do. You could replace the entire rail with either pvc or wood that you would need to encapsulate. One of these days I might try to weld my rail back together, just haven't done it yet since you really have to look closely to see the crack.

Hope it works out for you whichever method you decide on

 

[Micanda]

Thanks First team I think I will patch for this year to many other projects that have to get done. Next winter I will take them off and replace them with something better.