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Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit
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Author:  Sailinagin [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

I need to replace my rails. What are some good ways to get the old ones off? Any no-no's??

Author:  HOBIE 911 [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

Just rip off the old one. Use GOO Gone or acetone to get residue off as much as possible. Be careful with acetone, don't let it run down the side of the hull. Lay out new rail neo and pencil mark edges. Apply contact cement to area within pencil mark and back of neo, apply neo. Rolling pin works good to press a good solid set.

Author:  Little Wing [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

HOBIE 911 wrote:
Just rip off the old one. Use GOO Gone or acetone to get residue off as much as possible. Be careful with acetone, don't let it run down the side of the hull. Lay out new rail neo and pencil mark edges. Apply contact cement to area within pencil mark and back of neo, apply neo. Rolling pin works good to press a good solid set.



I suggest MEK as the solvent of choice.

Author:  Skipshot [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

Rip them off, and use a knife or razor or something to scrape with. The neoprene may come off in aggravating chunks requiring more elbow grease, but. . . tough. Don't worry about scratching the anodization if you have it since you'll cover it up with the new stuff. Get as much as you can without using solvent, then go back with some solvent to clean up the stubborn stuff, but you don't need to get all of it.

And one more thing - don't do like I did and not clean off the thin layer of oil (or whatever it is) on the new neoprene with soap and water, and scuff with very light sandpaper. Yeah, brand new neoprene the day before a regatta and they were slippery like ice.

Author:  MBounds [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

Skipshot wrote:
Rip them off, and use a knife or razor or something to scrape with. The neoprene may come off in aggravating chunks requiring more elbow grease, but. . . tough. Don't worry about scratching the anodization if you have it since you'll cover it up with the new stuff. Get as much as you can without using solvent, then go back with some solvent to clean up the stubborn stuff, but you don't need to get all of it.

This is an 18 - the neoprene goes directly on the deck lip (gelcoat).
Be careful if you use a knife. Don't gouge the fiberglass.

Author:  Skipshot [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

MBounds wrote:
Skipshot wrote:
Don't worry about scratching the anodization

This is an 18 - the neoprene goes directly on the deck lip (gelcoat).
Be careful if you use a knife. Don't gouge the fiberglass.
Whoops. I forgot which forum I was in.

Author:  Sailinagin [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

"Just ripping them off" doesnt really work for these thicker neoprene rails. Mine are dired and cracked into a couple thousand pieces :wink:

I did find a great tool at Auto Zone. It is an angled metal gasket scaper that allows you to tap itwith a hammer. The angle helps you stay flat to the fiberglass. NO scratching and a whole rail came off in less that 10 mins. No heat gun.

Author:  Europeguy [ Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

Tear off what can be removed crudely. THE method to remove what is left is still the good old hair dryer (a heat gun gives off to much heat and can damage your gel coat or could cause de-lamination) The heat makes the glue un-stuck and easy to remove. Wipe away traces with acetone.
Enjoy :))
Michel

Author:  Sailinagin [ Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Removing the Neoprene Rail Kit

Just to close the loop on what I did. I purchased an angled scraper from Autozone that was sturdy and allowed me to tap with a hammer. The angle let me keep the blade parallel to the deck and tapped it under the neoprene to remove the neoprene leaving just a skim coat of the adhesive. This worked great and did not scratch the gel coat.

After that I applied a coat of Citrus Strip from WalMart and left it for about 30 mins. Adhesive wiped off nicely with paper towels. To apply the new Rails I used the contact cement and allowed it to cure on both surfaces for about 20 mins per the instructions. Then used a rolling pin - my wife was out of town - to press the rail down working from the middle out.

The temp outside was about 75 degrees and I let the unapplied rails lay in direct sunlight for a few minutes. This made them nice a pliable. I even move the boat around with the trailer to get it out of the shade as the sun lowered in the sky! The rail stiffened up some in the shade!

New rails look great. Had to trim some off some of the rear rails that went behind the rear x-bar. They were covering two rivets in hull lip for the end of the trap shock cord.

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