Neoprene raiL REMOVAL

Bought an older H16 (my first sailboat) which has neoprene rail on it that is beyond it's life expectancy. Hard and cracked all over. Any recommendations on what can I use to remove the neoprene would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Lee
77 H16 White hull / tequila sails
78 H16 Blue hull / white sails

Welcome to the forum,
You can probably peel it off. If it is too crumbly then try a plastic scraper.

As to get the glue off after, Try acetone, rubbing alcohol, or Toluene. One of those should cut the glue.

I am in southern NH also maybe we can hook up once the water stops being too hard for hobie cats

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84 14T Redline #67 Blue Hawaii faded but still working!
82 Yellow hull16 '81 Boomer nationals 20.9 on GPS
83 White hull 16 No sails "Clean and Purty Now!"
87 White hull no sails no tramp

Oh man, you just reminded me that this is a chore I've got to do too. I did it once and it was an arduous task. I recall some kind of solvent and resorting to a metal scraper, goggles, gloves.... BIG chore because I wanted it to be smooth so my delicate feet and butt would not feel bumps (heard of the princess and the pea?). I was tempted to get out power equipment but I don't think I did. It's glued on essentially with contact glue/cement if it's a normal kit. What dissolves contact cement best? The good news is we only have to do this about every 10 years right?

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1989 H16
2009 H16 squaretop

FYI....you don't really have to remove all the old contact cement (but I would try to remove any raised bits). The solvents in the new contact cement will dissolve the old stuff enough to get a good bond. Last time I dealt with this issue, I did it this way (at Matt Bounds' suggestion, I believe). It worked well and was a LOT easier than stripping the old stuff off as I had done in the past!

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

I just removed neoprene from my H18 lacquer thinner dissolved the glue just took a little rubbing where it was thick

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