Active Active   Unanswered Unanswered

Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Framing, planking and fairing. Repair, or reconstruction. If it's hull related, you'll find it here.

Moderators: Don Ayers, Al Benton, Don Vogt

Riviera Wish
Posts: 220
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:58 pm
Contact:

Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by Riviera Wish » Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:39 am

I am about to assemble the spray rails and rub rails on an 18' Riviera runabout. Should there be a bedding compound used between the hull and the spray rails? Same question for the rub rails? If so, what bedding compound(s) would you recommend? Source?
Appreciate any advice.

User avatar
tkhersom
Posts: 983
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:56 pm
Location: Edgecomb, Maine
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by tkhersom » Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:05 am

Personally I have had the rub and spray rails off several times and have never used bedding compound on them, but I also don't think it would hurt anything if you want to use it. I consider bedding compound to be more critical on horizontal surfaces where water can stand and penetrate.

I bought two cans of compound years ago from Sandusky, (one white, one mahogany) still have plenty left. :D
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

boat_art
Posts: 556
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by boat_art » Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:19 am

I agree with Troy. I often use Sika or Lifecaulk on the top seam to close gaps, but I leave the bottom seam open to avoid trapping any water.
Tom
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

jfrprops
Posts: 2092
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 10:41 pm
Location: Powhatan Courthouse Virginia
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by jfrprops » Fri Apr 01, 2016 8:39 am

I think with regard to runabouts vs cruisers the situation is a bit different. Maybe bedding on a small boat is best for appearances...but as said, on a larger boat not that important ....more important not to trap water in there.

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

User avatar
robertpaul
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 13, 2013 2:35 pm
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by robertpaul » Fri Apr 01, 2016 9:32 am

Just a note to say that the rails on our 1937 cc cruiser are concave on the surface that mates with the hull. When removed for the first time I found that void was filled with some sort of paste filler.... probably like the compound from Sandusky/petit. It had the consistency of dried out window glazing putty or some such thing. The rails and planks they were fastened to were untouched by rot.
1937 35' Double Stateroom Enclosed Cruiser

Riviera Wish
Posts: 220
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:58 pm
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by Riviera Wish » Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:32 am

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions. Based on your input I think I will just attach the spray rails and rub rails without
any bedding compound. Good to know that others have done so with no negative effects. Appreciate all the feed back!

Tightline5
Posts: 451
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Campbell Co. Va.
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by Tightline5 » Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:58 pm

Check with Dannenberg,

Always bed spray rails in bedding compound or they will trap water and be an area for rot. Never bed metal rub rails, as this is an area where water will drain from, also cut waters should not be bedded for drainage.
Phil Jones

1948 US Plywood Executive Runabout Hull #1 "WeldWood"
1954 Racing Runabout R-496
1957 Deluxe Runabout D-17-2062
"MISBEHAVIN"

joanroy
Posts: 686
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:46 pm
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by joanroy » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:10 pm

I'd bed em with a coat of Dolphinite. It's probably similar to what was used originally and will come apart in the future.

Tightline5
Posts: 451
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Campbell Co. Va.
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by Tightline5 » Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:09 pm

As Joanroy suggest, any compound that will come apart as spray rails are sacrificial items on a boat and are replaced as needed.
Phil Jones

1948 US Plywood Executive Runabout Hull #1 "WeldWood"
1954 Racing Runabout R-496
1957 Deluxe Runabout D-17-2062
"MISBEHAVIN"

User avatar
robertpaul
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 13, 2013 2:35 pm
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by robertpaul » Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:23 am

The original filler on our cruiser definitely had no adhesive properties. I agree that a non adhesive compound is required.
1937 35' Double Stateroom Enclosed Cruiser

boat_art
Posts: 556
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by boat_art » Sat Apr 02, 2016 5:21 pm

This post is about a runabout. The concave surface is on cruisers only, not runabouts. The problem with bedding rails on a runabout is if water does get in it has nowhere to drain. Thats why I keep the bottom edge open on runabouts. In fact, in the hundreds of runabouts I have done, I have never seen rot under the rails. On the many cruisers I have done I have seen rot most of the time. This is why I do the same procedure on cruisers now....seal the top and leave the bottom open.
Tom
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

User avatar
robertpaul
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 13, 2013 2:35 pm
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by robertpaul » Sat Apr 02, 2016 6:11 pm

Over and Out.
1937 35' Double Stateroom Enclosed Cruiser

Tightline5
Posts: 451
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Campbell Co. Va.
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by Tightline5 » Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:42 pm

boat_art, So you are saying that my spray rails are not concave, A lot of them are, then you would most definitely be incorrect. I don't claim to have the experience Don Dannenberg has so I think I will go with his recommendation. Bed "ALL" spray rails in bedding compound. Spray rails are attached with screws, those screws penetrate the hull very close to the water line and are thus inundated with water much of there life. Would you install a chine plank without bedding it in something. Just need to think about the application alittle while to figure it out.
Phil Jones

1948 US Plywood Executive Runabout Hull #1 "WeldWood"
1954 Racing Runabout R-496
1957 Deluxe Runabout D-17-2062
"MISBEHAVIN"

boat_art
Posts: 556
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by boat_art » Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:52 pm

I thought about this for 50 years my friend. Still, I find no rot under rails. Dannenberg wrote the book, but as he himself says, he didnt invent the process, he just documented it.
Each owner can do what they wish but as a pro since 1965 I have to do what I know works. Best of luck.
If I have offended you, I apologize.
Tom
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

User avatar
steve bunda
Posts: 428
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:59 pm
Location: wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by steve bunda » Sun Apr 03, 2016 6:17 pm

Runabouts and Utilities, Generally when I take a spray rail off of a boat the dam thing is varnished on the top so thick there is a 1/8 " fillet that must be cut with a razor blade. After it is removed , some have no bedding , generally prewar, some have a little bedding, post war. Some have a nice machined 1/2 recessed channel in he back, generally post war.
Logic would prevail for replacement based on the boat, bed the top and allow the bottom to weep, the fasteners could be covered with life caulk,sika or 5200.

Tightline5
Posts: 451
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:49 pm
Location: Campbell Co. Va.
Contact:

Re: Bedding Compound on Spray Rails?

Post by Tightline5 » Sun Apr 03, 2016 7:04 pm

I did not mean for my reply to sound like that but I have seen quite a few concave spray rails. And I have seen quite a few with rot in the trailing edge in that area.
Phil Jones

1948 US Plywood Executive Runabout Hull #1 "WeldWood"
1954 Racing Runabout R-496
1957 Deluxe Runabout D-17-2062
"MISBEHAVIN"

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests