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Hey All,

Anyone have any tips for how to slide the black insert into the track for the rub rail? I tried everything i could think of...put it in drum of hot water to soften it up, added soap, sprayed soapy water on the receiver track, tried hitting the end with a plastic hammer from the back...but couldn't get it more than a few feet up the side. Also tried pinching the top and bottom instead of sliding from the end but didn't have much success with that either.

Ive scanned the site but all the tips seem to be related to installing the rigid receiver. Did anyone else have trouble with the black portion or am I the only one??? Could my insert be the wrong size? I bought them as a package from Twin Cities.

Thanks for the help
DP

1964 Nauset 16.

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You place the bottom edge of the insert into the track and then use a flat tipped screw driver to push the top edge of the insert into the track. You don't need to heat the insert. Then go around with a mallet and tap the completed insert to completely seat the insert and even the appearance. You can start at the back or at the front. If you start at the front just start at the way point of the new insert.

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This link might help, you can fast forward to about 14:40 min. the guy kinda got of track for a little bit but gets to what you want toward the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=turAg...urAg79PcRs
I also used the starting the bottom and putty knife for the top as well, finishing with a mallet. If memory serves me correctly stretching while popping it in the track makes thing go very smooth.

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That's usually the easiest part...Twin Cities orders from Whaler and ship's direct to the customer...Sue does not make many mistakes...but Whaler on the other hand,...there is a possibility you were sent a wrong size - The insert is just not that difficult..

The last one i replaced (on the Outrage) went in with my hands - sprayed it with simple green and pinched it in, followed by a wood rolling pin which really seated the insert.

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Your write up sounds like you are trying to "push" the insert in from an end. Need to set one end and pull the insert around the boat as you press the insert into the rub rail.

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It sounds to me like your problem is trying to slide the insert in. That does not work.

The trick is the squeeze the insert with your hands in about 3" to 4" length, so that the upper and lower "legs" begin to tuck under the receiver lips. Then you use a mallet or hammer to "flatten" it out, which simply means pushing the legs fully up into the receiver. It's really quite simple - squeeze a section, tap it in, and keep moving ahead, about 3" at a time. Do not stretch the insert as you are doing this. Simply let it fall where it does.

When you have to go under fittings, such as the bow chock, you shave off the legs, only leaving the front face, as needed, with a mat knife. Corners, such as on the Outrage models, also have to have the legs v-notched.

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I concur with Larry, you can't slide the insert into place, it must be snapped in.

The trick is using dish soap as a lubricant, and by this I mean straight from the bottle, not just "soapy water". When I do these you place up to a foot of the lower edge of the insert fully into the track then pinch the insert down to get the upper edge stared in the receiver track.

I then use a rubber mallet to gently nest it into place.

It helps if you do this in warm weather.

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Yes, the warmer ambient temperature, the easier I have found such a job. My favorite month to do a rubrail is August or whenever it reaches 80 degrees F.