Required equipment

• PVC rubbing strake for horizontal flange
• Hot cabinet or water container with heating
• Drill with drill-bit (dia6 - dia10)
• 2 ea. nails, bolts or equivalent for temporary attachment of the rubbing strake
• 2 - 4 ea. stainless steel screws (M6 - M8) with nut and washer for permanent attachment of the rubbing strake
• Alternatively joint / end fittings
• Sharp knife or a saw to cut the rubbing strake
• Protective gloves
   

Adjustment of the flange edge and the selection of the rubbing strake

The outer edge of the flange (the grinding edge) is recommended to be 10% narrower than the rubbing strake's inner depth.

 
The position of the rivets should be 1 - 2 mm closer to the hull than the rubbing strake's fastening point (internal stay bar). This is important to compensate for the rubbing strake's narrowing when it is stretched on to the flange edge.
 

Use a product sample as a gauge. Do not use the sketch in the product catalogue. Product samples can be delivered on request.
 

Heating

The entire rubbing strake is to be heated to approx. 80°C for 45 - 60 minutes. A hot cabinet is recommended to avoid damages to the rubbing strake. If a water container is chosen, an opened oil drum can be used. Do not let the rubbing strake get in contact with the heat source, as this will damage the surface finish.

If the rubbing strake is heated too long, the material will be damaged reducing the ageing properties. 2 Hrs heating is the recommended maximum.

The rubbing strake is ready for mounting when it is soft and easy. The softness will normally stay for 5-10 minutes.

Mounting

The use of protective gloves is recommended as the rubbing strake is very hot. For bigger profiles used on boats over 15 feet, it is recommended that more people are involved in the mounting.

Attach one end of the rubbing strake by drilling a hole through the bending strake and the flange. Put a nail or similar through the hole as a temporary attachment. If possible keep as much as possible of the rubbing strake heated under this operation.

The rubbing strake is to be pulled as it is put on to the entire boat flange. You can calculate an elongation of 5-10% but this is very individual. The rubbing strake must be stretched to get a good fit, but not more! If the strake is over stretched it will become too narrow. An over stretch can easily be noticed by looking for bulges over the rivets / bolts on the flange. The tension around the corners are also of importance to avoid bulging.

When you have mounted the rubbing strake around the boat you attach the other end temporarily by drilling a hole through the fender and the flange and securing it with a nail or similar. Excessive strake should be cut off.

The rubbing strake is now to be permanently attached with through stainless steel screws and nuts with preferably big washers to avoid the screw/nut digging to much into the material. Stainless / acid proof joint fitting will give a nice transition where the ends of the rubbing strake is meeting. It is of importance to attach fittings through both the strake and the flange.

Drill draining holes through the under side of the rubbing strake.

If you are not satisfied with the result, you can always reheat and do it all over again. Practise will give you skills.