Mystery leak

[rowanangler]

To start off im new to the board a friend of mine says what a great site this is so i figured id try it out.

Ive got an '85 ranger 373V. Noticed water coming in on the passenger side of the boat onto the floor board but there is no water in the bilge until this water flows into the drain and thus putting water in the bilge. My question/theory is this..... Has anyone ever seen a ranger of this year/model leak from the hull/deck joint where the rub rail is mounted? If so how difficult is it to pull the rub rail off and seal this joint? Reason i think this is where my leak is i see where the previous owner has silicone sealed the bottom side of the rub rail to stop the leak. If i scrape the old silicon off and get it good and clean is there a better sealer to use or should the rub rail be taken off and sealed at the joint area. Thanks for your input

[GhostComanche]

Best results would be removal of the rubrail and then resealing.................it is a difficult task, but can be accomplished...................Welcome to BBC and the Ranger board Sir............................RR

[Carlos H]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by GhostComanche &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Best results would be removal of the rubrail and then resealing.................it is a difficult task, but can be accomplished...................Welcome to BBC and the Ranger board Sir............................RR </td></tr></table>

Spot on! Also, silicone the screws when you out them back in as well

[Pole Bender]

I would do it right so the repair lasts and remove the rub rail as Roger said. Here is a trick I learned years ago on some of my older boats. Gas is your friend when removing old silicone when you do not want to damage the Fiberglass. Once you have the silicone off wash with soap and water. Get some 100% rubbing alcohol and clean the area with it prior to applying the new silicone.

[rowanangler]

Thanks guys I used to be a bass tracker guy ( still have my old one since the ranger upgrade )..... If i attempt this should i worry about the joint coming apart or not lining up once i remove the rub rail and bolts/screws? or should it stay in place to where i can reseal and then just put back together. Id like to get this project done before my tourney season starts on march 10th.

[Ranger519VS]

the boat is bonded together so nothing is going to come apart if you take the rub rail off. It is just cosmetic. I had a similar leak with my '86 373. I just put silicone on the bottom of the rub rail.. Wow that was 4 Rangers ago!

[MBragg8]

One piece of advice before taking the rub rail off. Go to apex of the bow and put a mark with a grease pen or masking tape to mark the center. This way when you reinstall the rub rail, you will be lined up properly and strart reinstalling rub rail from bow to transom. It is no fun to start reinstalling at the transom on one side only to find that you are 1 inch short when you make it all the way around to the transom on the other side. Ran into this when installing rub rail lights.... Good luck.