1990 TDB replacement Grassing Rails

[Ron Schuna]

Original 1990 ash rails were worn out when I bought the boat. I prepped the new PVC rails and attachment clips by wiping thouroughly with denatured alcohol. I then used Krylon Fusion Camo flat black spray paint. About 3 coats and let it cure overnight. See before and after photos. All it needs now is a thorough washing. I used all of the factory attachment locations.
Before:

After:

 

[Charlie S and Titan]

Rod,

Nice clean job. Great boat.

Is that PVC conduit? Could I ask why you wnet with that design, rather than rebuilding in wood, or reconstructing using a composite material?

Up here where we get on the cold side I'd think that wouldn't last long. Also, if it was mine, I can imaging hunting partners, dogs, docks, etc smashing into it/climbing on it, etc.


Charlie

 

[Ron Schuna]

Charlie,

I went with this design for it's simplicity and safety for my retrievers. It was a bit of work and probably wouldn't have taken any more time re-doing the ash rails. This is actually cream colored PVC plumbing pipe and is pretty tough stuff. I am contemplating filling with urethane foam for dampening and additional stiffening. I was concerned with one of my dogs launching off the boat and getting a paw caught in the original design rails which would break a foot easily. This application brings the rails in a bit closer but I probably will only use them to hang the raffia mats from them anyways. Who knows, maybe I'll grass them up and see how it looks.

Ron

 

[Charlie S and Titan]

Ron,

That makes good sense. Thanks for the reply.

Charlie

 

[MLBob Furia]

Looks like you replaced all the snaps that the lower part of the blind attaches to with fittings and a second rail. Wasn't the blind included when you purchased the boat?

Whats your plan for a blind? Great boat, but even more effective when you can be enclosed by the blind made for it and a flip roof. Have anchored in open water and had birds decoy without paying it any mind.

 

[Ron Schuna]

MLBob,

The 1990 came with a side shooter blind that I have. The rail orientation is the factory set up and I did not change any stations. I do like the look of your boat though and wouldn't mind a full around blind but I don't think they are available after market.

Nice pics of your boat.

Ron

 

[John Cottenham]

Ron I have a question on the clips that hold your new rails. Where did you get them and also do you know what the screws holding them go into in the boat? I have an 89 that needs the same fix. THANKS

 

[Ron Schuna]

John,

I bought the clips at my local Ace hardware here where I live. I believe they are for holding pvc water pipe. I can't remember the name of the brand but I'll swing in there and look. It was like $4.50 for 25 of them. I used the 3/4" pipe clips and shortened the bolts to 1" with nylock nuts for the areas that use nuts and bolts and I also shortened the stainless wood screws by a bit also. That was done by trial and error. I put one of original screws into the hole and tightened until it stopped. Then I put one of the clips adjacent to it and noted the difference in length and replaced with the correct length. A bit shorter than the factory screws. Key to getting this to work is to preclean the plastic with denatured alcohol and let dry. Then the fusion camo flat black paint should cure for at least 24 hours before putting the pipes into the clips. The only place that lost any paint during installation was the edge of the clip after snapping the pipe into place. I just took some paper and made a slit in it to go around the clip and did touch up after.

Let me know if you can't find them at your local Ace. They just look like a cream colored plastic "C". If you can't find any, I could get some for you and send them to you.

Good Luck,
Ron