: Is there a "standard" rub rail size? I am considering putting them
: on my Ches 17 that is getting closer to completion. The book "The
: Kayak Shop" indicated 1/4" X 3/4".

: Has anyone used this size? How did they work out?

: Other recommendations?

: Thanks

Art,

I just installed the rub rails on the Reliance Double I am currently
building earlier this week and the finished dimensions were the 1/4"X3/4" that
you mentioned. Ted Moores in his book Kayak Craft indicates that they can be
as large as 5/16"X7/8". I started out with the larger dimensions but after
scarfing the three pieces together and running them through the thicknessing
sander and cleaning up the edges on the table saw they ended up 1/4"X3/4".
Also 1/4" seems to me to be about the minimum thickness that you will be able
to drill a counter bored hole into and still have room to set a plug into to
cover the screw hole.

I also tapered the rub rails into both the bow and stern. For the 20ft.
boat that I'm building I started 4ft. back from the bow and stern and tapered the rail down to just under 1/2" at the tip. I think that this really helps to
accentuate the shear line of the boat. Perhaps on the shorter boat that you are
building starting the taper 3ft. back from the tips would be better. CLC has
a brief discussion on this topic on their web site.

GOOD LUCK

I
: Art