Installing rub rails

[Lew's Canoes]

Restoring a nice old AA OT canoe that came in with mahogany rub rails. When I removed then, there was no bedding compound under them, but the back side of the rub rails was hollowed out, much like a stem band. It will soon be time to reinstall them, and I am wondering if I should bed the refinished rub rails against the sides of the hull with bedding compound, or simply screw them on like I received them. Anyone know what official OT practice was? Thanks, Lew

 

[Gil Cramer]

Bed them. If not entirely, at least around the screw holes.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

I like to epoxy coat the insides of the rails before installing since most rot on these parts is from the inside out. Don't know what common practice was, but why would you want to adhere the rails to the canvas just in case you needed to remove them someday.