> Just curious if most people put rub-rails on their kayaks. It just seems
> strange after all that work of making your wood boat look perfect you go
> and cover up the wood with a black strip. Is it really needed and how does
> it look? Will I really nick up the edge of my boat?

Wood rub rails look a lot neater than big rubber fenders. Hold them on with stainless steel or marine-bronze bolts and nuts. Replace them when they get too worn.

My launch area on the nearest river was nicely constructed by the local Kiwanis group who made it from flagstone. I get scratches at every launch. The first put in really hurt me. Now I just sand them out and revarnish every year.

Don't tell my neighbors, but I am considering getting a 6 to 8 foot long 2x8 and somehow mounting that to the rocky edge of this spot on some dark night when no one is looking. I figure I either put a big wooden bumper strip on this launch site ( and everyone else i land at), or a thin one on my boat -- and I don't want to mess with the looks of the boat.

Hope this helps.

Paul Jacobson