New (to me) boat! Rub rail question

[evergreen199]

Today is a very exciting day, we bought our 1993 22' Cruiser (Pippa) and brought her home!!

During the drive home, the rub rails on both sides separated a bit from the hull in spots. I know this boat hasn't been trailered anywhere in at least 4-5 years (other than 1 block from the water to the boat storage when the previous owners hauled it out each winter), so driving home on country roads didn't do the old rub rail rivets any favors and I'm guessing that caused a few to snap.

I've read the threads on rub rail replacement and that process seems straight forward, but my question is whether there is any urgency to replace or if I can get the boat in the water to enjoy for a few months before I pull it out for the winter and then do this project? The rails are still attached along much of their length and at the ends, so I am not worried they are going to fall off. Are the rivets serving a structural purpose connecting the hull to the top deck that needs to be fixed before I put the boat in the water?

 

[thataway]

No the rub rail rivets are not holding the hull to deck moldments. They do hide the joint however. The fiberglass on the inside is structural. I might put a little sealant (as it appears has been done before) on the top of the railing. (Water can also enter from the bottom.) This winter take off all of the railing, clean up the hull--and that is why I don't recomment silicone. It may keep other sealents from adhering to the fiberglass. Then you can use a proper sealant as you drill out the rivets and use SS machine screws and washer/nuts. Then you can cover the inside of the screws/nuts with either a sealant or fiberglass.