Gorilla rail tape

[StandinDan]

Gorilla makes a new repair tape that makes for an excellent rail tape.
6.98$ at Lowes for 81'
I've had it on a board for two weeks now and it is like new.

[mrbig]

Helicopter tape is also cool and cheap.

[Weasels wake]

Also excellent for small holes in windsurfing sails (just in case somebody besides me here still windsurfs).

[PonoBill]

Worth a try, but Gorilla tends to use very aggressive adhesive.

[mrbig]

With helicopter tape you can spray soapy water and slide around for a minute or so. No can do with gorilla.

[Weeble]

I use basic clear duct tape from Home Depot.  A local guy down here who buys a ton of boards....basically he tries damn near every new board that comes out, keeps it for about 6 months, sells it and moves onto another.   And he keeps his boards in tip top shape.  He began using the clear duct tape and told me that as soon as it gets ratty looking or nicked up that he just takes it off, cleans the rail and puts another layer on.  It's not super pretty as you can see the texture in the tape, so it looks kinda cloudy.  But, it's cheap and easy to apply & reapply

[Celeste]

Worth a try, but Gorilla tends to use very aggressive adhesive.

That is a nice way of saying it.  The usual advice is don't use
gorilla tape on anything you might want to ever take the tape off of

[mdsurf]

Weeble,

+1 on the clear Duct tape.  I bought one of my race boards from that "local guy" and I still have that same tape on there after two race seasons.  I try not to hit my rails and I baby my equipment too.  I might change it out to new clear duct tape next May.

[PonoBill]

The problem with standard adhesives is that if you hit your rail you might loosen a chip, and with a properly designed rail tape, not only is the blow softened, but the rail tape doesn't hold so strongly that when you pull it off it turns that loose edge into a giant chip. Been there, done that.

[mrbig]

Had a very bad experience with a commercial product  requiring a wipe of premix. Had to remove the textured tape and damaged a new focus. Removal also important!

[RATbeachrider]

Had a very bad experience with a commercial product  requiring a wipe of premix. Had to remove the textured tape and damaged a new focus. Removal also important!

What type of damage? Thanks.

[mrbig]

Paint and pieces of topcoat chunking off. My shop man Matt at the Pumphiuse was horrified and we did some rental boards with helicopter tape the way I know how. We have a little bet that the reo for this commercial product would have the same issues. However, as an experiment used some soapy water and could slide it around but still was unusable because of the bubbles and wrinkles that Hercules could not squeegee out. Luckily removal, because of the soapy water did not damage the rental test board.

[supdiscobay]

Even though railsaver pro costs $70, it is the best. When I sold the board, I took the railsaver pro off and put it on my new board. Never had a dent or chip with it on.  This is on a surf SUP. Great rebound and protection. After having that on, I would be very careful with strong adhesives.  Anyone try to take "gorilla tape" off yet?

[sup_surf_giant]

Gonna try the clear duct tape on my Phoenix. Thx gentlemen.

[RATbeachrider]

Too intrigued so I bought the tape and slapped it on a 5 years old surfboard with plenty of dings on it.  I'll allow the tape to set for two weeks then taking it off. I placed two strips each a foot long at the rail.  One strip will be carefully removed while the second will receive a good hard pull off.