2018 RXPX 300 - Rub Rail

[18RXP300]

Hi all,

I posted this in another forum before finding this one that appears to be more active.

While riding the other day one of my rub rails popped off during what I'd call normal riding. It didn't come entirely off the ski, but was not attached as it should have been. I really didn't want to wait for a dealer to help me fix something that seems like a simple repair, they'd likely take time away from my ability to ride and BRP in my experience does everything they can to avoid helping to fix things under warranty anyway.

So I get home and take things apart to see what's going on. There is a channel at the bottom of the rub rail trim that appears to be made to fit around a piece of the hull and then snap in a the top, should be simple. Well there appears to be a lot of extra epoxy in the area where the bottom of this rub rail is supposed to go that thickens this part of the hull enough that the rub rail doesn't actually attach to the hull as snugly at it seemingly should. See the pictures attached of section where you can see the bottom of the rub rail doesn't actually fit around the hull because of this epoxy (grey stuff) and also a section where I removed epoxy so that the rail fits as it seems it should.

Any dealers or experts out there know:

1. Is this epoxy supposed to be cleaned up at time of manufacture?
2. Is rub rail installation done during dealer prep and they are supposed to clean up this epoxy? (should a dealer notice this during prep?)
3. Is it fine for the rail to not quite fit around the hull and this is how it's supposed to be?

Thanks!
Don

 

[Doctor_Venkman]

I'm interested in answers to this as well.

Over a year ago, I had to separate the hull and deck on my 2017 GTI SE. My garden hose connector had come unscrewed inside the hull when I unscrewed tha water hose. The only way I could get it crewed back on was to separate the hull and deck. Everything went back together fine except for the starboard side rub rail. I can't get it to snap back on. I'm wondering if I somehow deformed the rail during disassembly.

 

[18RXP300]

I ended up taking it to a dealer to get their opinion and the gentleman immediately told me that there was a recall on the bumpers for my ski (he didn't say recall, but I forget the acronym he used). Seadoo evidently created a fix for this where they provide some additional parts to help hold the bumpers on.

Not sure whether its the same for the 2017 GTI..

 

[Doctor_Venkman]

Did they give you any direction an how to get it fixed? A contact at BRP or something?

 

[18RXP300]

Sorry for the delay.

The dealer that I took it to ordered the parts and performed the work for me. I guess you might have to call BRP or a dealer to order the parts.

Don

 

[Doctor_Venkman]

That may be. I probably warped or twisted the rail when I removed it. I'll do some shopping and see if I can find a replacement.

 

[18RXP300]

Just thought I'd post a follow-up.. My rub rails have continued to come off even after the new "clips" provided by BRP. They don't fall all the way off now because the "clips" catch the rail before it falls all the way off, but they do come undone enough for water to flow between the rail and fill up my foot well while under way.

I looked at a newer ski and the rails on those fit perfectly snugly around the edge of the hull and it looks like they've fixed the defect in 2019. There must be other 2018 owners out there that have dealt with or still dealing with this. It's crazy that BRP doesn't step up to the plate with a real fix for what looks like an obvious manufacturing defect.

 

[chasenchl]

I have the same exact issue.

 

[chasenchl]

I am a Mechanical Engineer and have just started a project BRP actually (Unrelated). From a design perspective the solution is simple. Number one, don’t screw into fiberglass directly with fasteners—instead use a standoff or captured nut or a sex bolt. Number two, overlapping the lateral rail with the rear rail set such that water can’t penetrate the joint is a mechanically sound solution. Number 3, there should be a set of transverse fasteners that seat the bumper into its internal channel such that it can’t fall out. Fasteners and the features that locate them add a negligible cost to production when compared to the benefit of reliability, customer satisfaction and trust, and the increase in long run sales because of the first two points.