Author Topic: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection  (Read 15225 times)

surfercook

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RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« on: October 18, 2018, 10:14:20 AM »
Going to attempt to apply some EXPENSIVE rail tape to my repaired Hull Ripper. I really wanted red to match the board and this was the only company I found that had that color. Seems like good stuff too. Never applied rail tape so any suggestions, help, and tips are very welcome.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W2O4486/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 10:29:07 AM by surfercook »
One could go into a mall in Kansas and ask a teenager "What is a surfer looking for?, and the answer will always be, "The perfect wave"
9'11" PSH Hull Ripper-145 ltr    
9'3" PSH  Hull Ripper- 130ltr 
8'0" Corevac Assassin -127 ltr   
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ninja tuna

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2018, 10:21:03 AM »
Good stuff. I use it on my boards that require it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYZF8uFwmos

eastbound

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2018, 10:36:38 AM »
that's the best (only, as far as I am concerned) stuff to use--you will see--not just about paddle whacks, but you can lean the board on its side without worry--and when one bangs a board carrying it around the hit is usually on the rail

application is tricky--i apply it by attaching one end, and then i stretch the material to conform to the rocker shape of the board, which tends to cause the center of the tape to adhere--then i take a hard-plastic-bladed spackle knife and moved along the tape, making it adhere and pushing any bubbles to the edge--i never get it perfect, but i get it pretty damned good, and the tape ends up situated such that it protects the rail down to the seam btwn the bottom and rail, along with a bit of the top of the board

many spray mildly soapy water onto the board and then apply the tape--the tape can slide around and be adjusted, and all bubbles can be removed, until optimal--then, in a short bit of time, the soapy water dries out and the tape remains positioned---

reason i do it my way is the soapy water way doesnt allow you to stretch the tape so it conforms to the rocker contour--if you stretch the tape to conform, it just slides back to its normal shape--keep in mind also that, if you dont use soapy water, you can apply the tape, and peel back and reapply if not right--a couple of times---take care too that this stuff is really sticky--if the paint on the board is iffy, peeling back can eff everything up

hope that helps cookie--there is a youtube out there of a guy doing a nice job with the soapy water method
« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 10:38:19 AM by eastbound »
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Badger

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2018, 10:44:41 AM »
I've done it to half a dozen boards or more. I tried the wet method but like the dry method better.

The key to making it straight for me is to put down a strip of 1" masking tape first. Then I just lay out the RSP along it a few inches at a time being careful not to allow any bubbles. Once you get bubbles under it, they can be very difficult to get out even if you pop them.

If you try to freehand the RSP, it will not likely come out very straight. It's essential to have something to follow like an existing graphic or masking tape.

Make sure you get it centered on the rail. Not too high or too low.

For best results choose a warm day.

Below 75 degrees, a hair dryer will help get a good clear bond. I've done it indoors in winter with no complaints. It's just a little more difficult.

Once you get it on, rub the heck out of it with the wax paper backing and/or your fingers. This gets out all the fine microscopic bubbles for a perfectly transparent finish.

I screwed up the location on one board, removed it and laid it back down and was reasonably happy with the results, but only do that as a last resort.

.

« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 11:08:43 AM by Badger »
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mrbig

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2018, 10:47:38 AM »
Make sure you are in a warm place. Colder temps a horror.

I am a fan of the soapy water method. Two drops dish detergent in a spray bottle is all you need.

I tape a guide line. Lay it out and stretch. Light water still stretches. Use my fingers to remove any bubbles while it's still damp.

Nice feature of RSP is if you monk it up, gently unpeel and try again!

Here's a pic, maybe, of yellow stripe on a SMIK.
Let it come to you..
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stoneaxe

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2018, 10:56:19 AM »
Great stuff....any board I ever get will get some. I've put it on both ways too, prefer the wet, just easier and I think the results are the same. Probably a good idea to use the masking tape badger mentioned. Other than making sure I started at the same point on the rail I just went with it. A lifetime spent drawing lines gives me a good eye but wet allows for re-adjustment easier.


I've had it on my South County for 3 or 4 years...board is toast but I'm going to take the RSPro off and move it to another board.
Bob

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digger71

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2018, 11:10:39 AM »
Yep that is the best stuff going -by far!  Search "rail saver pro" on here and you will get all kinds of positive info and videos.  It's some kind of magic stuff - doesn't tear, gives great protection, and somehow can be removed and re-applied even after years of use.

jarvissup

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2018, 11:15:31 AM »
+1 Mr.Big..... Warm room, couple of drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Be ready to press firmly and massage the bubbles toward the outside of the tape over and over and over as the water comes out and tape starts to adhere. If you apply it dry and pull it off be prepared for some of you paint to come with it depending on your board. I've seen it take paint off high quality new boards!

FRP

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2018, 12:27:20 PM »
Surfer cook

RSP pro rail saver on all my boards. Great product. This is a link to Jimmy Lewis description of application of rail tape.

https://youtu.be/PJV8UvuSLbk

Bob
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Badger

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2018, 12:29:48 PM »
Jarvis is right. It can take paint off. It lifted the decals off my Sunova along with some silver paint. Surprisingly, it stuck just fine when I put it back on and doesn't look too bad.

One thing I like about the dry method is that it's easier to make the tape conform to the curve of the rocker. With the wet method, the tape just wants to stay straight.

.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 01:31:09 PM by Badger »
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supcymru

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2018, 12:56:49 PM »
I've applied RSPro to 6 boards and have found that warming it with a hair dryer definitely helps a lot in colder climates. Here in Wales the air temperature doesn't soften it enough for most of the year so heating sections at a time has helped me improve the application of it. Badger's tip with using masking tape and having a guide line to follow is spot on too as well as using the backing paper! To get rid of any bubbles, I run my fingernail along the 'grooves' and the disappear. It takes time and your fingertips are raw at the end but that's the price I'm willing to pay!!!
With a little bit of planning and care it's well worth the effort and price.

DavidJohn

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #11 on: October 18, 2018, 02:21:23 PM »

surfercook

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2018, 04:00:13 PM »
That is a whole lotta  RSPro Stripes Rail Savers replies. It's pretty chilly here now in NJ. High was only in the mid 50s. Gonna hafta wait for a warmer day cuz the 9'11" Ripper ain't fittin' in my little bungalow! I watched all the vids you guys posted and read all the replies. Solid set of rail tape users we have here on the Zone.
I was wondering how different it would be w/all of us in the same room face to face . Be alot more interesting than my computer screen, that's for sure.  8)
One could go into a mall in Kansas and ask a teenager "What is a surfer looking for?, and the answer will always be, "The perfect wave"
9'11" PSH Hull Ripper-145 ltr    
9'3" PSH  Hull Ripper- 130ltr 
8'0" Corevac Assassin -127 ltr   
Paddles- Carbonerro PRO SERIES 85 & Riviera Camo at 70"

PonoBill

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2018, 07:21:52 PM »
I've tried about every railsaver product I could find and made a few of my own. RSPro is the only thing I use. Expensive, yup. Worth it? If you're as clumsy as I am it pays for itself just about every day.

The first day I had Mr. Fugly I took it out to play without tape, lost my balance making my way down the riprap to the beach and dropped the rail on some rocks. A nasty ding and some big scrapes--brand new board that was NOT cheap and I had to wait for--made me sick to my stomach. I fixed the ding very carefully, touched up the scrapes a bit, and applied RSPro. Looks like new. The next day I went to the harbor and dropped it on the cement of the boat launch getting out of the water. I slipped in the algae and went down with the board. Hard. Not a mark on the board. I was a little dinged up, but a little sanding and some 6-ounce glass and I was fine. I've bounced the thing on its rail three more times since then and nothing. Dave is going to think I haven't been using the board. Most of my gear looks pretty tatty pretty quick.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 07:24:27 PM by PonoBill »
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Night Wing

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Re: RSPro Stripes Rail Savers - Stand Up Paddle Board Protection
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2018, 09:44:08 PM »
I had WarDog put Rail Saver tape on my One World sup before he shipped my board to me. Works great. I highly recommend it.
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