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Replacing Teak Deck Handrails

john Gonzalez

john Gonzalez

Member
I will be removing all of the interior headliner of the cabin to do several things --installing a winch on the coach top to raise the mainsail; adding turn blocks to run the halyards for the main and other lines; run DC wire to install 5 Lumitec down lights for headliner and replacing the vinyl on the headliner board.

One other project is to replace the 4 cabin top handrails with new since the originals are thin due to sanding and weather. While I have the liner down, my thought was to screw from the interior of the cabin up into the hand rails on top instead of fastening the rails from the top down into the fiberglass deck. Doing it that way would avoid drilling out the rail all the way through for the pilot hole and using bungs which would allow water to undermine the bungs in time. Any down side to using screws from the bottom going up into the rails? I think it would be easier to get a good seal and a tighter hold.

Thoughts?
 
John

Since you are going to have the headliner down, have you thought of thru bolting the handrails?

Jim
 
i agree since you have the overhead down think about a new set outside and new set inside. Bolt from hand rail right thru to inside hand rail.
That way when heeling you have a great hand hold inside. Have canvas covers made for the outside handrails and you have no more sun wear and tear. !
 
Thanks for the response. I don't know if I can manage connecting two handrails together with the space behind the headliner but that is a good idea. I had not thought of the a thru bolt. That way it is secured and you are not relying on a screw. Good idea! thanks fellas.
 
I'm in the process of replacing a handrail that was damaged while removing the mast (a shroud fell under the handrail and when the mast broke free of the step it pulled up on the shroud and broke the handrail). My handrails were screwed into the deck from the top side, not through bolted. None of the screws pulled out when this happened, the rail was just ripped apart. This makes me think that screws should be strong enough, since the weak link is the teak itself, not its connection to the deck.

FWIW, I plan to affix the new handrail with 2" #14 screws from the bottom up and seal the whole thing with butyl (same as what it was previously sealed with).

BTW, Catalina did a great job making a custom new handrail for me that matched the other 4. If you haven't already found a source you may want to talk with them. They were very reasonable on the price and were easy to work with.

--
Russ
 
You may have to provide a wood backing plates for inside the hull so the hand rails inside can sit level ! There are Pix of those who have done this to morgan 38 's
 
How thick is the deck? I plan to add some handholds on the inside, and am not interested in through bolting them. So I want to use screws as long as I can, without drilling too deep.
 
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