Inside Hand Rail Options

Da Nag · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:53 pm Post subject: Inside Hand Rail Options

Got an email from a fellow C-Brat about inside stainless hand rails. I'm having a set installed on Da Nag 22, and looked into a few options - figured I'd reply here so everyone can follow along.

There are two types I've seen installed. Each has their pros/cons.

The first type uses the existing mounting holes from the cabin top rails. A tab with a hole is welded at each support location, which lines up with the bolts for the cabin top rails. Not sure who to credit for this idea, but I think the first install I read about was on C-Dog Jim's Pounder.

Fred and Robbin (Anita Marie) just had a set like this installed - here are a couple of pictures:

Starboard Rail

Port Rail

The second type mounts higher, in the upper portion of the cabin top. It is through-bolted on the small vertical section of the cabin top. This design was shown on the C-Dory Sport Cruiser at the Seattle Boat Show this year.

Inside Picture

Outside Picture (look closely near the outside rail supports - you can see the additional bolts for the inside rails)

I like the fact that no additional holes are required for the first design, and they also seem slightly easier to grab and hang things from. However, since they hang lower, they have a better chance for becoming "head knockers" than the second design, particularly if you have the standard height cabin.

As you can see from Fred and Robbin's pictures, they only took the starboard rail to the middle of the cabin - I'll be doing the same.

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:36 am Post subject: Inside Rails

Bill, thanks. I GOTS da Pictures, that's what caused the questions! I need to know where to buy those puppies and how much they cost!

Thanks again...

Chuck S · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:41 am Post subject:

The less holes in the hull, the better.

The custom rail across the aft end of our 16 Cruiser roof is different construction from the fore and aft rails on the cabin top.

The aft rail uses bolts from underneath (probably because of the curve of the cabin top) while the side rails have threaded studs on them which go thru the roof with nuts on the inside. If this threaded lug bolt is long enough it could be used to mount interior rails using only one set of holes -- but they may not be long enough.

In that case the exterior rails will need extended studs fitted to them, otherwise the installation would be dirt simple.

-- Chuck

Da Nag · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:34 am Post subject: Re: Inside Rails

Da Nag · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:38 am Post subject:

SENSEI · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:10 am Post subject:

I was over to EQ the other day and was talking with Les about the guy who does the Stainless work and he gave me the guys card.
Brooks Marine Fabrication
Steph Brooks
Ph/Fax 360-299-2956 or 800-723-0401

903 33rd St. P.0. Box 1262
Anacortes , WA 98221

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 11:43 am Post subject: Thanks!!

Roger et al...Thanks a lot. Just talked with Steph at Brooks Marine and ordered a set of the inside ones like Anita Marie has. Also will look at the recent radar arches but suspect they're a little pricy for me. Wil also measure my bolt holes (the ones on the boat that is) to ensure they're the same as the measurements he has, we'll see how consistent CD is in year to year construction. My CD is of the 1994 vintage~!

Thanks again..

C-Hawk · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:00 pm Post subject:

The bolts at the end are long enough to use, the bolts in the middle had to be replaced with longer bolts. I paid $85 each for my inside rails. The guy that does my stainless work used to do all the stainless for Radon Boats here in the Santa Barbara area. While my rails go full length on both sides, I do like the idea of the shorter rail on the starboard side, less chance of doing the ol' headknocker routine while in the pilots seat. Crook

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 12:06 pm Post subject: Thanks

Roger, thanks for the input. Just out of curiosity, where did you get the mount for the radar? It seems very tall, not sure it'd fit under the roof of my boat lift house.

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 10:41 pm Post subject:

Got my hand rails from Brooks Marine yesterday. Beautiful! Starboard one fit fine, Port one will take a little modification of the electronics shelf. Steph didn't quite get my sketch. The early C-Dory's use that forward mounting bolt for the shelf and the tab on the rail needs to be a little bit longer. No problem! Will post some pictures when I get the Port one mounted.

I'd encourage anyone to get them and will furnish information when requested. They offer a lot of stability when moving around the cabin in rough weather and probably would have prevented a broken ankle suffered in heavy seas in the Chesapeake in October 2003.

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:02 pm Post subject:

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:25 pm Post subject:

I'd imagine any good railmaker could fabricate those interior handrails, given a chance to measure the dimensions.

The important difference between those who can being what they'd charge to do it.

Probably about the simplest project a railmaker would have to do.

Simpler than a bow pulpit, or a stern or cockpit rail.

Joe. Teeth

nimrod · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:07 pm Post subject:

Check out Tanner Manufacturing in Bellingham. They did a good job on my radar arch, are a vendor for Triton and a well-established family owned business.

jd

Larry K · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:12 pm Post subject:

I can't bring up the pictures of the inside handrails noticed that it listed on c-brats.net not .com. I was thinking of adding them but would like pictures to give the S/S maker so he has an idea of what I was talking about. Can someone point me to some pictures? Thanks

Sunbeam · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:32 pm Post subject: