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Remove stern rail, anyone?

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millermg
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159 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/30/2009 : 07:58:01

I thought there'd been a thread on this in the past, but couldn't find it. Has anyone out there remove thier stern rail? I know there's many an argument for compromising safety in the cockpit, but aside from that, the only thing my rail is good for is holding the bbq, getting in the way of the outboard controls, and making it virtually impossible to climb from the swim ladder over the top of it. Thoughts or experience?

1983 C25 FK/SR Finistere
Garner
Olympia WA
~/)~
~~~

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2009 : 08:34:42

blue water, keep it
lake, toss it

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2009 : 08:42:19

I cut the center section out, between the stanchions, for easier access from astern in a weird slip. That probably weakened it a little--I considered having a piece welded across just above the traveler (making it similar to the '89-91 model), but never felt it was critical. I got caps in the bimini hardware section of some store... I did leave a small extension where the stern light is attached--you can sorta see it here:

So the ladder still had something to fold up against, but it was easy to step around to or from it, and the motor was easier to access.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/30/2009 08:46:10

millermg
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159 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2009 : 10:36:42

Dave, that looks like a good compromise to try for a summer. A lot less work too:)

So how did you get a clean cut? I'm thinking jigsaw?

Edited by - millermg on 04/30/2009 10:39:06

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2009 : 12:11:21

I used a hand hacksaw. Power wasn't available.

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Voyager
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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2009 : 20:22:41

It worked great -- it provided plenty of backrest support. It was easy to come across the transom. Unfortunately, last fall, we had a strong nor'easter with 50-60 kt winds. Sometime during the night, the wind caused the boat to heel way over, and apparently, the port side stern rail got caught under the slip. Once the wind cut back, the righting force of the boat yanked the rail on a permanent 30 degree bend. Surprisingly, the bolts held it in place but the 1" tube was no match for an 1800 pound keel.

I plan on replacing the complete stern rail including the cross member, mainly because I don't need to enter the boat across the stern.

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 05:58:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by millermg
 I know there's many an argument for compromising safety in the cockpit, but aside from that, the only thing my rail is good for is holding the bbq, getting in the way of the outboard controls, and making it virtually impossible to climb from the swim ladder over the top of it. Thoughts or experience?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My swim ladder gets a lot of use and the stern rail is an integral part of the boarding process. As we are climbing up, both the stanchion and the horizontal top rail are used as handholds. Without a stern rail, I'm having a hard time envisioning climbing up the ladder, soaking wet, while the boat is pitching and rolling, with nothing to grab onto but fiberglass and the backstay.

Furthermore, I wouldn't remove the center section as Dave did, since it will weaken the entire rail. Due to the height of my dock, I sometime use the stern rail as a step (at the top of the forward stanchion) and it flexes slighting when I'm boarding. With the center removed, the reduced rigidity might cause it to bend or I might really put kink in it when I'm pulling my 190lb carcass up the boarding ladder.

Edited by - dlucier on 05/01/2009 06:03:42

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 06:50:24

Good point about climbing aboard... and I can't argue about weakening it--at least somewhat, but I doubt you could bend it, Don. Your 190 lbs. is less than a tenth of what Bruce put it through. That 1" stainless tubing is pretty tough stuff--I think about the only damage you could do would be to break the bedding seal at a stanchion base, which indeed would be more likely with the split rail. That could be mitigated by welding in a lower bar, which I would have done if I were using the top of the rail as a step. (Yikes!)

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Stu Jackson C34
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844 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 08:57:19

We had the same issue, and didn't even have a ladder. We bought a hanging ladder and started using it from the stern. Not such a good idea, so we moved the hanging ladder to the side of the boat. Keep the pulpit and use the side of the boat for getting up from the water. Some of those ladders have connectors that bolt or screw to the deck for rigidity - they're much better than just a "floating" ladder. If you raft up the side ladder doesn't work, but it's much better than having to crawl over the pulpit. If you must, the backstay is a great handhold.

Edited by - Stu Jackson C34 on 05/01/2009 08:57:40

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 09:43:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stu Jackson C34
 If you must, the backstay is a great handhold.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A handhold? Yes, but I'm not so sure I'd classify it as "great".

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 That could be mitigated by welding in a lower bar, which I would have done if I were using the top of the rail as a step. (Yikes!)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yikes is right. Here the dock is even with the top of the bimini.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 10:50:18

Good grief!! You Great Lakes people need to learn about floating docks! Where I used to live (90 miles from here) the tide rose and fell 6-1/2 to 9 feet (depending on the moon) twice every day. Here it's more like 2-1/2 to 3'.

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Deric
Captain

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USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 15:03:26

I like the name of the boat in the picture (background), Willin; as in willin to jump off the dock into the boat.

Very nice.

Deric

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Nautiduck
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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 15:55:36

No wonder you don't like pigtails. You can just rest the boom on the dock!

Edited by - Nautiduck on 05/01/2009 15:59:52

Jefffriday
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USA
198 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 16:49:05

I did Andy's rig with the swim platform, I think it is way easy to get in and out of the water, and it's a great seat for washing etc. go down to his post: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13803&SearchTerms=swim "Breakin Wind"

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4018 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2009 : 17:23:03

WOW! wouldn't want to over shoot the docking, Kiss the forstay and R/F good bye!

But does seem to have an advantage when the anchor light needs changing, just reach up and.....

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2009 : 10:12:33

Great way to view the spiders that live under the docks

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