Building Grass Rails...... pics

I recently put on mahogany rails, and opted to fix them on with epoxy and screws. I believe they are attached quite well.

If you go this route, avoid my mistake: get somebody to help you. This is not a one person job. After much aggravation trying to attach them alone, I asked my wife for help. It made a big difference.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have already made an "appointment" with one of my college age sons to help me next saturday...........Girls..Party..Sleep..Girls....Party..Sleep..Girls..Party..Sleep and I forgot they do have summer jobs too. I have to make an appointment to get a hand around here these days.
 
Last edited:
If you get stuck with excuses as to why they can't help, let me know. I could give you a hand after work.
But you will have to suppy the Pizza.
 
I recently put on mahogany rails, and opted to fix them on with epoxy and screws. I believe they are attached quite well.

If you go this route, avoid my mistake: get somebody to help you. This is not a one person job. After much aggravation trying to attach them alone, I asked my wife for help. It made a big difference.
Click to expand...


6'' step ladder with board clamped on it at gunwale height works too.
 
IMO I would not epoxy them onto the boat. I've had mine on for some 9 years (mahogany) and they're starting to show signs of age (checking, some cracks, etc) . I can imagine a time a time when I'll need to make a new set and the thought of having to grind them off is not a happy one. I've had good success with 1/4" bronze bolts with the rails bedded in boatlife for what it's worth.
 
IMO I would not epoxy them onto the boat. I've had mine on for some 9 years (mahogany) and they're starting to show signs of age (checking, some cracks, etc) . I can imagine a time a time when I'll need to make a new set and the thought of having to grind them off is not a happy one. I've had good success with 1/4" bronze bolts with the rails bedded in boatlife for what it's worth.
Click to expand...


Jamus, I can't disagree more. I'd much rather clean up epoxy peanut butter off a glass deck than a poly caulk like boatlife.

Either way, how long would it take to clean up 32 (number of bases on my rails) 1" x 2" spots of epoxy peanut butter on glass with a sander polisher? A hour max? I've done it and it is super fast and painless, is there something I'm missing?
 
I'm coming at it from the perspective that at some point the rails will need to be replaced. If they're epoxied to the deck they will need to be cut off and ground down to the deck. I'd rather not do that. As for boat life, perhaps I'm missing something? when I put my rails on (after I painted the deck) I put a glob of boatlife on the posts, bolted them down and then cleaned up the excess squish with solvent and a rag.

IMO, I like things to be removable on a boat anticipating that they will rot, break, rust etc. for this reason I did not glue in the floorboard on my BBII. Something WILL happen to it at some point and when it does, I want to be able to pull out and replace

To each their own I guess.

Jamus
 
I'm coming at it from the perspective that at some point the rails will need to be replaced. If they're epoxied to the deck they will need to be cut off and ground down to the deck. I'd rather not do that. As for boat life, perhaps I'm missing something? when I put my rails on (after I painted the deck) I put a glob of boatlife on the posts, bolted them down and then cleaned up the excess squish with solvent and a rag.

IMO, I like things to be removable on a boat anticipating that they will rot, break, rust etc. for this reason I did not glue in the floorboard on my BBII. Something WILL happen to it at some point and when it does, I want to be able to pull out and replace

To each their own I guess.

Jamus
Click to expand...


The "cleanup" I referred to with a polycaulk is after you remove the rail and want the deck ready to install another.

I just don't share your feelings of being paralyzed by the spector of having to remove something that is epoxied in. You built the boat, you can fix it. Floors should be epoxied in if that is spec.
 
Last edited:
I have epoxy fillet my floor in place and believe that it has given me a stronger hull because of it. Even though we don't like to think of cutting into and patching and repairing our newly built boats, Tod is correct, it is a great advantage of building a wooden boat. We can do those things without to much trouble. My rails will be bonded to the decks with an epoxy and wood flour blend.
 
Nice job Charlie!
I plan to make a set for my broadbill before the season. Has anyone
used Trex for grassing rail? It should be durable and it comes in gray.
what do you think? John
Click to expand...


Trex adds alot of unneeded weight, I don't know how well it would hold paint either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top