Inside Hand Rail Options

Da Nag

Da Nag

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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.
 
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...
 
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
 
cvinroot":3g49db33 said:
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!
Click to expand...
Whoops...

If you want the style like Fred has, check with Les at EQ - Da Nag 22 is just about to head to the stainless guy. His name is Seth, but I don't have his number. If he doesn't have the specs already, he can make up two sets when he makes mine.

As to cost - quite honestly, I don't know; it's all part of the package Les has put together for me. I do know Seth does excellent work, and the prices others have paid for custom stainless work from him have been very reasonable.
 
Chuck S":9523m1p2 said:
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.
Click to expand...
That's how a few folks have done them. I'm assuming the bolts are long enough - the mounting tab isn't that thick. Fred would know for sure, since he just installed a set. Perhaps he'll chime in here...
 
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
 
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..
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
SENSEI":19v6kbpl said:
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
Click to expand...

This is an old thread, but it does still come up in a search when a person is interested in sourcing interior handrails, and as I understand it, Mr. Brooks was still making them as of recently.

However, I spoke with him today, and he said that he is no longer doing this type of work (has gone in a different direction), doesn't have the material, etc. I asked him if he could recommend anyone else and he didn't know of anyone.

Sounds like the end of a stainless-fabrication era :(
 
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 :thup
 
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
 
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
 
nimrod":1sbveiaw said:
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.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation :thup
 
Larry K":1jha643v said:
I can't bring up the pictures of the inside handrails...Can someone point me to some pictures? Thanks
Click to expand...

I have some photos I've saved that were originally in various C-brats' albums (but not sure which/whose anymore). They show a couple of variations - I'll put them in my album and then this thread in a few minutes.

Okay, here we go. First are two variations for the longer, port-side handrail. One has a center leg and the other doesn't. From what I understand it's not necessary for normal use.

handrail_port_with_center_support.jpg

Handrail_port_I_think_my_shelf_extends_so_need_longer_tab.jpg


Here is a starboard-side rail. The reason it doesn't go full length is because of potential head-knocking when accessing/using the helm seat.

handrail_stbd_side_2.jpg


One note is that un-modified older 22's (not sure exact years or if other models applicable but my 2002 falls into this category) have a deeper shelf (fore/aft) over the forward end of the cabin. Hence the fastener that would do double duty for holding the forward end of the handrail includes the shelf. This means the "tab" on the forward end of the port-side handrail would need to be longer than on "shallow shelf" boats in order to clear the shelf. Just something to check on.

Sunbeam
 
Try Pooderbuilt Mfg in Bellingham. Contact is DwayneMackey. www.pooderbuilt.com I purchased a kicker motor mount for my CC23 and was very pleased with it. I understand he also does stainless and aluminum railings as well as a bunch of other marine fabrication.
 
The two types of hand rails that I purchased thru the old C-Dory factory, I think it was a Canadian firm, are pictured within my album here:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php

The overhead hand holds are fitted with a drilled flange welded to the ends that align with the cabin tops rail's mounting bolts. Easy but tight on the fitting due to the bolt's length.

The shorter handles are unique in the there is a SS nut welded inside the ends so that all you do is screw the handle through the fiberglass without anyy protrusions into the space. It is a nice clean and safe setup. I could not and have not found any like these since I added the last 4 - 10" handles.

The last handle I added was in front of the Mate's seat. It was from WM and it had threaded bolts welded at the ends that protrudes into the berthing area. They had to be capped.

If I can confirm where I got the other handles, I will try to send it along; if wanted.

Art
 
Sea Angel,
It would be great if you could provide the name of the Canadian company that those interior rails came from. For us Canucks, this would be very useful (in terms of shipping and duty).
Cheers,
Grazer
 
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