I have a 1985 Pearson 303 and would like to replace my cabin top hand rails. Does anyone know if the screws go through the cabin top and into the interior hand rails? Also it seems to me that the V-berth should have cushions along the hull walls the quarter berth does. Were cushions original equipment?
CABIN TOP HAND RAILS
- Thread starter Gary16084
- Start date
- Status
Hand Rails
What is you hull number? My '85 P303 is #272 and doesn't have any wall cushions, they must have been added later. I don't remember seeing anything like that in the original "options" list. Unfortunately, the screws DO go all the way thru the cabintop into the interior hand rails. To remove the rails, you have to drill out the wood plugs and unscrew them. Unless you have a very good reason to remove them, you are opening up problems to future leaks, etc. Some have done it, be beware of what you're getting into. You may want to add your name the the P303 owners list (see the link) and ask the question there also.
What is you hull number? My '85 P303 is #272 and doesn't have any wall cushions, they must have been added later. I don't remember seeing anything like that in the original "options" list. Unfortunately, the screws DO go all the way thru the cabintop into the interior hand rails. To remove the rails, you have to drill out the wood plugs and unscrew them. Unless you have a very good reason to remove them, you are opening up problems to future leaks, etc. Some have done it, be beware of what you're getting into. You may want to add your name the the P303 owners list (see the link) and ask the question there also.
A do-able job
We have a 1986 P36-2, so my experience is with this model, however they seemed to have done alot in common during this time. Wife removed and refinished ours last winter. Main thing to do is make sure you lable each screw as you take them out. They were cut to size as they were put in originally and are hole specific for the most part. Wife removed the wood plugs from inside and slowly unscrewed each one. The nuts are epoxied in the top rail...if you are lucky, none will spin. If they do you have to dig our the top plug and hold the nut. All but 3 came out clean. We also dug out the holes in the cabin-top and refilled with epoxied, then redrilled. We used a Drumel, a bent peice of thin metal and vaccume to get a good amount of core out around the hole. She then rebed each external hand rail with life caulk and there you go! They look great, do not leak a bit and are much more solid than before. Time consuming, but for us well worth it. Greg
We have a 1986 P36-2, so my experience is with this model, however they seemed to have done alot in common during this time. Wife removed and refinished ours last winter. Main thing to do is make sure you lable each screw as you take them out. They were cut to size as they were put in originally and are hole specific for the most part. Wife removed the wood plugs from inside and slowly unscrewed each one. The nuts are epoxied in the top rail...if you are lucky, none will spin. If they do you have to dig our the top plug and hold the nut. All but 3 came out clean. We also dug out the holes in the cabin-top and refilled with epoxied, then redrilled. We used a Drumel, a bent peice of thin metal and vaccume to get a good amount of core out around the hole. She then rebed each external hand rail with life caulk and there you go! They look great, do not leak a bit and are much more solid than before. Time consuming, but for us well worth it. Greg
Currently replacing hand rails on
Sea Dragon. You can follow the porcess at http://www.sailingseadragon.com/HandRails.htm Good luck
Sea Dragon. You can follow the porcess at http://www.sailingseadragon.com/HandRails.htm Good luck
handrail leak and replacement
Hi George, Our hull # is 215 and we love the boat. Our cabin top handrails are worn out and we have a leak inside the cabin at the handrail. So I don't think we have a choice. Thanks for the link. Were do we go to get on the link?
Hi George, Our hull # is 215 and we love the boat. Our cabin top handrails are worn out and we have a leak inside the cabin at the handrail. So I don't think we have a choice. Thanks for the link. Were do we go to get on the link?
If while you have those rails off
and are redoing the fastener holes you will countersink the top side of the holes, when you set the new rails a bit of the caulk with squeese into the countersinks and around the fastener and form a nice little gasket.
and are redoing the fastener holes you will countersink the top side of the holes, when you set the new rails a bit of the caulk with squeese into the countersinks and around the fastener and form a nice little gasket.
303 list
Hi Gary, When you open the link to the P303 group, click on the upper right "email" and that will enable you to send an email to the entire group. Just ask to join giving you hull# & year, etc., and the group admin will pick you up. George
Hi Gary, When you open the link to the P303 group, click on the upper right "email" and that will enable you to send an email to the entire group. Just ask to join giving you hull# & year, etc., and the group admin will pick you up. George
another 303 with leaking handrails
Hi. I also own an '85 303. Still new to us after over a year. Repairs and chasing leaks. The handrail leaks have had me worried. I removed a plug on the inside rail a while back but even with a pair of vice-grips on the handle of my screwdriver could not budge the screw. So every month or so I would look at it again and ponder. Now that I know how they are held together, I am still concerned, but at least it is no longer a mystery. Not a project I am looking forward to but the leaks must be stopped. BTW yes our 303 has the same vinyl lining in the v-berth as in the back. Many questions later now that I know this exists. Maybe I'll even have a helpful tip. Tom
Hi. I also own an '85 303. Still new to us after over a year. Repairs and chasing leaks. The handrail leaks have had me worried. I removed a plug on the inside rail a while back but even with a pair of vice-grips on the handle of my screwdriver could not budge the screw. So every month or so I would look at it again and ponder. Now that I know how they are held together, I am still concerned, but at least it is no longer a mystery. Not a project I am looking forward to but the leaks must be stopped. BTW yes our 303 has the same vinyl lining in the v-berth as in the back. Many questions later now that I know this exists. Maybe I'll even have a helpful tip. Tom
Tom, A carpenters bit brace will almost always
turn screws that refuse to yield to any other effort. Use new bits and rock the screw left and right a little even if it won't turn. If it still won't give try a hot soldering iron on the screw head. If someone dipped the screws in epoxy the heat will help.
turn screws that refuse to yield to any other effort. Use new bits and rock the screw left and right a little even if it won't turn. If it still won't give try a hot soldering iron on the screw head. If someone dipped the screws in epoxy the heat will help.
- Status