Cabin top Rail removal

[Mark Nooney]

Hi all
I have a 1984 31 - When the initial survey was done I found with a moisture meter a leak stream that seems to start on the port side cabin grab rail.

I would like to remove it and fill the holes. My plan includes either refinishing or installing new rails with a good bedding compound.

Has anyone removed these rails? I contacted Hunter but they did not have a
record of exactly how the rails were screwed or through bolted to the cabin top.

Also the 5 loop rails I have found on the net seem to be a few inches shorter
than the original rails. Is there a source that I am missing for supplying the correct length?

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to all
Mark Nooney

 

[Steve Dion]

Mark:

I think you will find that they are screwed into the plywood that in in between the deck and the interior liner. When I had my H'31 we removed these rails and replaced them with SS. They were then thru bolted to the interior.

You may be able to see this under the H'31 projects.

 

[Robert 47]

Mark, ha, I figured if I waited long enough someone would ask that question. Here ya are! Have been thinking about that for over a year now, but something always gets in the way. If you do it before I do, post your findings, please. If I do it before you, I will do same. Hope you and family enjoyed a great Thanksgiving.

 

[Nelsonhow]

Easy as pie

Hunter used plain wood screws inter teak bung to attach the hand rails to the canon top.

Get a a 4" course thread Sheetrock screw and remove the head
Then put the screw in a drill
Locate the bung on top of the rail and drill/screw Into the center of the bung
When he screw point hits the top of the screw under the bung the bung will pop out.
If it dosen't give a yank on the drill and the bung will usually pop out
If it still dosen't back out the screw and use a very small flat head screw
Driver to pry out the bung

There is usually one bung/screw between each loop of the rail. An usually 2 screws on each end.

After you remove all the bungs use a new Phillips screw driver bit in your drill and you can back outlay of the screws. Go slow hunter used soft brass screws and the heads will strip out if you used a dull driver bit or go to fast.

 

[sandpiper10471]

I have removed many bungs using Nelsonhow's method but frequently got chips around the hole as the bung emerged. I have more success at doing a really clean job drilling the bungs out with a 3/8 forstener bit. fwiw

 

[Nelsonhow]

PS. On my h-27. I removed the handrails and replaced with stainless pipes. Two 10 foot 1" pipes did the trick. I put the curve in the pipe to follow the cabin top as I installed it. Came out great. Will probably do the same modification on my h-30 in a few years.

 

[Sail123]

PS. On my h-27. I removed the handrails and replaced with stainless pipes. Two 10 foot 1" pipes did the trick. I put the curve in the pipe to follow the cabin top as I installed it. Came out great. Will probably do the same modification on my h-30 in a few years.

Pics please. Thinking of doing the same.

 

[Mark Nooney]

Check out these pix of steel hand rails. Hope it helps
Hunter Modification Index | Hunter 31_83-87 Index | Stainless Steel Hand Rail Replacments

 

[Nelsonhow]

Sail113,
Sorry I sold my h-27 a wile ago but do see her on the LI Sound every few weeks.

So I so I don't have any pics.