companionway slides and

Pat · Jun 12, 2014

The grab rails should be easy to replace.....I think Rudy at D & R Marine lists the companionway slide rails, but they are not inexpensive......I need to buy toe rails for the 272.....they are disappearing due to sanding and old age. Pat

Panta Rei · Jun 13, 2014

Dragon Fly said:
Oday owners out there...
need to replace:
companionway slide rails, 5' long and 1/2 inch groove, x 2
also grab rails 7 arches long. x 2
any help where to find them and or if there is composite or some other medium besides expensive teak?
thanks for any replies.
Dragon fly is an 84 Oday 28.'

today is june 12th

I used a tropical hardwood from Home Depot (or equivalent). They have many names for it: Iron woods etc. It's very heavy and full of oil just like teak. It matched my teak very well. My deck at home is made of it. It looks and weathers much like teak.

dfrancis23 · Jun 13, 2014

Ipe, massaranduba(South American Red wood) or even Tiger wood , will be fine.

Pat · Jul 12, 2014

I would need to bend them...do I soak them in water so they actually fit the curvature of the hull? Pat

eherlihy · Jul 12, 2014

I did my hand rails, on an O'day 35, in stainless steel. I had to taper the ends 1/8 inch, but I am very happy with the finished product.

Happy Dolphin · Jul 13, 2014

I did change our hatch slides and toe rails on our 272 last year. Found a supplier for teak in Detroit (Public Lumber Co.). removed old teak and used as a pattern. Bought necessary lumber, used table saw, belt sander and drill press to make replacements. The wood will bend without soaking. You can pick up the screw plugs from most any marine supplier; glue and let set for 24hrs. chisel or saw off then sand smooth. I used eppathane poly at 50 / 50 mix with proper thinner. apply 8 to 10 coats and lightly sand between applications. Or go old school an apply a few coats of teak oil every month!
On the hatch slide do not cut the groove full length, leave at least 2" solid at the forward end. I cut mine full length and cracked the end when I stepped on it! Or you may want to get replacements from Rudy at D&R...
Good luck and have fun.

cbourne200 · Jul 16, 2014

I bought hatch slides from Rudy abut 2 yrs ago - a little less than $200 - prices may have changed...

Marked where I thought new holes needed to be drilled, then drilled away from boat - bad choice. Apparently didn't mark exactly in right place, so now need to redrill one side. Don't drill countersink too close to groove - will bind hatch.

Charles

Pat · Jul 17, 2014

Great information for me.....thanks a million! Pat

tcwaltz · Jul 20, 2014

I think I've posted this before. I'm not a huge fan of teak outside the boat. I prefer to sail vs maintain the wood. When I replaced my hatch slides I got a piece of PVC brick molding and cut it to fit as well dadoed out the groove for the hatch to slide in. I paid about $15 for the material and it's easy to maintain and doesn't need to be refinished all the time

dfrancis23 · Jul 23, 2014

tcwaltz said:
I think I've posted this before. I'm not a huge fan of teak outside the boat. I prefer to sail vs maintain the wood. When I replaced my hatch slides I got a price of PVC brick molding and cut it to fit as well dadoed out the groove for the hatch to slide in. I paid about $15 for the material and it's easy to maintain and doesn't need to be refinished all the time

What a fantastic idea, love it