Does anyone know where can I get hand rail replacement for the 2 external teak handrails (I believe they are 4 loop)? The ones sold in WestMarine and BoatUS do not match Does anyone know of any Plastic or StainlessSteel replacements? Thanks
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I'm doing a stainless steel replacement tomorrow
After 18 years owning my H34, the last of the teak is about to go. But, you know, replacing those hand rails with homemade-custom teak pieces is a snap. Don Casey, over at sailnet.com has shown how easy it is. Oh, back to stainless. The parts are off the shelf from West Marine (pricey) or any other marine store. I'm going with 1" tubing to match the rest of the rails. No picture can be posted yet, of course, but I will this week. All that teak on my web site pictures is history.
After 18 years owning my H34, the last of the teak is about to go. But, you know, replacing those hand rails with homemade-custom teak pieces is a snap. Don Casey, over at sailnet.com has shown how easy it is. Oh, back to stainless. The parts are off the shelf from West Marine (pricey) or any other marine store. I'm going with 1" tubing to match the rest of the rails. No picture can be posted yet, of course, but I will this week. All that teak on my web site pictures is history.
Plastic Teak
A company named PlasTeak(http://www.plasteak.com/boating/boating.html) will make a custom rail using yours as the template. Or you can order their 1"x3" lumber and make them yourself as I did. Much cheaper. See the Related Link. It is in the Photo Forum under "Projects On The Cheap". When I made my rails the light teak was all that they made. Now they have a darker color that I wish I had used. In the picture the plastic handrail appears bent. That is because it is somewhat flexible. But once screwed or bolted to the boat it is much stronger than the teak. The material works just like wood. You will need a drillpress to get a hole that enters at the top and exits at the right spot on the bottom. Almost impossible to do by eyeballing a handdrill.
A company named PlasTeak(http://www.plasteak.com/boating/boating.html) will make a custom rail using yours as the template. Or you can order their 1"x3" lumber and make them yourself as I did. Much cheaper. See the Related Link. It is in the Photo Forum under "Projects On The Cheap". When I made my rails the light teak was all that they made. Now they have a darker color that I wish I had used. In the picture the plastic handrail appears bent. That is because it is somewhat flexible. But once screwed or bolted to the boat it is much stronger than the teak. The material works just like wood. You will need a drillpress to get a hole that enters at the top and exits at the right spot on the bottom. Almost impossible to do by eyeballing a handdrill.
Ed, I bought their stuff during our rebuild but
it didn't look right. Both the texture and color were wrong. I called them to complain and they said 'too bad, so sad'. I put their stuff in the trash.
it didn't look right. Both the texture and color were wrong. I called them to complain and they said 'too bad, so sad'. I put their stuff in the trash.
Sorry Fred.
Fred, I hope you didn't lay out a lot of cash. If you had only heeded my notes over the years re. plastic teak. I always warned about the color and the need to get samples first. But I am not sure what you were looking for in terms of texture. I am really sorry if you thought it would fool anyone and look like the original rails. You definitely cannot get that look in plastic. But then not much comparison between stainless and teak either.
Fred, I hope you didn't lay out a lot of cash. If you had only heeded my notes over the years re. plastic teak. I always warned about the color and the need to get samples first. But I am not sure what you were looking for in terms of texture. I am really sorry if you thought it would fool anyone and look like the original rails. You definitely cannot get that look in plastic. But then not much comparison between stainless and teak either.
Make them
They are very easy to make. Buy the teak at a local hardwood dealer. Where do you live?
They are very easy to make. Buy the teak at a local hardwood dealer. Where do you live?
I prefer plastic or SS
I live in Israel. Sailing season here is all year (similar to CA). Weather here is hot and humid in summer, very mild in winter so any exposed wood is in trouble if you do not treat it regularly. I prefer plastic or SS since I'd rather sail than work on the yacht.
I live in Israel. Sailing season here is all year (similar to CA). Weather here is hot and humid in summer, very mild in winter so any exposed wood is in trouble if you do not treat it regularly. I prefer plastic or SS since I'd rather sail than work on the yacht.
Ed, I'm sorry too,
I haven't been around here long enough to read your warnings of the past. The plastic I bought was for the half-round trim above the cabin side-windows. It cost about $50.00. Their web site even offered samples but, being a guy, I wanted it now. Oh well. Believe me, I always take note of your advice. It's good stuff. Rafi!!! Israel is a war zone! How can you enjoy sailing there? Our nightly news is always showing the latest battle scenes. Oh, one more thing. The stainless hand rail parts came in yesterday. Replacement starts at 1100hrs. The guy seen on my web site pictures wearing the baseball hat is helping me. The cockpit combing teak is now white starboard. It wasn't as easy as I thought because the table saw was at home and the boat wasn't in my back yard.
I haven't been around here long enough to read your warnings of the past. The plastic I bought was for the half-round trim above the cabin side-windows. It cost about $50.00. Their web site even offered samples but, being a guy, I wanted it now. Oh well. Believe me, I always take note of your advice. It's good stuff. Rafi!!! Israel is a war zone! How can you enjoy sailing there? Our nightly news is always showing the latest battle scenes. Oh, one more thing. The stainless hand rail parts came in yesterday. Replacement starts at 1100hrs. The guy seen on my web site pictures wearing the baseball hat is helping me. The cockpit combing teak is now white starboard. It wasn't as easy as I thought because the table saw was at home and the boat wasn't in my back yard.
PlasTeak will make them for you too.
Rafi: Plasteak will make the rails for you if you want that stuff. www.plasteak.com
Rafi: Plasteak will make the rails for you if you want that stuff. www.plasteak.com
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