Handrails in the Overhead

[Waybad]

Location of interior over head hand rails that run fore and aft. My boat is on the hard and I am wondering where in the overhead I should put them. One handrail full length for port and one for starboard tack. I also have them low on the cabin top, ok on one tack.
When healing do you want them offset in the overhead or straight above. I have asked many boat owners and never got a good answer.
If offset what seem to be a fair amount ( average ) thanks for any suggestion this has been on my mind for a long time. When I had no handrails I was thrown across the cabin landed upside down on the opposite side of the cabin top and then dropped On my head. I was younger then.
Thanks
Wayne

 

[seadaddler]

Sides

My boat has them along the sides port and starboard from vee berth to
companionway and the older 356 were overhead.
Nick

 

[Stu Jackson]

wb, it really depends on where YOUR body is when you're down below and what you layout is.

I can go from my companionway steps to the V berth, handhold by handhold. There are two, one on each side, as I come down the steps. Then a double loop on the centerline above the galley sink. Next is the turnbuckle from the keel stepped mast to the partners, and finally a single loop just afore the mast, also centerlined. Our saloon "walkway" is just to port of the centerline. When I do it in a seaway, I feel like a monkey juggling from one to the next, but always feel safe that there are no "bare spots."

I suggest you scope it out for what works for YOU.

Good luck, they are really helpful to have, and they work, for me, on either tack.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Ours are on the two sides by the windows. I am glad they are here instead of in the middle of the cabin. My wife is short and if they where in the middle of the cabin, then she would not be able to reach them.

 

[Waybad]

Thanks, for the input, you guys just talked me into putting in three in the overhead. Centerline and port and starboard. In addition to the full length on the cabin sides. I know I will be doing a lot of swinging as I move fore and aft. It sounds like more is better.
Getting thrown over the drop leaf table could ruin my day.
Thanks for the input.
Wayne

 

[NotCook]

Are you talking about individual straps, or handrails? If rails, all you should need are one down each side along the passageway and the middle would seem redundant.

 

[higgs]

I installed some on my Irwin 32 and tied them into the cabin top handrails using one bolt for both. Worked great.

 

[Ron20324]

I put a vertical ss pole from the galley countertop to the strongest part of the overhead liner. Well secured, for sure. It does dual-duty to support a new shelf. It's the first place for a handhold once off the stairs.

 

[higgs]

I put a vertical ss pole from the galley countertop to the strongest part of the overhead liner. Well secured, for sure. It does dual-duty to support a new shelf. It's the first place for a handhold once off the stairs.

I would feel a lot more secure with it through bolted and backed.

 

[Ron20324]

I would feel a lot more secure with it through bolted and backed.

It is. It goes through the shelf.