How to Remove Toe Rails

[Michelle]

Does anyone know how to remove the toe rails on a 1975 O'Day? They are attached to the deck, but we can't figure out how! There aren't any "bungs" (those teak plugs that go over the screws) and there aren't any obvious bolts underneath. (Maybe it's just magic)Some of the toe rails are starting to leak, so we're hoping to take them up and then caulk underneath.Thanks!

 

[Thad]

toe rails

My '73 O'day 27 has the toe rails screwed up through the deck into the teak.To get to the screw heads you must remove that "wood" covering the hull to deck joint.

 

[Dave Plante]

Removing toe rails on a 27

The screws holding the toe rails are down below. Some may be obscurred by fiberglass or epoxy, but, they're definitely there. I had to fish around with a phillips screwdriver and scratch around to open the screw slots. A real knucklebuster of a job; keep a box of bandaids handy because you're going to dig up your knuckles! These things are a real nuisance and a constant source of leaks; much patience needed.Dave PlanteSanta Mariah '73