Hun33 Handrails

[B Allison/Serendipity]

After 20 years its time to replace the teak handrails on the cabin top of our 1981 Hunter 33. They have been sanded and cleaned till theres nothing left. Does anyone know if they are thru bolted into the cabin, or just screwed down to the cabin top? I dont want to have to cut the headliner apart to get to the bolts.Thanks and smooth sailin

 

[David Krozier]

wood hand rail attachment

They are screwed into the balsa core. You will see 3/8 inch plugs in the rails covering the screw heads.DavidH-27 Renegade

 

[Bill Ebling]

Mine were attached with topside screws

I removed all my teak brite work on my 85 Hunter 31 during the 199-2000 winter layup to make it easier sand and renew at home. (If any one does this make sure you have a good boat cover and securely tape all open screw holes with Duct Tape or something similar to keep your core dry!) I assume that the 33's are put together in a similar fashon. The screws can be accessed from the top of the hand rails themselves; no need to touch the liner. The screws on mine were located under small teak plugs on the topside of the hand holds. To get to the screws, drive a standard (backyard) deck screw into the teak bung.. This will cause them to split and easily lift/pick out. Replacement teak bungs for your replacement hand rails can be picked up at west marine. Tap them in place and shave off any proud portions of the bung with a wood chisel.For a good reference check out "Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair" by Don Casey, International Marine, Camden, Maine, 1996 ISBN 0-07-013369-7. I picked it up at Borders for $19.75

 

[Steve Dion]

Same here!

We decided to eliminate the maintenance of the rails. We replaced them with S.S. rails. They are now thru bolted. The holes where drill out to a larger size and the entire hole filled with epoxy. This was allowed to cure and then the holes were re-drilled to the proper size. The under side was then fastened with large washers and acorn nuts. We no longer have the maintenance and also have something to hold on to and tie things off to when required.

 

[Bob Connors]

Been there, done that

Last year I removed my hand rails for refinishing. They are mounted to the coach roof with bronze flat head wood screws. Most screws came out without trouble but a couple stripped and had to be removed by drilling the heads off. A couple words of advice: Be sure you label starboard and port because the bolt pattern will not be the same. Before you replace them you should wet the hole with penetrating epoxy, the coach roof on these old hunters is a balsa core and water infiltration could be disasterous. If you spray the screws with Pam or a silicone mold release the screws won't adhere to the epoxy. Good Luck