Hello, I want to revarnish the hand rails topside on a Catalina 30. I am thinking it would be eaasier to do if I removed them first. And less risky for the gelcoat. The question is whether they would spring back, since they are a little curved, and make it impossible to put back on. They are almost 20 years old. Also, how do I make sure I don't have leaks after I put them put it back on ? Thanks. Chris.
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hand rails
I removed my teak handrails and varnished them last winter. A little pressure will bend them back to the needed curve when you reinstall them. Bed them in RTV silicone rubber when you reinstall.
I removed my teak handrails and varnished them last winter. A little pressure will bend them back to the needed curve when you reinstall them. Bed them in RTV silicone rubber when you reinstall.
HANDRAIL REMOVAL, YES
I have a C27. The handrail removal saved me great pains and a lot of work. The 27 has about 3 bolts (perm attached to the rails) and about 4 or 5 thru ss screws. Removal easy, they do try to return to strait but here you need some one to hold/bend the rail as you reattach them. Start bow end or stern and attach each one in sequential order and your good to go. seal water oout with 5200. Be libral and cut died excess 3/4 days later wither razor strait edge. Good luck!
I have a C27. The handrail removal saved me great pains and a lot of work. The 27 has about 3 bolts (perm attached to the rails) and about 4 or 5 thru ss screws. Removal easy, they do try to return to strait but here you need some one to hold/bend the rail as you reattach them. Start bow end or stern and attach each one in sequential order and your good to go. seal water oout with 5200. Be libral and cut died excess 3/4 days later wither razor strait edge. Good luck!
In one post they listed 5200 as the sealant. That is a permanent adhesive. You may want a 4200 or similar. When I did this same task on our C25 I rebedded with marine silicone and it worked just fine. If you use 5200, your next refinishing job will include more than just the rails
Do NOT use 5200 or silicone
Two warnings: Do NOT rebed them in 3M 5200 OR silicone. The silicone will fail, leaving you with leaks and potentially rotted coring. 5200 will NEVER come off if it does end up developing a leak. Use only something along the lines of 3M 4200 or Sikaflex. You want a "sealant" as opposed to an "adhesive" (5200), as John mentioned. And silicone just fails too quickly & easily. I removed my handrails and refinished them. Of course all subsequent maintenance must be done in place but it'll be a lot easier applying two coats in place instead of eight! Another suggestion: While you have the handrails off, drill the holes double wide & fill them with epoxy (also good to keep water out while varnishing). When you're ready to reinstall the handrails, you're only drilling through solid epoxy as opposed to coring. If you ever do develop a leak, there won't be any damage to your coring. Have fun!
LaDonna
Two warnings: Do NOT rebed them in 3M 5200 OR silicone. The silicone will fail, leaving you with leaks and potentially rotted coring. 5200 will NEVER come off if it does end up developing a leak. Use only something along the lines of 3M 4200 or Sikaflex. You want a "sealant" as opposed to an "adhesive" (5200), as John mentioned. And silicone just fails too quickly & easily. I removed my handrails and refinished them. Of course all subsequent maintenance must be done in place but it'll be a lot easier applying two coats in place instead of eight! Another suggestion: While you have the handrails off, drill the holes double wide & fill them with epoxy (also good to keep water out while varnishing). When you're ready to reinstall the handrails, you're only drilling through solid epoxy as opposed to coring. If you ever do develop a leak, there won't be any damage to your coring. Have fun!
LaDonnaRemoving handrails, will do
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be varnishing this week-end ... I'll let know how it went, once I'm done. Chris.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll be varnishing this week-end ... I'll let know how it went, once I'm done. Chris.
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