The stern rail is key. I need one.
Ken B
CMDRE - NETS
I added on to my stern rail.... then I added a boom support to it. and with the crutch at the pulpit, the boom will stow higher so that we can open the poptop when we are using the boat as a "camper" while traveling, and it also allows the solar panel to be mounted up and out of the way.
you can see the cutout I made in the stern rail when I extended it so when boarding from the swim ladder, you can step thru into the boat. before the modification, one had to go over the rail into the boat.
sometimes we want to go boating in an area that is not feasible for a sailboat of this size to sail, so we dont raise the mast but motor on down the lake with the autopilot, and with the mast stowed high, its not in the way of being able to comfortably spend time in the cockpit or BBQing during a multi day vacation....
the last photo was taken in the san juan islands (fishermans bay) during bad weather... we had the boom tent up and attached to the higher rail which makes standing headroom under the boom tent.... and you can see the dinghy motor mounted high and out of the way on the rail...
with the keel down, it sat on its lines, but when we got into shallow areas and had to crank the keel up, as we are here, we looked as if we were well loaded...