Toe Rail

[Bill Lockridge lockjr@pacbell.net]

I was washing my boat the other day and then went out for a sail on the Bay. when I went down below after sailing I found some drops inside starboard where on some 33's they have a sea berth but I just have a shelf. Just forward of the head. the drops line up with where the end of the head door is when latched open. I felt under and found some minor water behind a piece of trim wood that appears to cover mu hull deck joint. Is this a major problem and or fix or just some need to remove toe rail and reseal? No experience with toe rail removal and or caulking. Also is it more damage to keep sailing and is she now questionable on seaworthy status. Want to go out the Gate this summer and don't want anymore major cost repairs wife is tired of hearing I need more money for my boat.

 

[Terry arnold]

easy things first

Try tightening stanchion and toerail screws first. With a rubber neck or a mirror, you can examine the individual screws to determine where the leak is. Droplets will be suspended on the offending screw. Stanchion bases are the worse point for leaks. You'll need a helper down below to hold the nuts. Otherwise, some needlenose visegrips will suffice and you'll get a lot of exercise running up and down the ladder. The H 33 has a first class hull-deck joint and the accessibility to all the screws, difficult though it is, is a big big plus. Nothing here that would affect seaworthiness, just routine maintenance. Removal of the toerail itself would truly be a draconian measure, almost certainly not needed. Also, do not caulk the deck junction with the toerail. Doesn't work and cheapens the boat. At worse probably only would need to remove and rebed the stanchion base(s).

 

[Bill]

Thanks Terry

Thanks for the good advice will be trying this next boat visit.

 

[tony]

toe rails

I would do it in another way. Have someone hold the screws on deck and turn the nuts down below. This will prevent the breaking of the seal around the screw, if ot still exist. Time consuming, but worth doing.

 

[Royce]

Tighten Bolts!

I have a 76 h30 and last summer I noticed a new sound while sailing. It was the bridge deck bulkhead rubbing and making a creaking sound. I too had some toerail leaks. My toerail bolts are of the stove bolt design (square shank under head that engages in square hole in toerail). I went below with a socket and ratchet and was amazed how loose they were. After I tightened the bolts my leaks and squeaks stopped.Good luckRoyce

 

[Tom Long]

Toe rail maintenance

We routinely tighten all the toe rail bolts on our H31 every spring prior to launching. We also have found leaks from time to time which disappeared after tightening a couple of loose toe rail bolts. Make this part of your commissioning, and you'll most likely eliminate the problem.

 

[Steve Dion]

Long Shot.

Tom:When you tighten the toe rail bolts do you use a torque wrench or just tighten them by feel. If you are using a torque wrench do you have an approx. number of ft/lbs?