toe rails

[Seth Dixon]

I am going to replace my toe rails this sping and was wandering if anyone had used the marine lumber plastic building material for such a project. I am tired of scraping and refinishing the tiny little toe rail. I want to do it and forget it.Any sugestions?Seth DixonOday 25Third Day

 

[bruce cornell]

did mine several years ago using white starboard, have looked at the material you are talking about and like the starboard better. be sure to countersink all holes in deck and which ever board you use as neither materials like to stick to sealer and countersinking forms a 'o' ring seal between hull and rail. am happy with my 'sb' rails.

 

[Dale Place]

SethI ripped a mahogany 1x6 into 1 inch wide strips and made my own new ones, but my boat is stored inside when not in use and Cetol seems to keep them looking like new. Hope things are going well on Kentucky Lake. Hope to see you again some day soon.Dale"Peppermint Patty"O'Day 25 CB

 

[BrianL]

Starboard expansion

I was thinking of using starboard for toe rails, but their website recommended oversized holes through the starboard to allow for expansion and contraction when heated. Is there enough movement of this material to be a problem? The old teak was leaky enough.

 

[bruce cornell]

starboard stretch

mine have been on for over 10 years with no problem with stretch under the fla sun. perhaps if there was pressure on them as in walking on them, they may stretch because the material may get 'soft' in heat, but my toe rails have remained solid. they are attached about every 12 inches with screws from under the deck. just remember to counter sink both deck and rail to make the 'O' ring seal around the screw/bolt. a heat gun can be used, with care, to help make bends to fit hull, use a short scrap to test/learn heat gun use.