J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Plastic Rails (getting rid of teak rails)

I did the conversion from teak rails to waterline system plastic rails on my J/24 and want to do the same on my J/30. waterline does not have the 30 rails stock. Anyone know of a shop that might do it? Cost? Open to any and all ideas.

did you have any problems with the plastic rails expanding in hot sun?

I was told a couple of years ago that any wood shop that does teak can do white plastic ... but am not sure of which white plastic is best ... king starboard in short lengths seems to be ok ?

I have an 8 ft piece of 3/4 in PVC that I'm going to put out in the sun tomorrow to see. if it makes sense, we'll investigate cutting it up for a J24 training boat replacement rail.

Did you allow for any expansion on the J24 rails?

So OK ... just related input: this is one way to detach old rails ... cut the bolts off high, and blunt chisel the rails off. punch the bolts down and fill holes with epoxy.

Never had any issues with the plastic expanding. Took the rails off today. Used a grinder to take the bolt heads off and a air pressure power chisel to get under the rails. Gentle and slow and the 5200 started to separate and come off.

Does anyone have a picture so I could have them made? Mine are off now and I would prefer plastic.

So OK this is NOT a picture of the existing rails ... but I am in the process of moving a 1978 J24 back into service as a novice keelboat training platform. And am exploring cheap alternatives. The j30 rails are about 1/4in. larger than J24 rails and set up as a trapezoid. You do not want to use current dimensions to build new rails as with sanding and wear I'm estimating they loose about 1/16 in. every 10 years ... worse case could be 3/16 short in height and 3/8 short in width.

I've become fascinated by the plastic wood deck material available at home depot. Just how exact are the specifications on the rail a J30 requires? Not that I am in the mood to change out the teak rails I have on Vee Jay ... but on the off chance after 27 years of not being touched except for power washing, i may want to think about a cheap way out. The photo shows that we can cut two nicely rounded strips from one home depot plank ... the fake wood is definitely non slip and looks like wood.

I have to admit that I do not like varnished toe rails as the surface treatment defeats the ability safely keep you from slipping off the deck.

What you guys think of Home Depot Toe Rails????

Try it! I am in the process of getting rid of my starboard toerails. They do not like to flex as wood does so they were cracky upon installation. They were cut straight and flexed to match the curve of the deck. They had to be routed and cut a number of ways to get them to do what they did not want to do. Ultimately they are parting at the bolts and pretty much all along the length of it. I have heard feedback that the waterline plastic rails will shatter and leave you with exposed bolts / screws.

I think the trex deck style is a worthy trial. I've heard there is a product out there something called Aztex or similar which works better than trex.

I am getting a set from waterline, in teak. I'm going to use some newer school teak oil. I liked the white, it looked cool, but ultimately it wasn't a true solution and it wasn't more maintenance free. I could have replaced the white ones several years ago and they are only about 10 years on.

Boat repairs last year included replacing one starboard teak toe rail. I'll be back on the boat this weekend and will try to get some demensions and picutres

So Ok ... remember that some of us senior set start reading a metal rule at 1 in. and do so also upside down. duh...

Photo of 31 year old teak... just to one up Vic!

The old teak is on the companionway and toe rails. The cockpit teak is new this year. Just stripped all the teak using a heat gun and sanded. This has 4 coats Epifanes wood finish gloss. Once it is warmer, I plan on applying 7 more coats over 4 days when no rain is projected. Then it is a quick bronze wool and apply 1 coat each season.

Click the 7th picture in the blog post for a full size image