J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Teak Handrails

Need to replace the cabin top handrails. The
4 loop seize is non standard and TPI says they are no longer available. Want to keep
Rails in cabin but not put in more holes.
Anyone have an answer?

You might try calling H&L Marine out in Souther Cafilornia. They seem to do some nice woodwork at reasonable prices. 323-636-1718

Does anyone have the number for the manufacture of the stanless steel handrails?

Try switching your exterior handrails with the interior ones. They matched perfectly on my boat (#25). I coated the old exterior ones with a coat of varnish and they look great.

Does anyone have suggestions or how-to tips on removing teak handrails that leak -- and then re-bedding/attaching them?

You have to drill out the wood plugs to expose the machine screws that hold the rails in place. Mine had the screw heads on the inside and the nuts on the outside. Remove the screws, pull off the rails, rebed with 5200 caulk and then replace the screws. Look to see if there is any deterioration in the balsa core of the deck while they are off. If so, fill with West system, then redrill the holes and remount the rails. To finish you have to replace the wood plugs, sand smooth, then varnish (or whatever).

I witnessed a neat trick to removing the plugs in the handrails. Drill a small diameter hole into the plug down to the bolt or nut. Turn in a small diameter screw until the screw bottoms out against the nut/bolt. Now, as you turn the screw more, the teak plug will begin to pull out. Clever.

When reattaching the handrails try using threaded stainless steel 'T' nuts - West Marine #118994. They provide a stronger connection than the nuts used by the factory.