ideas to refit doghouse track 304/316 SS?

[xymotic]

I have a steel boat, and the track that the doghouse rests on is rusted out pretty bad.

THe current configuration is 1/8" L shaped steel, welded the entire length of the track, 8' or so.

If I were to replace it, I don't think my welding skills are up to snuff to get really good penetration welding it from just one side, there's no access to the back.

The vertical rail makes a spot that holds water, So I'm thinking instead of making the 'track' out of 1/2" stainless pipe and using either 1/8 or 1/4 x 1.5 or 2" every couple feet like you might see on a handrail.

I'm thinking the arc of the pipe will offer less resistance to the companionway hatch, but I wanted to run this idea by the group and see if anyine has a reason not to go this route?

And lastly, I'm intending to mig weld this to the mild steel, deck does the pipe/tabs need to be 316 or can I get away with 304? And what wire do I need to weld the tabs to mild steel?

[Abrain]

If im not mistaken welding stainless to carbon steel would create bimetallic corrosion. This is not good but it might not be that bad. I guess if it were me id bolt the two together.

309 wire should do the trick if you want to weld them.

Oh qnd 304 stainless might get you less bimetallic corrosion but thats just a linear approximation, so dont stick me to it. Lol.

[model 10]

It looks like he already has corrosion issues so a little "bi-metalic" corrosion is no big deal.
I was wondering about some drain holes in the old track set-up.

[xymotic]

I've gotten conflicting advice re: Welding stainless to carbon steel. But like has been pointed out, there is already significant damage, THe way I figure it it can't be any worse than the previous setup