My Coach Top Handrails are rotting

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Besides Teak, suitable woods would include Afromosia and Black Locust.
Get a wide board, mark a straight line down the middle.
Where the "loops" go you use a hole-saw from both sides so as to not splinter the wood.
Now you just have to cut straight lines between the holes.
Then use the router to round off everything.
Then just by sawing the length of the board down the middle line you'll have two identical parts that are book matched.
Trying to cut-out individual loops with a jigsaw is a road to frustration and poor results.
.

I saved expensive wood by cutting X2 3in high handrails out of a 5in wide piece of timber by overlapping them (If you get what I mean).

[rognvald]

One last thought, Heron. Many teak handrails are through-bolted through the deck to handrails below in the cabin and if they are bad the cabin handrails will be suspect as well. So, if the top handrails were leaking and allowed water in the deck, you're going to have to deal with the deck rot before any new installation. Again, check carefully.
When I installed handrails at the top of my companionway for safety offshore when going below, I drilled out a 3/4" plug in the deck and filled it with hi-density thickened epoxy. Then, I tapped the the plugs and installed the rails with heavy-duty 3/4" stainless screws. Only a divine act of punishment would move those 10" rails. Good luck! Rognvald

[coopec43]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sbrjOLTUUc

[rognvald]

Great video, Coop!
Rognvald

[billcrowley]

A PO of our Newport 30, which we’ve had since 2016, replaced the cabin-top grab rails with a set made from a composite material like TREX. From 5’ away, you can’t tell they’re not real wood. I am very happy with the zero maintenance regimen. Looks like they were pretty easy to make exact duplicates of the originals.

[heron237]

Brilliant idea with the trex, it's even 5/4, can be had in a variety of colors and I can buy it at the local lumberyard for short money! Unfortunately, the core is a lower density than the carapace......but it might work.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by heron237

Brilliant idea with the trex, it's even 5/4, can be had in a variety of colors and I can buy it at the local lumberyard for short money! Unfortunately, the core is a lower density than the carapace......but it might work.

I was wondering about that. Trex is a more porous core with an overlay wrap which shields the board. It's not like the same plastic density all through. But...