Toe rails/covering board ideas and opinions

[Toolate]

My boat is covered in them all in cracked up plastic from years of sitting in the sun. Thinking about making some covering boards for the cockpit area and just taking them all off (filling tons of holes) but wonder if I am missing something. The rub rail sticks up about 1/4" outboard of them so there will still be a little bump there to tell your foot when its close to the edge.

The water runs down the side decks and drains over the side about a foot behind the back of the house so my covering boards would start there and run to the transom but be angled away from the side of the cabin to direct and water on the side decks over the side.

Main reason I want to do this is because it hurts your ass to sit on the gunwales in the cockpit and they are all cracked. Will need to paint my decks regardless so it seems like a good idea.

 

[Toolate]

side deck showing toe rail

 

[Toolate]

bow of boat

 

[El Mar]

I say go for it. You going to make the boards out of wood or plastic?

There is a post on here somewhere where a Harris was done with starboard coving boards, looked great.

 

[El Mar]

Here it is.

http://downeastboatforum.com/downeast-boat-builders-25-ft/36-harris-splashed-2724-3.html

 

[MASTERENEGADE]

I fish on that 36' harris, and the transformation he made from old teak to the new starboard is light n day. The starboard came out great and is very non skid. Plus i dont think we have really washed it since its been installed and still looks brandy new.

 

[Old Mud]

I say trash them, remove and plug the holes. Your foot will still tell you when your hanging over. A couple of boats I fish on have that same configuration and I hate them when you sit on the rail fighting. Mine are smooth.

 

[Beamie]

Old Mud,

What is that a Caboose in the back of the cockpit?

 

[Keelboater]

Must be the new electronic fish call. Eat your heart out Duck Commander!

 

[Blitzen]

Old Mud,

What is that a Caboose in the back of the cockpit?

Top secret chum cutter/shooter.

 

[F/V First Team]

Angry midget with a knife and a shotgun?

 

[Old Mud]

LOL, all good guesses. Weather proof housing for a Honda 2000 I, running lights, electronics and batt. charger for night / multi day fishing.


The shotgun was to long to fit in.

 

[Toolate]

Toolate, Consider the possibility that every one of those recessed screws is a possible source for water infiltration. Ugg!

Yeah thats the idea. Going to take them all off and everything else that is screwed or bolted to the decks and see whats up/re-bed it all.

Screws are all in the edges of the side decks where there is no core but I still want to do it. Too much work down stream of that to not do it now.

Fill them all with glass and grind them smooth for paint later. Only 200 or so...

Like the midget box. Saw the 12 gauge off if need be. How you going to chum?

 

[Toolate]

Here it is.

http://downeastboatforum.com/downeast-boat-builders-25-ft/36-harris-splashed-2724-3.html

Dunno- was thinking wood. That plastic does look sharp though. THing that worries me about the wood is that I would like to let it go silver but worry about it cupping and cracking etc..

 

[Michigangeorge]

Dunno- was thinking wood. That plastic does look sharp though. THing that worries me about the wood is that I would like to let it go silver but worry about it cupping and cracking etc..

If using wood for those wide flat pieces you need vertical grain stock which is harder to find and more expensive of course. Much nicer than plastic though.

 

[Toolate]

Yes- was even thinking I might bolt them from below so I could remove them and re-finish when its time.

Otherwise I am looking at fully bedding them to my side decks. Lots of ideas not enough time.

 

[steveinak]

I'd go with plastic for the caps, less work maintaining it = more fishing time.