Would there be any reasons why a boat wouldn't have a toe rail fitted?
I have seen a few raceing yachts without toe rails and always thought it wasn't a good idea but I recently looked at a Nantucket 42 which had no toe rails as well and I was wondering if there could be a underlying problem ??
I put new full length toe rails on my cruiser....was worth all the 2k and all the drilling and tapping into the deck! I would say with race boats it would save a little weight and also makes the deck flush for sitting on the "rail" some race boats have toe rail forward of midships.
Some boats don't have stanchions and safety rails! WTF?
Hi Matt,
Yes now I think of it I was crewing on a Farr 1104 and remember how uncomforable it was.
why did you need to replace your rails?
I replaced the old jarrah rail with new anodised section can you see the difference?
Yes I cast 12mm or 24mm epoxy coated marine ply down first using a level and strait edge and then released the ply from the cast and then glued and screwed the ply to the flush cast area of the deck.
Then it's just a matter fitting the hatch with screws and sika.
I can't find a good picture of the process but I have added one you maybe able to see.
The most important thing is that you cast the hatch rather than screw it to the curvature of the deck as this will obviously cause the hatch to leak.
Hey Keith,
It's normal for racing yachts these days to NOT have tow rails to make it a bit comfier for the crew when hiking (the honourbale profession of rail meat!). Having just spent 4 1/2 days bashing from S2H for the first time, I'm very grateful our baby did not have them! You still need them in adventureland so your foredeckie has a small hope of staying on board.
But if you are not a serious raceer - Or just want to punish your crew 
then whack them in 
Poods
Nice boat ! I hope to hell the lifelines are up to scratch as your feet won't be stopping you in a knockdown!
Just noticed in the above pics the lifelines are plastic coated.
Please get rid of them. There is a very good reason they are banned for any sort of racing and in my opinion should be banned full stop as they are dangerous!!
If ir is a pure cruising boat, look closely at using dyneema.
G'day Keith,
Are you thinking of getting that Cole 43? They are a big boat and a massive handful, with a crew let alone without.
I have been using the plastic coated lines on both my yachts for the past 20 years....... Never had a problem with them other than some wear on the plasitic where it passes through the Staunton post.
