Changing Stanchions,

[Binman]

I consider the stanchions on my Pandora 700 as to short, what would be a practical or sensible new height.

 

[VicS]

I consider the stanchions on my Pandora 700 as to short, what would be a practical or sensible new height.

ITYWF that HSE regulations require guard rails to be a minimum of 950mm high... That would look silly on a small boat but any lower would have little or no safety value.

Roughly level with the cabin top would look about right but be next to useless as an aid to safety

 

[Tranona]

24" is the common height, although taller on large boats. You can get ready made ones or get them made from Stainless tube.

 

[PCUK]

I've always gone for 30 inches although anything above the knee makes for a safe rail. Below the knee is a tripping hazard.

 

[Fantasie 19]

After having them on the last boat (19 footer) - the current one (20 footer) doesn't have them at all... I quite like it, used to trip over them all the time on the old boat as they were stupidly small, a negative safety feature in fact...

 

[Binman]

Once I have changed stanchions I will fit gate, good offer from Baseline marine, has all the fittings plus new grab rail for approx £40 quid.

 

[charles_reed]

Interesting all these different sizes.

Standard stanchion heights are 450, 630 and 750mm in height. Just look in any catalogue.

I'll leave readers to work out approximate imperial dimensions - you could of course make your own.

 

[Salty John]

Anything less than 30" (750mm) is more of a trip hazard than a safety feature.

 

[Binman]

Got to my boat today which I have just put on the hard, I've a problem, on the Pandora 700 the stations are only 400mm high, hence my wish to extend them in height, only trouble is the take off point to pull and push pit is same height before it steps up, if I fit say 600mm stanchions I only need two each side,it's going to look stupid, to change the lot With push and pull pits it will cost an arm and a leg I'm sure, so for now I think I will just form a gate each side for now, I can reuse the fittings at a later time when I can afford new S/s all round. There is always something, had quite an expensive year last year, as the first year with my boat.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Got to my boat today which I have just put on the hard, I've a problem, on the Pandora 700 the stations are only 400mm high, hence my wish to extend them in height, only trouble is the take off point to pull and push pit is same height before it steps up, if I fit say 600mm stanchions I only need two each side,it's going to look stupid, to change the lot With push and pull pits it will cost an arm and a leg I'm sure, so for now I think I will just form a gate each side for now, I can reuse the fittings at a later time when I can afford new S/s all round. There is always something, had quite an expensive year last year, as the first year with my boat.

Agreed.. Take them off completely or leave well alone would be my solution..

 

[thinwater]

Remember that the strain on the mountings goes up with the square of the height; 600mm will require 2.25x the mounting strength as 400 mm. This may not be practical, if the deck was not designed for it.

 

[Binman]

Thank you all for your help,

 

[pyrojames]

Remember that the strain on the mountings goes up with the square of the height; 600mm will require 2.25x the mounting strength as 400 mm. This may not be practical, if the deck was not designed for it.

With the square? Please explain.

 

[charles_reed]

Anything less than 30" (750mm) is more of a trip hazard than a safety feature.

In your opinion!!!

But what about the designers' and builders' opinions??

 

[thinwater]

The primary reason is that as they taller they get hit a lot harder and more often. Instead of knee level, they get leaned on. This is just a rule of thumb to consider. Yes, in theory it would be linear, but folks that build and repair them know better.