Coach roof handrails

[clyst]

Most if not all production boats are now sold with pushpit, pulpit and guard wire/rails as standard so why are they fitted with coachroof handrails ? They are too low to be useful and just another bit of kit to maintain are a possible source of leaks .

 

[Cloven]

Very useful for lashing down the rolled up dinghy when at sea.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

When the yacht is healing its useful to have a handrail on the coach roof to move inboards whether that is from the high side or low side when the guard rails are not within reach. Also if a crew member slips and falls from the high side over the coach roof the handrails are a point to grab hold of. In foul weather where moving forward is challenging due to waves and wind, when the body is kept low, using a coach roof handrail provides additional support on the low or high side. On boats where everything is controlled from the cockpit they may appear to be superfluous but they do come into their own when cranked over as a very necessary handhold. I have raced on yachts with no coach roof hand rails and one manages, but supporting oneself on the low side, when on the high side, side decks, by bracing against the side of a coach roof, is nowhere near as secure as a firm grip on a rail.

 

[KAL]

Wouldn't want to be without mine. No way.

On maintenance, we took off the many coats of varnish from the ones on the starboard side (it was peeling and needed redoing anyway) and left the port side ones as is, just to be able to compare. The teak has just weathered down nicely, that's all. We shall be stripping off the remaining handholds this year. After that it's just a quick rub down and oil if they green up a bit.

 

[Seajet]

Or fit stainless hand rails, either off the shelf or custom made, either way not that expensive.

 

[michael_w]

What is more of a surprise is that they are so short on most production boats. There is often quite a distance between the cockpit and the handrail and then another large gap to the mast/shrouds. Does the aesthetic override practicality? Another sign of the marina cruiser?

 

[clyst]

Most hand rails today seem very lightly built and whether they would stop
a 15stone + chap going at full chatt from being thrown overboard is debatable . Years ago they were stout grabable chunky bits of kit right along the coach roof .Not very pretty but practical.

 

[Wansworth]

What is more of a surprise is that they are so short on most production boats. There is often quite a distance between the cockpit and the handrail and then another large gap to the mast/shrouds. Does the aesthetic override practicality? Another sign of the marina cruiser?

One of the most exposed areas is getting round the sprayhood to and from thecockpit.I like the idea ofa frame over the s.h giving a good handhold.

 

[PhillM]

One of the most exposed areas is getting round the sprayhood to and from thecockpit.I like the idea ofa frame over the s.h giving a good handhold.

That is the best reason not to have a spray hood I've ever heard. We have been thinking about one but put off by the cost and we felt it would change the look of the boat too much. However, we did like the idea of staying dryier in heaver weather.

I think that the handrails on Paean are more important to us that guard rails. I think they would be a trip hazard and you would need to go outside them at least once to get to the mast. Worth saying she is a 1961 boat so not designed to have any - and the ones I've seen retro fitted to the same boat don't seem to work that well.

 

[Wansworth]

That is the best reason not to have a spray hood I've ever heard. We have been thinking about one but put off by the cost and we felt it would change the look of the boat too much. However, we did like the idea of staying dryier in heaver weather.

I think that the handrails on Paean are more important to us that guard rails. I think they would be a trip hazard and you would need to go outside them at least once to get to the mast. Worth saying she is a 1961 boat so not designed to have any - and the ones I've seen retro fitted to the same boat don't seem to work that well.

Sprayhoods can bee seen as a safety item,protecting the crew and a hinderance reducing visibility especially in crowded waters.Being able to keep the hatch open in bad weather is a real advantage especially in a small boat.

 

[Fantasie 19]

Most hand rails today seem very lightly built and whether they would stop
a 15stone + chap going at full chatt from being thrown overboard is debatable . Years ago they were stout grabable chunky bits of kit right along the coach roof .Not very pretty but practical.

To be fair though, would guard wires and stanchions do any better?? If I had the choice between the two I think I'd probably take the hand rails.......