Exposed toe rail screws

[tony_lavelle]

My 33 year old teak toe rails are now showing the heads of the fixing screws where the teak plugs have come out. Though the toe rails don't look obviously worn, the screw heads are close to the level of the top of the teak so new plugs would probably not stay in. Could the panel please advise the best way to deal with this?

 

[Sandyman]

How far are the screw heads below the top of the teak?

 

[pvb]

Remove the screws. Using an appropriately-sized Forstner bit, deepen the holes. Refit the screws. Fit new teak plugs. Chisel off excess carefully.

 

[sarabande]

it might be worth checking, when you have the screws removed as per PRV's sound post, that the teak rail is not hiding a source of water ingress.


I took off a length a month ago to install new cleats, and found that the screws were embedded in old Sikaflex between the hull moulding and that of the deck. The Sika had gone hard after many many years, and gaps were appearing between the two mouldings. Though the teak covered the gaps, the possibility of water ingress exists, so rebedding the rail when I have nothing to do this winter will be on the Great Task List.

 

[johnalison]

As well as deepening the holes, you can get low profile screws, which will make it easier.

 

[Fantasie 19]

As well as deepening the holes, you can get low profile screws, which will make it easier.

Life is too short - if she isn't leaking, and the toe rails aren't damaged, if it was me (and I'm not your 25 coats of varnish and decreasing grades of sandpaper type person) I would be looking for a soft'ish filler (so that I can get it out easily should I need to later) and just bung that in the holes... plastic wood filler in the closest colour probably....

 

[tony_lavelle]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. As an experiment I did try filling one of the screw holes with some suitable looking epoxy wood filler but it looked horrible. I will try withdrawing one of the screws to see how easily they can be replaced with ones with a shallower head. Where can these be obtained and do they have a special name?

 

[pvb]

I will try withdrawing one of the screws to see how easily they can be replaced with ones with a shallower head. Where can these be obtained and do they have a special name?

The low profile screws which were mentioned are really only intended for deck use, where there's much less teak to play with. I've bought some from Hallberg-Rassy Parts and used them when replacing plugs on deck. I can't see that there'd be much benefit in finding special screws for toerail use.

 

[johnalison]

I got my information from HR too, but I don't know how thick the OP's toe rail is. Most modern rails are thick enough to give plenty of spare depth but earlier ones such as Contessas were quite skimpy, which is why I made my suggestion.