Teak toe rails

[Geordie]

I need to replace one of my teak toe rails which has been badly damaged. Is it possible to bend the new toe rail gradually, using brute force, at each screw position, or is there a special technique? The dimensions of the toe rail are approx. 40mm x 20mm (1 1/2ins x 3/4ins)and the bending must take place across the widest dimension. The fixing screws are spaced approx every 150mm (6ins).

I would appreciate advice from those who have done this or know how it should be done.

Many thanks

Geordie

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[Peterduck]

It will depend very much on the sharpness of the curvature around which you are planning tobend the toerail. A short, chubby boat will be more difficult than a long skinny one. Either way, be sure that your stock carries the grain right through; ie, the grain does not run out to one side. This will cause the stock to split when it is bent, even if it is steamed or boiled. This latter will ease the stock around a curve which it would not normally go around. Boing is to be preferred, as it gets the heat into the timber so much more effectively, and slows down the drying-out which steam does.
Peter.

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[pyrojames]

Should be fine, I replaced part of my damaged teak toerail cap last winter. It was 50 x 25. It wasn't as hard as the 75 x 32 beech that was underneath it. I bent them by bracing the centre of the bit I was bending across to the bowsprit, so that I could clamp it in shape, before I drilled the holes. I figure that trying to bend it on the screws one at a time eas liable to split at the screws or bend them. ONce bent in shape, screwed and glued, I could remove the formers at leisure.



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