One of those winter projects I can do in a warm shop. The only person ever mentioned my lack of handrails was a surveyor last year. He didn't demand it, only noted the absence.

I took them off because I was redoing the cabintop which is plywood and glass on my boat. The old ones caused some damage after years of water ingress(previous owner) and difficult removal(bolts, plugs, filler).

They were history so I didn't replace them over 10 years ago(filled the holes and painted). My boat has wider decks than most newer boats, double lifelines, high wooden toe rail that's nearly a bulwark. That plus roller furling and cautious coastal sailing that we do, I didn't really miss them.

But I sail in my 60's next season, and I'm starting to think about things like this.

I've started the design and have a few ideas. I want easy, but I don't like the look of factory made rails of teak.

Ideas that make for better handrails, also make for a more pleasing look(no surprise).

So I'm thinking; mahogany- epoxy up sandwich of 2pcs-3/4"x 6" stock. This will allow me to taper the rails from a base, over around 1 1/4", for a wider foot on the cabin, tapering to about an 1" round rail.

Closer spacing of the "piers"(not a good term), between the handrails. They look better scaled to my eye and of course are a stronger system.

Now to break the rules;

One reason I didn't care about replacing them 10 years ago, maintenance. They put bright rails on 99% of sailboats, old woodies to new glass. I'm not sure that's a good idea(except for the "look"). Painted handrails look fine on the few wooden boats I've seen them on.

Bright handrails are a maintenance nightmare(nooks and crannies). Anything with varnish that is horizontal on a boat sheds varnish, even in Maine. The solution? Have covers made,...

I don't think so, take them off, put them on,....I go sailing too much to do that. I don't need covers on my cabinsides or coamings, spars, toe rails, etc. because they'll hold up to a yearly maintenance coat for 7 to 15 years(each location varies). I don't find that difficult.

So, because nobody notices they're not there, I think I'll paint them the same as the cabin top. That'll be easy to care for as I brush the cabintop with a coat of paint every few years, no taping, no problem. I think they'll sort of disappear, only their lines will show a bit, I like that.

One more rule breaker, I'm going to fasten them with screws from below, finish washers, for easy removal and rebedding. I can't think of a good removable through bolt system and I know I can screw fasten beyond what I will require(purists will rail...). Hence the closer spacing and wider base. Easy rebedding means, I'll do it.

I've been looking at handrails in books and old photos, here's a nice set, but not what I have in mind. Any ideas?