Bow toe rails, Anyone ever see a boat that used a low profile stainless steel

[Fortunate One]

Anyone ever see a boat that used a low profile stainless steel toe rail used at the bow of a boat.

I have a beautiful flat profile at the bow of my boat and I was contemplating a mahogany toe rail. But that's going to build it up a bit and I'm not sure if I like the idea anymore.

So someone mentioned why not have a low profile stainless steel rail installed off 1 1/2” high stanchions. By raising it off the bow it would allow for water to run directly off the deck instead of being channeled along a toe rail and eventually leaving residue when the water dries.

That idea struck me as being interesting and practical because a harness could be connected to it for safety purposes if someone had to get up to the bow at night time in the canyons.

Here's a picture of the bow.




Has anyone ever seen that done?

[JD5652]

I've never seen the use of a SS "toe rail"....for me I like the idea of the mahogany... it's a classic look...

[controlled chaos]

that boat is way too nice to put a rail on the bow. pleeeeease don't do it!!!! i have been following the build of your boat as you post updated pics and it is turning out so nice. it would be a shame for something like a bow rail to break up the lines of this badass rig. but then again it is your boat and i was just giving my .02

dave

[ElMar2530]

Sort of like a Seacraft 23?? Only not recessed and installed in the toe rail position? Is that what you mean?

[teddyp]

that boat is way too nice to put a rail on the bow. pleeeeease don't do it!!!! i have been following the build of your boat as you post updated pics and it is turning out so nice. it would be a shame for something like a bow rail to break up the lines of this badass rig. but then again it is your boat and i was just giving my .02

dave

I have to agree with Dave. 2 nice to screw with, go with classic and leave futuristic to the production boats.

[JD5652]

that boat is way too nice to put a rail on the bow. pleeeeease don't do it!!!! i have been following the build of your boat as you post updated pics and it is turning out so nice. it would be a shame for something like a bow rail to break up the lines of this badass rig. but then again it is your boat and i was just giving my .02

dave

Sort of like a Seacraft 23?? Only not recessed and installed in the toe rail position? Is that what you mean?

I have to agree with Dave. 2 nice to screw with, go with classic and leave futuristic to the production boats.

Guys-

He's talking about a toe rail...not a BOW rail...

[Flatdog]

One assumes you are going to have thigh hight stanchions and rail to lean against? They should match, stainless with stainless, teak with teak, if no thigh height rail do not bother trip hazard.

[alex n]

Thats a cool idea, I'm imagineing a 3 inch wide piece of polished stainless with rounded edges like a teak toe rail ,however raised off the deck a bit because of the stanchions, I think it may look good but I think an inch and a half may be a bit high for the stanchion drains

[darbikrash]

First off, beautiful boat.

I take it from the description that your main interest is in providing some type of safety precaution if you go forward in a seaway. I think this is a good idea, it's too dangerous to go forward without a rail or a harness, to set an anchor for example.

I'm not sure I understand how the toe rail would allow you to attach a harness and then move forward-it would seem like the stanchions would block the forward movement of the harness attach fittings. Maybe some type of sail track?

If the issue is maintaining the best look, I'd vote for the varnished teak cap rail.

If the issue is incorporating a safety feature that will allow a traveling harness fitting, how about something on the centerline of the foredeck like a flat, low profile and polished stainless bar, with rounded edges, with a sail track recessed in the center?

The advantage might be that the stainless is now straight (easy to make), rather than curved, and would not be visible from the side, as you could use a varnished cap rail around the edge of the foredeck.

Just a thought.

[Fortunate One]

Hummmm Some interesting thoughts.

Dorymate2530 that's sort of the principal except it would be mounted on the forward deck where the toe rail actually goes.

JD you're right and I hear you guys about the classic touch. It's just that I was thinking about safety also.

Flat dog & Dave I'm not going with a bow rail. Although there are some that are made really nice it's not the look I'm going for.

Alex n, that's an interesting concept except the glare off a larger rail might be a bit annoying.

darbikrash, one of the builders suggested something like the centerline "Sail Track" you mentioned. The problem is It may be a trip hazard and there is a hatch up forward that would require us to shorten the length.

Well thanks for the input guys. I knew I'd get some good feedback here. One of the guys PM'd me about a company that builds a traditional wood toe rail CNC'd from a cad drawing. I'm going to explore that. Perhaps I'll just stick with tradition.