F#*!n Bowrail

[willy]

Has anyone actually removed their bow rail thats on the site today. Went out to start and it seems that although I can turn the screws securing the posts to the deck they will not back out. If you put lifting pressure on the rail and post it seems very solid with no movement but the screws will turn. They are not broken apparently just like it in there so much they will not back out :-[ Any ideas ???

[bigshrimpin]

Willy - I'm pretty sure that they are through bolted. The nuts might be hiding under the carpet.

[macojoe]

yep I agree!!

Lift up and slip a hacksaw under and cut them off.

[Crusher]

Willy, My 89 is through bolted, just had to retighten nuts from the under side. :o Had to borrow a freand with long arms. Crusher

[willy]

Oh I thought they were screws from the way they looked on the outside. There is no lifting to cut, they are strong to the hull. I dont think I can get under there now with my neck, as a matter of fact I think 30 seconds would kill me. Maybe I will have my son squirm up in there. thru bolted huh who would of thunk :-/

[cbe317]

hey Willy, I just pulled mine off. Wasn't too bad. I was able to get most of the screws and nuts out by hand though. I have long arms.

I had to drill the screws out that I couldn't reach. I used an 1/8" HT bit to get through the stainless screw heads.

Man, it looks so good now. Mine had the split rails. Never a big fan of those.

Will post pics when I get my camera back.




Chris

[macojoe]

cbe317 why did you take them off?? Do you still have them?? I have been wanting a split rail for a long time.

[willy]

What do you mean by split rails, open in the front by the bow pulpit or something else

[chumbucket]

Yep. Just like mine was. Check my gallery pics.

[phester]

I think the 1978 cuddy, the only year, has a split rail ???

[cbe317]

Well MJ, I just didn't like the way the split rail looked on the CC. If you want em' make me an offer. They are just sitting in the backyard right now.

Send me a PM.


Chris

[willy]

How did you get the one along side the side window, you know the first one. No access to that inside is there?

[cbe317]

Willy, mine is a center console. I wouldn't know where to gain access. That might be one that you have to drill out.





Chris

[willy]

Got ya ;)

[steplift20]

78 doesnt have split railss i know i own one

[macojoe]

PM sent

[willy]

Well I had my son climb up in there, he said he could not get to them ( short arms) and the carpet would have to be pulled out of the way.
So I drilled out the heads and tapped them in.

F#*!n bow rail is off and it does look pretty.

Other than sealing the holes with 5200 any suggestions on how to finish it so it looks nice, kind of a gritty texture up there and not going to be easy to hide

[C YENSEN]

hey willy,

i replaced all the fittings on my bow rail this spring, it sucked.

the fittings near the windows are only accessible if you cut a whole in the side wall near the throttle, under the window. I used a jigsaw, and cut the holes to the size to add 6" speakers. ;D. that way I did not have to use access panels to cover the holes. turned out pretty nice, next time I am at the boat i will take some photos.

[willy]

Thanks Cy, I cut those off on the outside and was able to push them thru to wherever the boat Gods decide they need to be, they did not fall down.
I am not replacing them I have de-bowed the boat and I love the look. Looks twenty years younger. Wish I had a bow to cut off me ;D
I just need to refinish that area after sealing it and not sure how to do it without it looking hokey

[Franco]

Brother Willy, fill the holes with marine tex, then get the gelcoat repair kit at boaters, mix the tint to the gel coat before you add the hardner, add the hardner and glaze over the top, cover with wax paper till it dries, wet sand the spots and go fishing!!

[phester]

Franco, how are ya buddy? Question....didn't you cut your bow rail to lower it? Looked at your gallery pics and it sure looks good, looks good off too. Did you do it or did you have it done?

[willy]

He did it Phes

[phester]

He did it Phes
I'd like to get some "how to" info from the grand pubah himself ;D.....thanks willy

[Franco]

Hey Phes, wassup. Don't mind Willy, He is the Official Body Guard of The Grand Pubah!! I did it my self, I went and found different ends for the rail it self, and all of the t connectors also. I had to shorten the rail and the pipes, I mounted the ends to the deck, replaced the lower pipe mounts, put in the tubes, put the
t-connectors on the bow rail and mocked everything up, marked it with a sharpie, cut it a little long and snuck up on it for the final fit. I had to cut the old crap off with a cutting wheel. Hope this helps

[phester]

so just the rail itself and the upright pipes were the only original pieces used ?

[Franco]

Yeah, the other stuff was really pitted badly, I bought stainless fittings at marine connection for a song to replace it and it just worked out that I could shorten the rail heigth

[willy]

Sorry Phes, saw the times thought you were waiting for an answer on who did it. I knew the Grand one would fill you in as soon as he saw it. :)

[phester]

no worries Willy, and please no need to apoligize, I certainly hope that my responce was not inturpited as a "butt-out", no how, no way.

[Franco]

H*E*L*L, WITH WILLY I HAVE BETTER PROTECTION THE THE SECRET SERVICE HAS ON GEORGE WHATHISNAME!

[phester]

you know what Franco, if I had enough time to shorten my bow rail...., I'd probably go fishin' instead, only been out three times this season :(.....thanks for the info ;D

[willy]

;)

[steplift20]

there bolted thats why they turn and turn and turn and turn

[willy]

Got them out step thanks, cleaned out prepared and filled holes today, going to try to get gel coat repair kit tommorow

[Blu_Lunch]

The problem I had was Wellcraft had used small nut with a star washer was attached and the tended to pull up in to the fiberglass as you tighted and after time the nuts were buried in the glass, leaving no way to put a tool to turn them out and when you tried to remove them , they spun in the glass staying tight enough so they would not come off. I had 3 of them do it { both front supports} I drilled them out , and i replaced all 18 bolt with new ss bolts and good sized ss washers and new nylon nuts I rented the kids next door for a couple a bucks and replaced them all. You're right the F#*!n Bowrail what a pain.......