bow rail
 

i have an 86 v20 cudy with bow rails. the t fitting have disintegrated but the tubing looks very good. i am thinking that the tube is stainless and fittings aluminum. how do you tell if tube is stainless or aluminum any help appreciated

Try this link - http://www.marinepartdepot.com/newststdehi.html You'll have to check diameter to be sure their stuff fits your rail. I'm planning to modify my bow rail to open a gap in the front and will be looking into it at some point. I got a couple of turn latches for my back hatches from these guys - their prices were good and the latches look fine. I like that they"re stainless and not pot metal that salt water eats alive.

Don't be fooled by their "free shipping expires tomorrow" nonsense - it starts right back up.

I don't think any of the bow rails are aluminum, but I'm no expert.

Good luck with the project & please let me know what you find that fits.

alum will be dull, stainless will be shinny and maybe a little rust

check this place..... http://www.surplusunlimited.com/

awesome place and great prices...little mom and pop type outfit

:nice:

Most Bow rails will be stainless steel, Use a caliper and measure the size, you can check Ebay for excellent pricing also.
I purchase a Bow rail from a member here it came off I can't remember the type of Boat, anyways I modify,cut and fit until I came up with and excellent fit even follows the contour of the anchor platform ...
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/c...e/DSCF0102.jpg

Don't know if this helps but just for future knowledge, a magnet will not stick to stainless

Actually it depends on the grade of stainless.
For better strength and to be less brittle there needs to be some amount of carbon present in stainless.
Stick a magnet to stainless and there will be some attraction but not usually enough to hold the weight of the item.
Had a buddy of mine gripe about some stainless rusting on his boat. Told him "stainless means it will stain less, not that it won't rust".

here are some pictures looks like the 60 deg. t's are alum and rest is stainles.

like said you can pick those fittings up anywhere for a pretty good price.....have some drill bits in hand...when I did some work on my first boat I had to take the bow rail off....screws snapped all over the place....not a big deal just be prepared.

I'm willing to bet that the rails are stainless and the fittings are pot metal. They (the fittings) tend to get eaten alive in salt water. Best thing you can do is buy new stainless fittings..... certainly not cheap, but will last you a long time and in the final analisis, will be much cheaper than replacing them with more pot metal fittings every few years. :head:

I found stainless fittings at a local marine suply about 12 each. Is there any brand that seems better or any to stay away from.

Good question, I did purchase the ones you see in the picture from West Marine. You can check Bass Pro shop (good price) most retailers will have two quality one lighter than the other. I go for the heavier one more money but holds up well?
Sea Dog is good brand ..

Yeah, thought about mentioning that about the grades........

Its funny about "stain-less" we always said it was stainless cause it already looked like schizz, it won't look much worse over time.

A lot of the stuff that rusts is also chrome-plated zinc. If you have some fittings(handles,bar receivers,cleats, etc.) that look like they have metal barnicles on em, its probably chrome-plated zinc.

That chrome plated zinc is sometimes called ZAMAK...a chinese word for "s%%t that don't belong on a boat"....:fight: