"Joe" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Mar 2, 12:52 pm, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
"Nathan Branden" wrote in message

...

I've been tempted to use the stainless steel bathroom handrails on
my
cabintop. They are those handrails you see in Lowes or Home Depot,
pretty sturdy bent tubing with only two welds. How will they stand
up
in a marine environment? They definitely long strong enough and
mount
over a wide area. I just think the boat store handrails are
outrageously expensive and the bathroom ones a much less expensive
and
even look better.

Nathan

Nathan,

If you own or sail a properly designed sailboat you need no hand
rails
on the cabin top. Hand rails are used only on sailboats that have
side
decks. A proper sailboat has a flush or raised deck. Instead of
walking
precariously along the side decks, on a proper sailboat you walk on
top
of the flush or raised deck. Here is a picture of a proper raised
deck
sailboat. http://www.sailboatlistings.com/sailimg/6070/SJ2003.jpg
and here's another http://captneal.homestead.com/files/stbsd.jpg
Note
the total absence of unsightly hand rails.

Wilbur Hubbard

Is this an inproperly designed boat Wilbur?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Doff%26sa%3DG



The Oyster 68 is a competent yacht. However, it would be a better and
more seaworthy yacht if they made it a flush deck or a raised deck. On a
sailboat that size a flush deck would be the answer because it is large
enough to have plenty of headroom. A flush deck is much more practical,
it's easier to clean and move about on. Corners and stressed areas are
eliminated. It has less windage thus it would go to weather better. It's
lighter. So, to answer your question it is, indeed, improperly designed.
If they make a flush deck version then that would be proper and Bristol.
That particular Oyster 68 is style over substance and practicality.

Wilbur Hubbard