Trojan Boat Forum

Looking for opinions. What looks better with or with out cockpit rails? My son says I should remove them, but I like to keep boat original.

Although my cockpit rails are still on, I prefer the way it would look without. Unfortunately my tonneau cover is fitted over the rail so if I removed it, the cover would no longer fit. When the cover needs replacing someday, my rail will probably disappear.

I took mine off, I love the new look. The boat looks newer. I also added a cockpit table and use the gunwale as seating. I'll take some pics the next time on the boat.

I thought of removing them on my F-32, my wife loved the Teak accent it added, but if you stand at the rear of the cockpit and look where the gunnel hits your leg, it's like knee high, without the rail, it would be very easy to fall overboard

gettaway wrote:but if you stand at the rear of the cockpit and look where the gunnel hits your leg, it's like knee high, without the rail, it would be very easy to fall overboard

I agree. Too easy to fall overboard. Remember, you have to think of your guests!

My preference is to keep things as original as possible, so I would keep the railing. Also, from a safety perspective, I think it is important. Optics / cosmetics should take second priority to safety and security.

I agree that removing the taff rail could create a safety problem. A tall person's center of gravity would be well above the gunwale and if someone looses their balance, the gunwale would just act as a fulcrum to topple them overboard. There is not anything for someone to grab onto in that case. It would be nice to have all the additional seating, but safety has to come first. I took a middle of the road approach by cutting out the center section of the taff rail and am going to hinge it so that at the dock, you can sit there and underway, the gate can be closed. Also, it makes it way easier to get in and out of the boat from the swim platform. I got the hinges from Trojan Bob and they fit perfectly, although they are very dear in cost...

fpawn wrote:Looking for opinions. What looks better with or with out cockpit rails? My son says I should remove them, but I like to keep boat original.

I agree with your son.

We have the exact same debate going on here right now between me and my dad. I'm 38, hes 80. Not that age has much to do with this, but its a debate he will lose this fall when I take them off to refinish other wood, and they don't make it back on next spring.

The gunnels are way too low on the F32 to remove the rails . Its needed for safety , the need increases 10 X if your in large seas . Safety before looks .


Of course you could lower the cockpit deck ,that would invole change the tanks to something lower profile . That was done on a 30' Owens I had . A lot of work for sure .

Agree about keeping them. The F32 convertible has too shallow of a cockpit for safety. The F32, express and express bridge don't have them as the cockpit sole is about 6 inches deeper than a convertible.

My usage is fresh water on the Great Lakes and no reason to be on deck in heavy weather so am comfortable with the safety downside... I enjoy the extra seating the transom offers while in quiet anchorages.

ready123 wrote:My usage is fresh water on the Great Lakes and no reason to be on deck in heavy weather so am comfortable with the safety downside... I enjoy the extra seating the transom offers while in quiet anchorages.

++1

BTW. Cool pic.

I cut out the back for walkway