PlasTeak Toe Rails

[Greenhand]

Here is a link to my new blog post about installing the PlasTeak toe rails.

It was quite an experience to get them in the first place. The whole story is on another post on the blog, but it took us several weeks to get the initial quote, and they were not able (willing?) to reproduce our original profile. They did send us a sample of their modifications for our approval, though. Once in production, they kept forgetting that we had already answered all of their questions, so they would call, we wouldn't be available to answer and the time difference would mean that work was put off another day. In the end, they literally arrived the same day as my father arrived to help us install them.

It was worth it, though. One of the professionals walked by and said something about our new teak. When I answered that it was PlasTEAK, he stepped over to take a closer look and was really impressed.

Of course, you might want to ask again in a year or so, since I just shaved down the last bung this morning

Here is an after and a before, because the connection isn't good enough to try to upload them again to switch the order.

[allanbranch]

How are they holding up?

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by allanbranch

How are they holding up?

Love them! Still trying to get pictures of the scarf joints, which are the only flaw we have found so far.

[gamayun]

Nice! I'll have to look into this for deck handholds. Just the idea of sanding and varnishing gives me hives.

[Jon Neely]

They look great! cool idea to use as rubrail as well. Can I ask what these ended up running you just for material?


Cheers,

Jon

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by Jon Neely

They look great! cool idea to use as rubrail as well. Can I ask what these ended up running you just for material?


Cheers,

Jon

PlasTeak charged about $1k for the toe rails themselves, but that of course includes their labor and shipping. We only put butyl at the bolts, so that was about one roll (2 for ~50, including shipping). The bolts were a much larger cost. We ordered the original length ahead of time, but due to the plastic, the holes were not countersunk as deep and we need longer bolts. In the end, I scavenged ever 5/16 x 4 SS bolt in town, at various prices and cut them down to 3.5. Then I ran around town again, returning any remaining bolts at the highest prices.

I finally got pics of the scarf joints to share. As you can see, they aren't atrocious, they just aren't one smooth piece.

[cwhofman]

Looking at the joints, Were these cuts you made or are these from the factory, I'm looking to do Cap rails on mine and a gap like that would lead to leaking for sure

thanks in advance

[roverhi]

Is the poor fit of the scarf joints because you had to install each section to fit the boat so stretched the joint out or
Is it just poor craftsmanship?? What do you use for plugs and how are they secured. These plastics laugh at glue. Good old 5200 has worked to secure stuff to the faux plastic but those weren't stressed areas.

[JPA Cate]

The overall visual effect is nice.

The scarf joints may bug you now, but really, from the dinghy, coming back to the boat with a load of groceries, you'll most likely not notice them. But, I can understand how you might not be best pleased with them.

Ann

[Cheechako]

Those joints look good to me. The gap is good if filled with sealant.