This is a simple, super strong, and attractively
cheap way to do it: Drill through your handrail at the spot where you would normally mount a screw or bolt. The size of the drill is the same size as the largest
wood plugs you can easily fit, 3/8" is ideal for me. After drilling the handrails on the workbench, place them in the desired spot on the
boat and use them as drilling guides through the cabintop or other location. Drill the same size hole into a thick part of the cabintop, say, where you have a butt block or reinforcing block. If the bottom hole would be visible, then stop just short of the bottom of the substrate. Measure the
depth of the hole from the top of the handrail, subtract a 1/4", cut some dowels at this new length. Dip the dowels in
epoxy, tap them down throught the handrail into the base material, then fit a
teak, mahogany or pine (if you are just painting the handrails)
wood plug in place and let everything harden. Trim the
plug, seal the handrail and you are done. I wish I'd learned this years ago. Oh yeah, and set the bases, as Steve suggests, in 3M 4000UV or 5200
adhesive.