Removing Teak Handrails

Teak is extensively used as trim or decking on recreational boats.

Teak brightwork, your boat's unpainted wood that has a bit of varnish as its only raiment, adorns a boat's dash or deck or railing, adding a bit of "nice" to a boat's appearance. Teak handrails with their stainless supports,are, like the dash accents, a nice detail. Teak handrails, unlike decking and dashboards, may be removed for cleaning and maintenance, a definite plus when using the chemicals used to maintain teak. Since their stainless support system remains behind, you may remove them from your boat without fear of tipsy guests walking over a rail-less side.

Things You'll Need

• Torx driver
• Small adjustable wrench

Instructions

1. Balance yourself on the deck before leaning over to remove the teak rail. Bend over so that you gain access to the nuts on the bottom of the upper part of the rail support, but keep your head and upper body inside the rail and the rail support.Keep your head above the rail support.

2. Drill down through the plug in the teak handrail that covers the Torx bolt holding the rail in place with a drill and a bit the size of the teak plug centered above the bolt. Insert a Torx driver into the hole and fit the driver to steady the bolt.

3. Move the arm with which you will loosen the nuts to the outside of the railing and reach back under the bottom of the rail. Slip the adjustable wrench over the nut and cup your other hand under the nut.

4. Pull the end of the wrench handle clockwise. Since you are effectively working upside-down, with relation to the way the nut turns, you turn the wrench clockwise, rather than counterclockwise, to remove the nut from the stud. Allow the nut to drop into your cupped hand and stash the nut in one of your pockets.

5. Repeat this process until all the nuts on the retaining studs in the teak handrail have been removed. Lift the teak rail and the bolts clear of the support system.