[SlowPoke]

So that anyone who goes forward feels totally comfortable regardless of conditions, it was suggested I add grab rails to the hard top. The walkways are wide but the crew are elderly    so I can see their point. I saw a white grabrail by Tiara on line which was 60" long ( which would the right length) but there was only one. It did get me thinking the white might look a little better as opposed to another stainless rail on the boat. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Sources?

Thanks,
George

[Duke]

So that anyone who goes forward feels totally comfortable regardless of conditions, it was suggested I add grab rails to the hard top. The walkways are wide but the crew are elderly    so I can see their point. I saw a white grabrail by Tiara on line which was 60" long ( which would the right length) but there was only one. It did get me thinking the white might look a little better as opposed to another stainless rail on the boat. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Sources?

Thanks,
George

Hi we have a 1994 3100.  We are looking to put rails on too.  Not sure how they are attached on the later models where this was either an option or standard.  It seems each Limited Edition I see online has the grab rails.

If anyone out there knows the answers please respond back to this note.  I'd like to know the length of the rail, the diameter, and if known, are they welded to the windshield cap or through bolted from the inside of the windshield frame?

I found some aftermarket rails in aluminum and can have some custom tubing bent and made up to add to our boat.  A bit of guidance from those in the know will be more than helpful.

Best,

Duke

[August Rush]

I have no experience with this but am also considering handrails on the hard top of out 400 Express. Thinking toggle bolts might be a good solution.

[SlowPoke]

Ultimately, I found a couple of grab rails at [Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register] which were just what I was looking for---and over $1000 less than the local fabricator wanted.

To mount them on the hardtop, the three mounting holes (per rail) were carefully measured and 3/8" holes were drilled through the double layer hardtop. The hardtop is molded on the underside so that it is deeper or shallower in parts to allow for lights and a sunroof. This meant there was an air gap of varying thicknesses between the top and bottom. The construction material was too thin to just drill all the way through and tighten securely without crushing the two layers together. The solution the marina came up with was to drill 1/2" holes on the underside of the hardtop directly over the 3/8" holes. They then cut short pieces of 1/2" stainless pipe for spacers just long enough to bridge the gap between top and bottom layers of the hardtop. Then they used a large stainless washer and a stainless 3/8 hex bolt to sandwich the whole thing together. Without the 1/2" pipe spacers, the bottom would have crumpled when tightened. The pipe also gave the flat washer a greater area to hold against as well.

Hope that kind of made sense. If your top is constructed differently, good luck

Recently, I did see a couple of 3100's with soft tops and they had grab rails mounted diagonally on the side window frames but I prefer, having the option, having them mounted up top where I can lean into them