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Straightening a bent bowrail
bcross	#1  Posted on 05/18/10 - 11:05 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 59 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/30/07	I recently bought a used bow rail on CL for by '68 Nauset for $100. Seemed like a great deal. It looked like new until I installed it. Then I discovered that it is slightly bent. Any tips on how to straighten it out? The seller did say that it came from a "hurricane" boat.
JohnnyCW	#2  Posted on 05/18/10 - 11:56 AM
Member Posts: 684 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/16/09	I had success straightening a bent stainless bimini frame by screwing down wooden cleats (2x4 scrap) to a sheet of plywood then bending the tubing against them.
TexasOutrage	#3  Posted on 05/18/10 - 11:58 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 246 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/16/08	My welded stainless steel bowrail was bent when I bought my Whaler. A local welding shop tried to straighten it using a torch with no success. I had to have a shop cut the rail and weld in a new section. Once buffed out, you could not see any sign of the repair. What type rail do you have?
bcross	#4  Posted on 05/18/10 - 12:25 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 59 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/30/07	The rail is one piece stainless steel which I am fairly certain is OEM. What concerns me is how to apply enough torque to the rail to bend it without crimping it. The block and plywood suggestion sounds pretty good, but would a bending tool, such as an electricians pipe bender or conduit bender work on heavy stainless steel?
Joe Kriz	#5  Posted on 05/18/10 - 1:34 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11433 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	The original rail was is sections and had fittings to secure them together with a hot dog inserted between the two joints. Here is a photo of the rail fittings. http://www.whalercentral.com/photogal...hoto_id=87
bcross	#6  Posted on 05/18/10 - 2:16 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 59 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/30/07	Thanks Joe. After reading your post, I went out and loosened one of the top rail fittings and you are absolutely correct. There is indeed a seam under each fitting. I had presumed that the rail was solid and passed straight through the fittings. I'm not certain if this will help me in straightening the rail, but it's good to know what I'm working with. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Joe Kriz	#7  Posted on 05/18/10 - 2:36 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11433 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	Depending on which section it is. It may be easier to just replace that section.
bcross	#8  Posted on 05/18/10 - 2:55 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 59 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/30/07	It's the forward section on the port side. I can't really see any bend in the section. It just is lower than the same section on the opposite side. I am now thinking that it may be the hot dogs that are bent. Can they be replaced?
Binkie	#9  Posted on 05/18/10 - 4:04 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	Before you do any bending on your bow rail buy a bag of playsand and a funnel from Home Depot. Fill the tubing to be bent with sand. Now you can work with it with a tubing bender or blocks of wood, without worrying about the tubing kinking. Edited by Joe Kriz on 05/18/10 - 6:45 PM Rich
bcross	#10  Posted on 05/18/10 - 4:28 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 59 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/30/07	Good tip. Thanks rich.
Binkie	#11  Posted on 05/18/10 - 6:04 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 2012 Comments: 0 Joined: 12/19/05	Oh well, you know what I meant, bowrail not rubrail. LOL Rich
Fishmore	#12  Posted on 05/19/10 - 6:06 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 270 Comments: 0 Joined: 11/20/07	If you think it is the hotdog then look closely the hotdog in that position on my rail had a slight bend to it and by just turning the hotdog I was able to alter the rail alignment. What I am saying is it may be bent on purpose as a tool to help align the rail.