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I played with the idea for a side rail swing gate option for my 1979 22 ft Revenge. I did a lot of custom stainless rail work on the boat and I really wanted them for safety. I passed on the idea. Factors: a lot of leverage/stress on the "gate" when open (are your rail mounts through bolted or screwed down where you want the gate?) You can really damage the mounts/boat/rail if jarred hard with the open gate/rail; no sharp edges so the gate would be completely custom , and your current rails customized to return to the deck at the gate opening (leaving sharp edges bothered me); very, very, pricey; modifications to the continuous rail would leave the railing looking poorly (name your poison, funny looking rail lines or a trolling motor mount). When I did the rails on my boat, both me and the fabricator stood back to look at the "reveals" on the boat. A railing off by a 1/4 inch looks real awkward.

It was explained to me by the fabricator that the continuous run of rail spreads the load, especially with screwed down bases. I have a walk through opening on the starboard and port sides of my boat, 20 inches wide, and my railings are 17 inches above the gunwales, completely surrounding the rest of the boat. He suggested stainless chain with snap hooks or a "spring clasp something or other" with stainless cable used on sail boats. I left the opening alone.
gchuba