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We owned a Dauntless 16 with a bow rail. It was moderately inconvenient for fishing when you had to fight a big boy and work from all angles on the boat. I think it added some safety but in the ten years we owned the Dauntless I can't remember it ever helped keeping someone aboard.

We now have a 190 Montauk bought new without the bow rail. That was a delete option. It's much better for fishing. Yesterday I hooked up with a huge fish (probably a Jack Crevall) in the Mobile River and that rascal dragged me all around the boat perimeter before finally breaking the line. It would have been much more difficult to manage that fish with a bow rail as my partner had to quickly lift the anchor rode so I could move beneath it.

Our Sport 13 does not have a bow rail and we don't miss it.

A bow rail is unnecessary for some owners. That's why it's a delete option on some models. If I had a couple of little guys on the boat I'd probably opt for the rail.