Marinette Boat Forum

I am just starting my cosmetic repairs on the 72 express. I am looking for a few spare rectangular aluminum stantion bases for the railing around the stern and flying bridge.

I am also curious to hear from those that have an opening in the railing at the transom. I want to cut a section out between the two port stantions at the transom but I am worried that the railing will loose its rigidity. For those that have this opening, is the railing still rigid? Does the door being latched make a big difference? Any help would be appreciated.
E

Using a simple hack-saw, I have cut the aluminum 'railing' between the 2 stanchions allowing me and the kids to enter the rear of the boat from the swim ladder more easily. the railing is hollow, so I used a router to craft an oblong wooden dowel into the open ends of the rail, a little gorilla glue or caulk to secure it, then sand & paint. I still have to decide how to bridge the gap. The railing is surprisingly sturdy. I will have to monitor it more after a full summer of use. Good luck.

What you did is exactly what I was planning on doing. I plan on welding a plug in the cut ends and installing a hinge to flip the railing up onto itself. Are your stantions aluminum or stainless?

I had a similar idea, and it looked really nice for a week, but I made the mistake of purchasing cheaper stainless hinges. My daughter went to open it (the wrong way) and it bent the hinge, the railing came off, and ended up at the bottom of the marina . All is well though -it was a mistake I can afford -in the safety of my marina on a non-moving vessel.. had it happened while underway, I could have had a dangerous accident. Lesson... spare no expense to secure and support the railing when it’s in the closed position for safety reasons.

My '78 28 express had an opening in the transom rail, directly in the center. The opening had a chain to close it up, just like the openings to the cockpit on the port and starboard sides.

I decided to go ahead and cut out the section on the port side. I will mill out the new caps before I weld them in for extra heavy hinges. I will take some pictures as I go. I am still looking for the rectangle stanion bases if anybody has any. I am also looking for a few of the angled round aluminum stantion bases for the bow rails. All of the chrome ones on my boat are cracked. The original aluminum ones are fine.

If you could post a pic of the stands you need, I might have the right ones. I have some off approx. 1975/76. .

Aren't stanchion bases standard items at a marine supply house such as West Marine, etc??

Not all aftermarket bases have the same hole pattern on the round ones.
Wayne

I am replacing my flybridge railing with stainless, so I would have your rectangular bases. I do not have any of the round ones.

Steve