Need help getting the teak handrail off our 1986 Four Winns

[ldm2dor]

We’re in the process of restoring the interior of a 1986 Four Winns. The problem I’m having is the rails have screws through into the upholstery and the top of the boat into the fibreglass when I try to remove them they just spin has anyone taken theirs off is there something I’m missing. I found that around the console it’s bolts with nuts but not seeing the same thing on the top rail. I want to remove these so I can strip the upholstery and redo the interior and restore the wood.

 

[ThomW]

I had similar rails on my old boat (the ones on top/1st picture) and you need to get underneath to hold nuts. You should be able to access the bolts through the engine compartment. Is it fun? No. Is it roomy? Nope. But, you should be able to reach up and under from inside the engine space and feel the nuts. then have someone else loosen the screws.

The other rails may just be screws with no nuts. Can you feel behind the cushion at all? If not, try pulling on the rail a bit while you unscrew it.

 

[ldm2dor]

Ok thanks will try that. Can’t feel anything behind the cushion either.

 

[AlabamaNewbie]

I had the same rails on mine. There is a nut on the bottom, I am wanting to say it was 3/8ths.

The cushions are probably screws that go through the cushion, wood backing, and in to a fiberglass lip from the upper section of the boat. They didn't always use stainless screws, so they could be rusted a bit, which can strip the hole or even strip the threads. Use your fingers and pull back while trying to unscrew and you might can get it to grab. I did have about a dozen screws in mine that were so far gone I just had to cut them out.

 

[chevymaher]

Take the seating all out then the side panels. Then you have access to all of this from behind and it is alot eaier.