There are instances where a stern rail requires reinforcement to support the additional loads that will be placed upon it.

Rail Support - Strap Method

Designed for boats with an aft cockpit and a fairly vertical stern rail. Mounted close to the davits, the 3/16" x 1-1/4" polished stainless steel flat bar units attach to the top horizontal tube of the stern rail and bolt through the seatback coaming. A minimum of a 4" off-set is required from the stern rail base to the point in which the strap wraps the seat coaming.

Rail Support - Transom Mounted

		Designed for boats with a reverse transom. This is a pair of 1" stainless steel tubular supports that attach to the top horizontal tube of the stern rail and are bolted through the transom. For ultimate strength they should be mounted next to the davits. However, they can also be mounted either side of the stern rail gate to serve the dual purpose of hand rails to the swim ladder.
Pearson 39	Dehler 41 DS

Rail Support - Deck Mounted
Designed for center cockpits or other situations where applicable. A pair of 1" stainless steel tubular supports attach to the top horizontal tube of the stern rail and are lead forward onto the deck and are through bolted. Wire supports are an alternative.

This photo of a 'Deck reinforcing tube' should actually be called a 'photo of a cockpit coaming reinforcing tube'! But it does the same job. Note that this one has a 'hidden fastener'  type base - A single bolt comes up through the backing plate from under the deck.

This type is normally provided with a 3" (76mm) diameter round base with provision for three 1/4" countersunk machine screws. A smaller 2 1/2" base can be provided, or the stud type base above,  if space is limited. Aluminum backing plates are standard, but polished stainless steel is available at an additional cost.

Wire reinforcing is sometimes used in place of tubular deck reinforcing. There are times where it is necessary to remove the wires when the dinghy is no longer on the davits; sometimes in order to clear the deck (for deckchairs?), sometimes just for aesthetic reasons. To facilitate this the davits can be provided with heavy duty rail mount plates that have vertical or horizontal loops welded to them. Customers who have used this method recommend having a turnbuckle or pelican hook at the deck end. Using a fold-down padeye has also been suggested. Lifeline wire is normally used. Note: Wire reinforcing only works under tension. Because of this, wire reinforcing is not ideal for use with KatoLifts or when a heavy outboard is secured to the stern rail, since there is no resistance to forward loads.

Rail Support - Swim Platform Mounted
Designed for boats with a reverse transom with a built-in swim platform. This is a pair of stainless steel tubular supports that attach to the top horizontal tube of the stern rail and are bolted through the swim platform landing. They can be mounted either side of the stern rail gate to serve the dual purpose of hand rails.

This is a photo of a Catalina 380.  It shows a stern rail reinforcing tube that leads from the rail to the swim platform. We have been told that this also makes a great grab rail when using the swim ladder.

This type is normally provided with a 3" (76mm) diameter round base with provision for three 1/4" countersunk machine screws. A smaller 2 1/2" (64mm) base can be provided, or a single bolt type base  if space is limited (a hidden bolt comes up from below). Aluminum backing plates are standard, but polished stainless steel is available at an additional cost. Shown here on a Catalina 470.