Handrails and Stanchions

Handrails and stanchions are two essential elements for the safety and management of outdoor spaces on any type of vessel, whether sailing or motor.

🔒 Boat Handrail (Trapezoid)

Handrails , or grabrails , serve to:

• Provide a secure grip when walking on the bridge or in side passages

• Helping in bad weather or with a listing boat

• Add an aesthetic and functional touch to your interior or exterior

Main materials:

• AISI 316 stainless steel (the most used, resistant and marine)

• Solid teak (ideal for classic boats, sailing ships)

• Reinforced plastic (cheap, on small boats or dinghies)

Types:

• Straight or curved , to be installed on the cabin or sides

• Internal or external , fixed with through screws or bolts

• Some models with articulated base for oblique installations

⚓ Boat stanchions

The stanchions are the vertical uprights that:

• They support the lifelines (steel cables or ropes) that act as a "parapet" on the bridge

• Providing protection against falls overboard

• They can also hold lifelines (safety lines) or accessories (rod holders, awnings)

Basic components:

• Candlestick (vertical stainless steel tube, with welded or removable base)

• Candlestick base (fixed or articulated, to be screwed or recessed)

• Stainless steel guardrails or textile ropes (in case of a more sporty style)

• Tensioners, shackles and cable ends for the correct tension of the lifelines

Safety standards:

• Common height: 60 cm (but also 45 cm or 70 cm on offshore boats)

• They must be sturdy and well fixed (essential for CE approval and safety)

🛠️ Practical advice

✔️ If you are refitting, always check:

• That the bases of the candlesticks have no leaks

• Make sure the handrails are not loose: they are often used to support oneself with force