winterize- wrap hand rails?

[saltypat]

Getting ready for the winter. I spent a lot of time getting the hand rails refinished (cetol). They look nice.

I do not have sunbrella hand rail covers (I think I wish I had them).

I am considering winding heavy duty plastic around the rails for the winter and duct taping the plastic. (Hard to get all rails under a tarp).

Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea? (Never seen it done).

Thanks, SaltyPat

[TrueBlue]

An old trick for preserving teak rails, is to go down to your local fire department and explain to the fire chief your situation. He may then gratiously offer ample lengths of retired fire hose. Our community does this for free to residents. Out of towners may have to pay a nominal cost for the hose.

I've not done this with my teak rails, since I cover the boat with a custom frame and winter cover, but obtained hose for the gunnels of an old open tender I had years ago. Simply cut the proper diameter hose down its' length and wrap around the top of the rails.

[TrueBlue]

salty . . . I assumed you meant the outer handrails on stanchions such as shown below, not the hand grips over your coach roof . . . correct?

[donradclife]

Cheap and easy solution is to use the blue masking tape from 3m. Even if you get some adhesive transfer it will clean up easily in the spring with paint thinner.

[saltypat]

I meant the handgrips- I have 4 sets, etc.

I like the blue tape idea - but I thought that the masking tape could not be left on for long periods of time.....

[saltypat]

the blue tape will come off relatively easily... I would have guessed that gunk remover would get it off better than paint thinner.....

This idea has merit!

[Rockter]

I liked the hose idea.

[kvaavik]

Re: blue tape. It might be OK on teak handrails. But DON'T assume that if you tape it to your gelcoat/awlgrip decks it will come off easily. We taped around handrails/toe rail in prep for a Cetol varnish. The varnish went on, we we're pooped, we left the tape on for an extended period (a month +). Getting it off was a ROYAL pain. We tried every caustic, environmentally harsh chemical we could find including thinner, acetone, 3M glue remover, etc, etc. None would make the stuff budge. It ended up being many, many hours of scraping and polishing to get it off.