Boat Tubing & Fittings

Boat handrails and stanchions form a great support system that not only prevents you or your crew from falling overboard but also adds a stylish touch to the boat's exterior. Commonly, they are made of metal tubes installed on decks around the vessel's perimeter and having a diameter of 7/8 or 1 inch. These tubes are connected with each other and reliably secured to the boat with the help of special fittings including rail bases, stanchions, tees, elbows, eye ends, and so on. Most of them are available in different angles that have to be selected depending on the exterior design.

Of course, it's crucial to choose boat tubing & fittings of the same diameter. Typically, sailboats and larger powerboats have 1-inch handrails, while those on smaller motorboats can be of 7/8" size. As for the material, you can select fittings made of stainless steel, chrome-plated zinc, or special zinc-aluminum alloy known as Zamak. However, the second and third options are less resistant to corrosion and more suitable for freshwater environments. As for tubes, most of them are made of stainless steel and have to be used with the same type of fittings to minimize the risk of galvanic corrosion. There are also aluminum tubes, but it's better to use them for freshwater applications only, with the fittings made from chromed zinc or Zamak.