Westsail Pulpits, Rails Stanchions & Lifelines

The bow pulpit should be carefully checked, especially at the welds where it attaches to the platform. After hitting pilings a few times, or other boats or similar immovable objects, the welds sometimes crack, or water gets in and corrodes the weld, causing a break. Check the wire loops welded to the pulpit to attach the lifelines for signs of broken welds. The Westsail 28 and 32 sometimes has a single rail bow pulpit which is not as sturdy and does not offer as much protection because it only comes back halfway on the platform. It also does not have an intermediate rail to help prevent the jib from blowing overboard when it is pulled down and stuffed onto to the platform in preparation to securing it. A long double rail bow pulpit is available to replace the original short single rail pulpit. This pulpit mounts in the same place as the original, however the aft end extends back to the end of the platform. There is an intermediate rail for added strength and security. Loops are welded to the ends to attach to the lifelines. The lifeline wires will have to be shortened to connect to this extended pulpit. Plates are welded to the forward legs to mount the running lights. Holes are provided in the aft base plates to pass the running light electric wires down thru the platform. Check the drawing for the leg locations to match the platform installed on your boat.

Long double rail bow pulpit:

The W-28's and W-32's were built with short, single rail bow pulpits. These pulpits are somewhat wobbly, but the biggest disadvantage is the large open space at the aft end of the bowsprit platform, and back to the first stanchion. This space is enclosed with the lifelines, but they do not give a good grip to prevent slipping off of the platform. Also, when you drop a headsail onto the platform, it will easily fall down between the lifelines and into the water. We have designed a long double rail bow pulpit to solve this problem, and make going forward much safer. The forward part of this pulpit has the same bases and locations as the standard small pulpit, but it does have an intermediate rail to stiffen up the pulpit. This long pulpit extends back to the aft end of the platform, with bases the same as the forward ones. The aft bases should be located directly over the long threaded rod holding the platform to the bowsprit. There is an intermediate rail for added strength and security. Loops are welded to the ends to attach to the lifelines. The lifeline wires will have to be shortened to connect to this extended pulpit. Plates are welded to the forward legs to mount the running lights. Holes are provided in the aft base plates to pass the running light electric wires down thru the platform. You will need to measure the location from the existing aft leg on the short pulpit back to the center of the aft threaded rod on the platform. This dimension is usually 31-1/2" on the W-28, and 37-1/2" on the W-32, but can vary depending on the installation of the platform. The forward leg dimension should be 37-1/2" on either boat. Check all of these dimensions when placing an order for this long pulpit. If you desire a front loop on the midrail, this can be added. The dip that was put on many of the original short pulpits is not available due to the difficulty of making the bends.

Braced Mast Rails/Mast Pulpits:

A safety item that has been very popular are mast pulpits, or safety rails alongside the mast. The standard version we have designed has three legs for additional rigidity and is made from 1-1/4" OD stainless steel tubing. The fore and aft legs mount alongside the mast, and the third leg mounts outboard of the handrail in line with the mast. Tabs are welded on if you want to add a teak bar with hooks or belaying pins. The rail bolts through the cabin top with 1/4" round head bolts and backup plates are supplied for the inside. The rails fit equally well on all of the Westsail line of boats. They are available at a standard 34" height, or an optional 36" height for those that prefer them little taller. The early W-32's with the first deck mold use the mast rails with a 2 degree angle on the outer leg; the later boats, including the W-28 and W-43, with more crown on the cabin top, use a 4 degree angle on the outer leg. An alternate design is one we call the bun hugger. On this one, the fore and aft rail comes up, then is curved outboard to form a pocket, and the mid-leg comes straight down from the top rail. This serves to hold you in very well, as well as putting you slightly further away from the mast. Normally we make these rails with the fore and aft legs 24” apart, and the middle leg 9” outboard. We can vary these dimensions if you have an interference problem with any hardware already installed on the cabintop alongside the mast. The normal installation for the Westsail boats has the two center legs bolted through the cabin top, using the backup plates inside. Slip on regular hex nuts, then break off the excess length using a vise grips, and back off the nuts and install the locknuts. The center legs go down with the self-tapping screws, as they are over the deck beams. In the event there is an interference problem of the end of the staysail boom with the top of the mast rail, possibly the staysail is riding too low on the stay. Lengthening the pennant on the bottom of the staysail will permit the clew to be raised enough to clear the mast rail. These mast rails are also made for the Westsail 42 cutter, with one leg mounted up on the upper cabin top, and the other two on the lower cabin top. This design fits with the forward leg on the aft blank spot on the cabin top, the aft leg on the upper cabin top, and the outboard leg on the round spot that has nonskid on it. Check to make sure nothing else has been mounted to interfere with the leg placement. If there is an interference, mark up a drawing for the new locations of the bases, and we can have that made up to fit your boat.

Boom Gallows:

Boom gallows frames are available for all of the Westsail boats, made to the original Westsail drawings, and to some new designs that have been done. The most popular boom gallows frame was of 1" OD stainless steel tubing, with ears welded to the top rail to hold a teak bar, and a brace fore and aft on each leg, with round base plates. On the W-32 the legs sit on the caprail, and on the W-42 and W-43 they sit on the cabin top. The 1-3/4" thick teak bar drops into the pocket formed by the welded ears, and 1/4" bolts hold it in place. Loops are welded on the frame to attach lifelines on the W-28 and W-32 versions. We have also had extra tabs welded on to hold a teak bar to attach a lifering or outboard motor. This type of gallows frame is also available made with 1-1/4" OD stainless steel tubing, which proves to be much more rigid. An alternative design on the early W-32 had an 1-1/4" pipe stanchion bolted to the bulwark as the aft lifeline stanchion, and a removable 1" pipe dropped in and pinned in place. This pipe has a U-shaped pocket on top to hold the teak bar. This permits removal of the gallows, yet the gate stanchions remain in place. Alternative designs for the W-42 and W-43 are also available. These use an 1-1/2" pipe as the upright, with the base pads on the cabin top.

Depending on the desired aesthetic look you want, the gallows metal can be of the traditional design with curved bronze end pieces to go over the teak bar, or stainless pipes that attach to the teak bar with the ends of the bar protruding. With the bronze end pieces on the teak bar, we use cast bronze feet on the cabin top, and brass pipe as uprights. The stainless steel version would have 8" square base plates welded to the upright pipes to mount on the top of the cabin. There is a piece that attaches to the teak bar, and fits into the pipes. This allows for fitting the gallows in place, and easy alignment. Both versions are equally strong, and easily bolted to the cabin. All necessary fasteners are supplied. All versions come polished, and the stainless steel is also electropolished. The boom gallows can be cut and sleeved to make for easier and less costly shipping. The shipping of this gallows can be in two packages. If it is shipped in one piece, then it must go by truck freight because of the size. Because of the danger of damaging the gallows in shipping, we must build a crate of square steel tubing to protect the pulpit. Construction of this crate is about $100.00. There is usually a minimum freight charge of about $190 from the shipping companies.

Lifeline Stanchions:

We have a source that can manufacture lifeline stanchions for the W28, W32 and the W42 & W43. These stanchions are attached with 3 bolts to the bulwarks with try exception of the entrance gate stanchion #1 that is available with an extra support leg The Stanchions, and 1” per original design with fasteners including Three 3/8” x 4” carriage bolt and 3/8” locknuts Stanchion with brace leg 1” per original design with fasteners including Four 3/8” x 4” carriage 3/8” locknuts. 

Lifelines:

Lifelines are available as coated or uncoated bare wire. We will need to know the length of each wire, and gate wires and what type of attachments you have at each ends. Ie tunrbuckles, pelican hooks etc. Because of the various location of stanchions and follows and boomkins, they tend to be different on each boat.

Parts available: Email or call for an exact quote - randy@westsailparts.com 415 254 7296

•  Long double rail bow pulpit with fasteners
• • Add for intermediate front rail loop
• • Boom Gallows 1" stainless steel tubing frame with pads
• • Boom Gallows 1-1/4" stainless steel tubing frame with pads
• • Additional tabs or loops welded on stainless steel version
• • Standard mast safety rails, pair with backups and fasteners, (specify height and angle of cabin
• top)
• • Bun hugger design with curved top rail, pair with backups and fasteners, (specify height and
• angle of cabin top)
• • Standard mast safety rails for W42 with one leg short, pair with backups and fasteners, (specify
• height
• • Stanchions (specify # and if with brace for gate and/or midships placement
• • Lifelines and hardware

Shipping of this long pulpit and gallows and mast pulpits must be by truck freight because of the size. There are additional costs for packing for shipment.

Email or call for an exact quote - randy@westsailparts.com 415 254 7296

PDF available of this content here.