Toe rail

Plastic foot rail (to the left of the metal spinnaker pole )

Metal foot rail, screwed to the wooden deck of a heavily heeling sailing yacht

A toe rail is a bar on the deck of sailing yachts . It is located on the outer edge of the deck, possibly below the railing , and usually runs from the stem to the stern . It is mostly made of metal, less often of plastic or, in older yachts, of wood. If the yacht heels or slips, it gives people on deck additional support.

A toe rail is usually perforated several times over the length of the boat in order to allow water to drain away that would otherwise accumulate on the deck. If the toe rail is made of metal, it is usually even perforated at short intervals . This allows rope ( "tows"), such as fenders , be attached to the foot rail.

The toe rail is not always adequately fastened for greater forces. Mooring lines or bull stander are therefore often not attached to the foot rail, but to cleats or other more suitable ship parts.