---identifier: "/us/cfr/t46/s169.327"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "46 CFR § 169.327 - Deck rails."title_number: 46title_name: "Shipping"section_number: "169.327"section_name: "Deck rails."chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"subchapter_number: "R"subchapter_name: "NAUTICAL SCHOOLS"part_number: "169"part_name: "SAILING SCHOOL VESSELS"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-03-24"last_updated: "2026-03-24"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439; E.O. 11735, 38 FR 21243, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 793; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4; § 169.117 also issued under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507."regulatory_source: "CGD 83-005, 51 FR 896, Jan. 9, 1986, unless otherwise noted."cfr_part: "169"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t46/s169.327
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
Authority
33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439; E.O. 11735, 38 FR 21243, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 793; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4; § 169.117 also issued unde... 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306, 6101; Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2439; E.O. 11735, 38 FR 21243, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 793; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4; § 169.117 also issued under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507.
# 169.327 Deck rails.(a) All rails or lifelines must be at least 30 inches high and permanently supported by stanchions at intervals of not more than 7 feet. Stanchions must be through bolted or welded to the deck.(b) Rails or lifelines must consist of evenly spaced courses. The spacing between courses must not be greater than 12 inches. The opening below the lowest course must not be more than 9 inches. Lower rail courses are not required where all or part of the space below the upper rail is fitted with a bulwark, chain link fencing, wire mesh, or an equivalent.(c) Small vessels of the open type and vessels of unusual construction must have rails or equivalent protection as considered necessary by the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection.