What Does a Burn Bar on a Boat Do?

The console grab rail on a fishing boat is also known as a "burn bar" or "burning bar" among some fishermen. Its basic purpose is to provide a convenient handhold on the steering console, but some fishermen use the burn bar to "burn" the shore, which means to swing the boat close by the land to look for a good fishing spot.

  1. The Burn Bar

    • The burn bar or console grab rail is made of stainless steel, and attaches to the top of the steering console on a fishing boat. Burn bars are intended to act as handles to hold on to when the waves get choppy, or as something to grab for extra stability when stepping into or out of the fishing vessel. One of their intended purposes is to protect the windscreen from being suddenly broken if the fisherman stumbles or falls and breaks his fall with his hand. They retail for around $200.

    Scouting for Fish

    • Some fishermen use the burn bar for other than its intended purpose by standing on top of the steering console to scout for fish. By standing on the console, the fisherman can see a greater distance and from a better perspective, looking for tails or other signs that fish are active in a certain area. This is typically done when cruising through an area of flat water or veering ("burning") past the shore. When standing on the console, the fisherman holds on to the burn bar to avoid falling. While this is not an uncommon practice, some fishermen consider it unsafe.

    Adding Grips to the Burn Bar

    • Some fishermen modify the burn bar on their steering console by attaching foam grips for better leverage. The grips are worked on to the ends of the burn bar after being soaked for a quarter of an hour in hot water with soap in it. Even after the soaking, the fit will be very tight, so a hypodermic needle is also used to inject more warm water with soap in it through the grip as it is being installed. When the foam grips dry they will be tightly attached to the burn bar, increasing its comfort and convenience.

    Modified Burn Bars

    • Sometimes the burn bar is so high that the boat cannot easily be stored, because the bar blocks it from entering a garage. A popular modification in this situation is to install hinges on the burn bar, so that it can be folded down whenever necessary. Sometimes it is also necessary to modify the windscreen as well, so that it can be installed or removed as needed. Some people make the burn bar removable rather than modifying it to be folded down.