Captain Dave,

I have gone out to look at my boat twice now and I think I understand your point. If the rails are reversed, the flared portion doesn't extend far enough forward to affect the support of the side of the tramp. In that reversed configuration the front of the tramp would be better supported. I have never had a problem with the front corner of the tramp but have with the rear in spite of the fact that there is no flare there. That is why I ran a line around the rail through the outside grommets. In any case the highest stress point is in the rear corner not the front.

Howard