I like the zip tie idea... I think the pending solution is utilize 4 or 5 burly guys who happen to be taking our hot tub tomorrow (it was another house purchase inheritance). I had intended to merely loosen the bolts enough to slide the straps for a set of pool steps underneath that portion of the rail, but the tension on it was so great that it just popped loose. The geniuses who installed this pool put it on a dug out hillside without a retaining wall of any kind at the lowest part. 10 years later, the pool is several inches deeper on one of the longer sides thanks to gravity and erosion. The post at issue is on the curve of the oval, opposite the deeper side, so j have a LOT of physics not working in my favor!! I'm hoping with enough guys pushing in the right spots, we can get it back together. The husband and I could get it allllllmost together but then I pulled a muscle to top off the evening!! Lol