A passage assist provides a temporary support to stabilize passage of a person over a surface, such as in a boat. The passage assist can be a fold down railing that in a deployed position presents a handle or railing in a location to be easily grasped by a person walking on the adjacent surface, such as the deck of a boat. In a collapsed or stowed position, the fold down railing can be positioned completely out of the way so that it provides no impediment or barrier to movement on the surface. In the case of a boat, the fold down railing does not permanently occupy precious space within the boat.