Abstract: An improved leg construction is disclosed for jackup barges. The barge leg is typically of triangular construction. The members of a leg including the three verticals extending along the leg are preferably constructed of tubular members. The vertical tubular members include on the inside a rack formed of teeth to engage an elevating gear drive unit. Adjacent to the teeth, an undercut on both sides of the slot in the exterior of the tubular member is formed, locking the guide mechanism to the tubular member. This construction measurably improves the profile of the jackup leg to impinging wave action from any direction, thereby reducing the resistance of the leg to water and permitting a reduction in the leg weight and hull size.