|
06-11-2013, 07:50 AM
|
#1
|
Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
|
Need advice on boarding ladder
Because of the dinghy on the stern, I prefer to come into my slip bow first. The only way to get on the boat is from the side, where a narrow finger pier runs down (see picture). I can get on OK, but my significant other has a real problem, especially at high tide. So I want to put a ladder on the side which will let her get aboard easily. Trouble is, I do not know a ladder which will work. A gunwale ladder will not do it, I don't think. So thought I would ask the wisdom of my elders. :-)
Any suggestions will be deeply and gratefully welcomed. My boat is on your right.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:28 AM
|
#2
|
Guru
City: Cowiche, WA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 662
|
One possible option is a step fender. Taylor makes a step fender that works for something like this. I do not have a photo of ours but we used it on our Willard for a friend that was physically challenged. Google step fender and look at some of the photos.
__________________
Keith Olive
1974 Grand Banks 36-427
Vashon Island, WA
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:41 AM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kolive
One possible option is a step fender. Taylor makes a step fender that works for something like this. I do not have a photo of ours but we used it on our Willard for a friend that was physically challenged. Google step fender and look at some of the photos.
|
I did google it, and that appears to be a possibility. I would prefer steps if possible, but the step fender will probably work if I have to go that route. I guess the reservation that I have is that just looking at the photo of a step fender there does not appear to be really secure footing, as the one that I looked at is kind of rounded. Thanks.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:43 AM
|
#4
|
Guru
City: DC
Vessel Name: Carolena II
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 32/34
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 635
|
Edson also makes a step that is marketed to sailboats. What about a step stool on the dock? We've used one with our sailboat. We also have dockmates with the fiberglass steps on the dock - those are a bit taller than a stool with two or three steps.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:44 AM
|
#5
|
Guru
City: DC
Vessel Name: Carolena II
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 32/34
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 635
|
Edson step:
Or something like this on the dock:
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:45 AM
|
#6
|
Guru
City: Cowiche, WA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 662
|
See if you can find a step fender in a store to get a better look. We got ours at WM and it was pretty stable. The dock steps mentioned could be a good option too.
__________________
Keith Olive
1974 Grand Banks 36-427
Vashon Island, WA
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:48 AM
|
#7
|
Hospitality Officer
City: Pittwater
Vessel Name: Sarawana
Vessel Model: IG 36 Quad Cabin
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,897
|
Another photo showing a bit more of the front of the boat in relation to the dock would help.Maybe some type of Giddeon's ladder set up would work(not sure if that is the correct name ) I will try to find a photo, it's in a post of wooden boats quite a while back.
Edit: sorry I don't know how to up load the picture of the ladder configuration I had in mind. It's under the 'Halvorsen Designs' section in the forum and the thread is titled Not all Halvorsens... It's an interesting ladder concept.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 08:49 AM
|
#8
|
Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
|
The Edson Step looks good. The finger pier running alongside the boat is too narrow to put anything on. You may not can tell it from the picture, but when I am standing on it, facing the boat, both my toes and my heels are out over the water. It is only about 8" wide at that point.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 09:03 AM
|
#9
|
Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
|
Just took a closer look at the step fender (enlarged the picture) and it appears that it is not rounded (on the step part) at all. It is flat. So either a step fender or the Edson Step would probably work. The Edson Step would be a tad better, but it also quite a bit more expensive.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 09:07 AM
|
#10
|
Guru
City: Solomons Island Md
Vessel Name: Fryedaze
Vessel Model: MC 42 (Overseas Co) Monk 42
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,721
|
Some day I am going to make one of these steps. It a homemade step I saw on a wooden Grand Banks forum.
The milk crate is my high tide step. The admiral has the same problem when the tides up.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 09:52 AM
|
#11
|
TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy G
Another photo showing a bit more of the front of the boat in relation to the dock would help.Maybe some type of Giddeon's ladder set up would work(not sure if that is the correct name ) I will try to find a photo, it's in a post of wooden boats quite a while back.
Edit: sorry I don't know how to up load the picture of the ladder configuration I had in mind. It's under the 'Halvorsen Designs' section in the forum and the thread is titled Not all Halvorsens... It's an interesting ladder concept.
|
Here you go, Andy.
If you use a PC, go to picture and right click COPY IMAGE LOCATION
In the Reply To Thread box, use the tool at the top that has a yellow square with mountains and a n object in the corner. It opens a box that you can paste (CTRL-V) the image location into. Click OK and Bob's your uncle.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 10:02 AM
|
#12
|
Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,121
|
We had difficulty getting into our RIB from the water. The solution was a simple folding ladder similar to that shown. Stows in the lazarette.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 10:15 AM
|
#13
|
Guru
City: Everett Wa
Vessel Name: Eagle
Vessel Model: Roughwater 58 pilot house
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,919
|
Being my wife has difficult walking and stairs, I make the stairs depending on the dock. You could use plastic steps but I would bolt/screw boards that fit/slide down/over the dock so the steps do not tip and/or screw steps to the dock. Boarding bumpers and things like that are usually not strong/steady enough. Might even add a railing to hang on to. We are not suppose to screw/bolt steps to the dock but I do so the steps/box does not move.
Might want to change/modify the railing so it allows a low entry, which you might already have?
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 12:21 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
City: Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Vessel Name: Change of Heart
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 42
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 236
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by fryedaze
Some day I am going to make one of these steps. It a homemade step I saw on a wooden Grand Banks forum.
The milk crate is my high tide step. The admiral has the same problem when the tides up.
|
The step shown in the top pic is actually off my own site ( Welcome Page) there's a link on the page to download a dimensioned drawing of the parts required to build the steps. Of course the drawing shown is really only meant to fit a GB but perhaps it could serve as a concept drawing? Best of luck on your own! - Boyd
__________________
Everything on your boat is broken...you just don't know about it yet.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 01:28 PM
|
#15
|
Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisjs
We had difficulty getting into our RIB from the water. The solution was a simple folding ladder similar to that shown. Stows in the lazarette.
|
I thought about a gunwale ladder like that, but as I understand it that is designed to come down over the sides of a boat so that the curved part on the top slides down the sides to hold the ladder securely. But just sitting flat on the deck, which it would have to do on my boat, doesn't seem as though it would be secure enough. Of course, a piece could be made from a few scrap pieces of 2 x 4 with holes drilled at the proper places for the curved top to fit down into, I suppose. If the base part (wood with holes drilled into it) were wide enough to fit between the cabin top and the edge of the railing, seems as if it might work OK.
But for now I think, after a lot of looking around, that I am going to go for the FenderStep, which West Marine has in stock here.
Thanks very much for all the advice and suggestions. I learned a lot.
John
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 01:47 PM
|
#16
|
Guru
City: Solomons Island Md
Vessel Name: Fryedaze
Vessel Model: MC 42 (Overseas Co) Monk 42
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,721
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydster
The step shown in the top pic is actually off my own site ( Welcome Page) there's a link on the page to download a dimensioned drawing of the parts required to build the steps. Of course the drawing shown is really only meant to fit a GB but perhaps it could serve as a concept drawing? Best of luck on your own! - Boyd
|
You sir are a craftsman. You have done some incredible work on that Grand Banks.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 05:48 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 182
|
I am in the process of building a boarding ladder myself. I have a similar issue, with a tilt up dinghy on the swimstep, and fairly high freeboard, so getting over the side is an issue. I have been using a folding step on the dock, but have had some issues with it in transient marinas. At times the wind can blow the boat away from the dock, and trying to step out into the gap is a risky proposition at times, so I want to have something anchored to the boat. (I actually stepped off into thin air once and went headfirst between the boat and the dock, and found it is impossible to pull yourself out of the water - fortunately some other boaters saw me go in and helped me out )
This is made out of 1" stainless tubing, and I found a source (SeaDog) which makes a heavy duty hinge fitting similar to those used on tubing for bimini attachments. The heavy duty fittings are strong enough to support weight, and I am using spring loaded clevis pins for easy attachment and removal.
|
|
|
06-11-2013, 06:55 PM
|
#18
|
Hospitality Officer
City: Pittwater
Vessel Name: Sarawana
Vessel Model: IG 36 Quad Cabin
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,897
|
Thanks Al for the upload advice, ditto Boyster, I see another project in the making.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Trawler Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|