[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'll want to add add stern rails/staples to my new/used boat's swim platform and would appreciate your thoughts.
I see some boats where there are 2, 3 or 4 going across the stern. Some with small gaps between them and some with large gaps between them.
My first reason for them is safety, and my second reason is to be able to store a kayak (on it's side, secured to the staples) there on short, slow runs. The kayak will, of course, be stored above on the flybridge with the dinghy on longer, potentially faster runs.
Anybody have any experience with this? 2 seems like too little with a rather large gap (good for reboarding the boat from the kayak or the dinghy), and 4 seems like too many with small gaps. 3 seems the best for me, but because they're so expensive, I would prefer to have opinions before I spend the money.
And, when using a bridle for towing, do you think it would be OK if the line touches the staples providing it is something small and light (dinghy)? Or, is towing completely out of the question with staples?
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Also, the boat has a standard drop ladder on the swim platform. I'm thinking about getting rid of it and replacing it with an under the platform pull out ladder, which I've read is better for safety if someone goes overboard and nobody knows, and can help them reboard. I suppose it would be best to have both types of ladders, but getting rid of the drop down ladder would create more space on the platform as well as look better.
I don't know what I don't know and realize there may be other factors that I'm not aware of. Any thoughts on these 2 subjects?
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I see some boats where there are 2, 3 or 4 going across the stern. Some with small gaps between them and some with large gaps between them.
My first reason for them is safety, and my second reason is to be able to store a kayak (on it's side, secured to the staples) there on short, slow runs. The kayak will, of course, be stored above on the flybridge with the dinghy on longer, potentially faster runs.
Anybody have any experience with this? 2 seems like too little with a rather large gap (good for reboarding the boat from the kayak or the dinghy), and 4 seems like too many with small gaps. 3 seems the best for me, but because they're so expensive, I would prefer to have opinions before I spend the money.
And, when using a bridle for towing, do you think it would be OK if the line touches the staples providing it is something small and light (dinghy)? Or, is towing completely out of the question with staples?
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Also, the boat has a standard drop ladder on the swim platform. I'm thinking about getting rid of it and replacing it with an under the platform pull out ladder, which I've read is better for safety if someone goes overboard and nobody knows, and can help them reboard. I suppose it would be best to have both types of ladders, but getting rid of the drop down ladder would create more space on the platform as well as look better.
I don't know what I don't know and realize there may be other factors that I'm not aware of. Any thoughts on these 2 subjects?
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