Minor project: new teak companionway step

[jaysweet]

This is just a quick note on a (moderately) quick project I did for our 2004 Hunter 306: a new step for part of the "ladder" in the companionway. There's one step above the engine box, one on the box, and 2 below. The old step above the box (the top step) had an unfortunate gap aft of the step, between the step and the bin that's under the fwd part of the cockpit floor (black plastic lids for the bin are visible):


Sorry for the bad pictures (with the sponges): I was just taking them to remember the size, but they at least show you the gap that, maybe once a year, I would step into by accident and almost break my lower leg off. You can be careful 99 times out of 100, but given that the companionway is a convenient place to stand when it's rough and you're taking care of business, this has always bothered me. So I got an expensive big hunk of teak board (1" plus in thickness) and routed the edges, grooved it, rounded the corners, etc.:

The last picture isn't great either, in that what looks like a shadow is really the end of the step against the vertical (dark) wood wall of the bin area. Anyway, it feels much safer now, so... just an idea for anyone with a similar setup.

 

[Hollyberry]

Nice job!

 

[jssailem]

Sweet... I bet it can double as a seat as well. Cool

 

[mermike]

Nice job!

I stopped referring to projects as minor because they never turned out that way. Now I approach them like I'm hiking in bear country, loudly proclaiming my presence with much noise and gusto, prepared for the worst. I'm pleased when I escape relatively unscathed.

 

[jdrutten]

Looks great! The SBO store reports that these steps are no longer available, and the replacements they have are close to $200 each. There may be a business opportunity here.

 

[jaysweet]

Nice job!

Sweet... I bet it can double as a seat as well. Cool

Nice job!

I stopped referring to projects as minor because they never turned out that way. Now I approach them like I'm hiking in bear country, loudly proclaiming my presence with much noise and gusto, prepared for the worst. I'm pleased when I escape relatively unscathed.

Thanks! Steps are inherently boring, so I really was just tossing it out there as an idea. I like to read about projects others have done (with pictures!), so it's good to contribute now and then.

Looks great! The SBO store reports that these steps are no longer available, and the replacements they have are close to $200 each. There may be a business opportunity here.

Man: it never would have occurred to me that you could buy a companionway ladder pre-made! I would have assumed they're custom made by Hunter.

I do need a replacement telescoping swim ladder, though, as the old one is getting pretty beat. The last time I looked, I couldn't find one the right width, since the 2 attachment brackets are recessed in slots in the fiberglass deck. Maybe the ladders SBO carries come in the right width (which I can't recall off the top of my head).

 

[rgranger]

I do need a replacement telescoping swim ladder, though, as the old one is getting pretty beat. The last time I looked, I couldn't find one the right width, since the 2 attachment brackets are recessed in slots in the fiberglass deck. Maybe the ladders SBO carries come in the right width (which I can't recall off the top of my head).

I had to have mine fixed once... and a local welder was able to do the job. Maybe you could find a welder who could do the same?

 

[jaysweet]

I had to have mine fixed once... and a local welder was able to do the job. Maybe you could find a welder who could do the same?
View attachment 216807View attachment 216809

Thanks, but mine isn't exactly broken. Just really beat up, a little rusty, and missing half of the plastic plugs and also some thin plastic sleeves that are inside between sliding tubes. I could just clean it up, but it does seem like the type of thing that could cause a serious injury if one of the slide-stops didn't hold.

It's hard to find a new one that's 16" center-to-center up at the bracket. Most are much narrower. I think I did just see one at marinedepotdirect.com. Not sure of the width of the ones here on SBO, but when I look up the brand, they seem narrower.

 

[rgranger]

Oh I see... so in an attempt to keep that local welder employed...

What if you took an off-the-shelf ladder like this one on the left and unbolted the ladder from the bracket (red arrows), then cut the bracket (blue line) and added a spacer to get 16" (yellow) and ran a rod all the way across (black) to support the ladder.

 

[jaysweet]

Oh I see... so in an attempt to keep that local welder employed...

What if you took an off-the-shelf ladder like this one on the left and unbolted the ladder from the bracket (red arrows), then cut the bracket (blue line) and added a spacer to get 16" (yellow) and ran a rod all the way across (black) to support the ladder.

Sorry, rgranger: thanks, but no sale. Too many boat projects. I did just order the one I found online, though. It looks like I can increase from a 3 to a 4-step for an extra $20, which will be handy both on land and when swimming. Basically, the whole thing is only 1/4" longer when folded up, so either I'll make it fit, or I'll return it for the 3-step, which is almost certainly the identical product that came with the boat.

 

[rgranger]

Sorry, rgranger: thanks, but no sale. Too many boat projects. I did just order the one I found online, though. It looks like I can increase from a 3 to a 4-step for an extra $20, which will be handy both on land and when swimming. Basically, the whole thing is only 1/4" longer when folded up, so either I'll make it fit, or I'll return it for the 3-step, which is almost certainly the identical product that came with the boat.

well yeah... if you can find one that fits... no brainer.

I thought the issue was you could not find one that fit.

 

[jaysweet]

well yeah... if you can find one that fits... no brainer.

I thought the issue was you could not find one that fit.

Last time I looked, in 2020, I couldn't find one! This time, I think I searched on "wide boat swim ladder", or something along those lines. I'm not even necessarily ready to put it on just yet, but I grabbed one while I could see it for sale. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.