Boarding Handle

[Dan D]

The Captain and Rear Admiral of our boat each have a new hip, but we still have one old one. It would be helpful to have a handle that we could hold onto when boarding. I'm thinking that something attached to the stanchion would work best since we tend to grab the top of the stanchion as we board now. Maybe something that would stick up above the stanchion about a foot or so.

Since we wouldn't want it there while on board, it should come off or swing away easily. I'd guess someone has already come up with something- so I don't need to recreate the wheel. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Dalliance]

If you have a dodger, maybe something like this would work for you. I had this handle added to both sides of the dodger frame last summer when I got new fabric. It's helpful for boarding and it's especially useful for moving between the side decks and cockpit.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

The Captain and Rear Admiral of our boat each have a new hip, but we still have one old one.

The new hips sound like a great addition to your boat .

I know that we have a low dock and with the high freeboard of our H310, I was always making like a high jumper. Got over that problem by installing a permanently installed step by the boat.

That may help you at your home dock but not while away. Have you considered a step fender when away from your dock ? It's temporarily attached when boarding and then stowed.

 

[victorhoisington]

The admiral here is somewhat vertically challenged (5'0"), With our low dock and high freeboard she demanded a solution or she wouldn't go on the boat. I solved the problem with a set of hottub stairs. Very similar to the dock stairs sold by WM and others but not near as pricey (about $90). They are wide, stable and make boarding a breeze.

Be careful using the stanchion as a brace for a handhold, they tend to bend when you don't want them to and that leads to hip problems I'm sure you want to avoid.

One additional thing I did to avoid the bending stanchion problem besides the stairs was to add a stanchion brace which provides stability to the stanchion. I've also seen some people replace the stanchion with a gate setup.

Fair winds,

Victor

 

[wufibugs]

Expensive but a lot less than more surgery and agony.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-Long-All...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3f2b734e0b

 

[31seahorse]

+1 for the dodger handle that Dalliance uses and +1 for Ralph Johnstone's fender step. We have the handles and use them every time we board the boat or move along the deck to go forward. I think I'll look for the fender step.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Power boats use a decent boarding handle that slips into a flush mount fishing rod holder. This seems it may work well for this application. The flush mounted fishing rod holder runs around 35 dollars, and a removable handle will set you back around a hundred.

And you end up with a fishing rod holder when the handle is stowed..

 

[Joe]

The main consideration is if you need help for balance (an extra rope would suffice) or for assistance in stepping up, where a strong hand hold is required.

Fixing a removable handle to the top of a stanchion seems logical.. but.. it may be more difficult to create a sturdy feeling device than you think... I can imagine a wobbly handle might be a bit daunting to folks with limited mobility.

For that reason, I like Chris Patterson's suggestion. Something that locks in with a push button, or thumbscrew, would give you a secure, steady, strong handle. The bonus is that you will also have a fishing rod holder.

As I also mentioned... something for balance can be as simple as a length of line to hold when stepping up and across.

 

[thinwater]

A small tackle to pull the boat tight to the dock can help. We just loop it over a cleat on the boat and the dock and pull. A big help for replaced joints and just loading. We do not keep it pulled tight.

 

[Dan D]

Thanks for the ideas- I like the fish rod holder idea since we just need a little bit more stability without getting too heavy duty.

 

[wflowe2]

I have friends that had a handle fabricated into their new dodger frame. It looks pretty good although I haven't used it.

 

[Jalepeno]

I don't understand why some have a problem. Always board amidships where the gap between dock and boat is the smallest! Just put the foot closest to the bow on gunnel (use a plastic step-stool first if you have to), grab the standing rigging, pull yourself up, swing the other foot over the life lines first and then bring the first foot over. Do this all in one motion. You have three point contact at all times. You are now on board and facing the bow. Then use the cabin top handrail with one or both hands to steady your walk back to the cockpit. It is like getting on a bicycle, simpler than chewing gum and walking at the same time.
Never rely on the stanchions or lifelines. They are for emergency only.
Those with scoop sterns backed into a slip have other options.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I don't understand why some have a problem. Always board amidships where the gap between dock and boat is the smallest! Just put the foot closest to the bow on gunnel (use a plastic step-stool first if you have to), grab the standing rigging, pull yourself up, swing the other foot over the life lines first and then bring the first foot over. Do this all in one motion. You have three point contact at all times. You are now on board and facing the bow. Then use the cabin top handrail with one or both hands to steady your walk back to the cockpit. It is like getting on a bicycle, simpler than chewing gum and walking at the same time.
Never rely on the stanchions or lifelines. They are for emergency only.
Those with scoop sterns backed into a slip have other options.

Of course.

http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP091948

We have a step stool that folds flat.

There really are all sorts of answers out there. Spend an hour in a hardware store (my favorite and least expensive marine store!!!) :dance:

Side grabs rails on dodgers should be MANDATORY. It is a basic safety issue, and I'm constantly surprised that all dodgers don't have them. Somewhere I have a copy of a Good Old Boat early article on how easy it is to add them. I'll dig it out and post it (between cruises ).

Good luck, you're not alone, but because your wife has those issues, you really need to do some homework given the good ideas the skippers have provided.

 

[FastOlson]

If this is a boat that you plan to improve, enjoy, and use for "the long haul" I would suggest bracing all the side stanchions and double (!) bracing the gate stanchion(s).
We did this years ago. One of the BEST upgrades we've done. It's easy with a slotted toe rail, but you can also thru bolt to the top of the molded frp boat edge too.
Link for ours: http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?3371-Stanchion-Bracing

I know, I know, it takes some planning and work, and even some $. You will be astounded at how easy it becomes to step on and board from the dock and move forward on the deck when these boat parts are actually Solid.

Fair winds,
Loren

ps: this work will never replace the help you get from handles on your dodger. Stepping up and onto a boat is a progressive sort of thing.

 

[gertonw]

cheap(er) horse mounting step

Just found this on the internet:

[FONT=&quot]http://www.burlinghamsports.com/store/products?q=mount&x=0&y=0

A lot cheaper then the boat version, and many more options.

Wes[/FONT]

 

[rpwillia]

+1 x3

+1 for the dodger handle that Dalliance uses and +1 for Ralph Johnstone's fender step. We have the handles and use them every time we board the boat or move along the deck to go forward. I think I'll look for the fender step.

These here are both good suggestions. Handles on the bimini and I really like the fender step idea. In fact SBO has them on their site

http://shop.catalinaowners.com/prod.php?4094

Joe also had a good idea to position some ropes to grab on to (I would suggest two from two different directions for more stability.

 

[marke14]

+1 we use the same thing, not sure if it's Rubbermaid or the Home Depot whatever model. I think mine was $10 or $12 ...

Of course.

http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?Prod_ID=RP091948

We have a step stool that folds flat.

There really are all sorts of answers out there. Spend an hour in a hardware store (my favorite and least expensive marine store!!!) :dance:

 

[Joe]

I made dock steps out of redwood fence planks.... the Rubbermaid utility steps do not have deep enough treads to safely walk down... and they are very easy to knock over... So.,, you needs some weight and a wide base for stability, deep stair like treads for easy descending and a top platform that is safe to stand making it easy to step in or out of the boat. I used 6" fence planks with a 1/2 " gap to create the 12" inch step and platform... the sides were similar wood and I used 1x2 redwood frame/supports..... seal it with Thompsons weather seal.. you don't need a non skid treatment is you use the rough sawn redwood or cedar planks instead of the more expensive finished ones. The step's risers should be indented a couple of inches for climbing convenience and aesthetics.

Tie a short hank of rope to a stanchion for your passenger to grab for balance... you can also clip a line between the cabin top winch and the gate stanchion... like I said the rope helps with balance and some step up assistance if the cockpit seat is a little tall...