Boat boarding

[CCrane2299]

I have a 1979 O'Day 25. It is currently in a slip with side access. It is easy to board, but the slip is like being on the 50 yard line at the superbowl. I have zero privacy. The marina has slips available in deeper water for less than I pay now, however they have no side access. My boat has a stern rail that is too high to step over and too low to go under. Some people that board my boat are not in the best physical condition. Anybody know of a good solution?

 

[YVRguy]

I would find another marina or make do with the slip you have. I just about had someone take a tumble while leaving my boat the other day and it's a horrible feeling. I would NOT suggest you try to jerry-rig a stern entrance if you don't have a walk-through transom. It's just not worth it if someone falls.

Also, it's hard to see how much freeboard you have but I purchased a plastic dock stair that sits permanently on the dock. My buddies laughed at me at first but based on the wide variety of people who visit the boat it has been worth its weight in gold.

 

[CCrane2299]

The idea in my head is to hinge a gang plank from the deck and have it "land" on the side of the boat. The problem I see is the plank twisting.

I too would hate to have someone fall...it would probably be me!

 

[kloudie1]

They are tough to design/build. if you can duplicate a hinge like this, and use a board that can be stowed under the Vee berth, ya'd be in business. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f116/gangway-deck-socket-61148.html
We built/used one for a regatta to Veracruz (many years back) that used the main halyard to support it in the middle and keep the board thinner. Kind of like this one:
https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/1916170_417046398120_2652994_n.jpg

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

a boarding gate at the bow?

 

[CCrane2299]

I was thinking of the hinge being on the dock....
I have thought about docking nose in, this is a possibility. The pulpit is smaller and lower....

 

[CCrane2299]

Clarification...
Hinged from the dock. It would run alongside the boat effectively making a temporary side dock that could be folded up or removed when not in my slip. I wouldn't use it anywhere else.

 

[rufus1138]

Clarification...
Hinged from the dock. It would run alongside the boat effectively making a temporary side dock that could be folded up or removed when not in my slip. I wouldn't use it anywhere else.

this seems to have merrit, make it to where it can fold onto the dock when your out sailing and not be in the way, have it where there is a hook or some kind of lashing that rides on the toe rail area of the boat and use the halyard to support the outboard side of the ramp, although rigging it could get interesting.....

 

[Winkfish]

So, like a fold-up finger pier?

 

[Joe]

Make sure you engineer it to compensate for water level changes.. if the dock is not floating, that is.

Regarding the pulpit... perhaps replacing some of the pipe with a lifeline style gate would make the gangplank unnecessary.

Here's a commercial system... not that cheap but looks safe. www.boardingramp.com

 

[tommays]

Move the boat to boat to board

My friends boat is docked stern in and it takes some doing to board

i am on a mooring and if i want to take out a person with limitations i bring it in to a dock just to be safe