Since I've owned my O'Day 222, I've done a lot of modifications to it. Some of them were stolen from someone else, but I'm proud to say that this detachable companionway step is one of my own "Brain children". I used cheap pine to make a mock up version of the step before I made the final version with Teak. I don't remember exactly how I constructed it, but the first thing I did was remove the step from the fiberglass mounts. Then, I needed to do something to make the step fit into the mount, somehow. So, I cut out two small "D" shaped blocks of wood to fit into the mounts. A definite shape of block allows the step to fit one way only. I finally cut out these blocks of wood from 1 3/4" thick Teak, and the rough dimensions are, 3" X 1 1/2" Next, I used the blocks to trace a pattern on the fiberglass mounts. Then I cut the fiberglass out to receive the blocks. That step takes a lot of guts because there's no turning back. I probably marked the center of the step and block prior to attaching the blocks to the step. I reached in through the Starboard Settee and held the block up against the bottom of the step inside the mount, checked the alignment of the step and block, and drill my first hole through the top of the step into the block. Then, I did the same thing to the other side of the step. After I knew that everything was going to fit, I drilled and countersunk two more holes on each side of the step for wood screws. What really makes this step very stable is the two pieces of wood that I attached to the Fiberglass mounts under the step. For this step, I used a bevel to get my angles. I took a couple of pieces of small plywood and used these inside of each mount to attach these pieces of wood to the mount with wood screws. I bought some Stainless Steel adjustable hold-downs to make this step nice and stable and tight to the mounts. I added pieces of 1 3/4 inch thick Teak to the step and kind of winged it as I went along, and to my surprise, it came out better than I expected. The two pieces of Teak that run perpendicular to the under side of the step measures 8" X 1 3/4". The pieces of wood attached to the mounts measure about; 4 5 1/16" X 5 1/4" x 1 1/8" thick. The other two that are screwed to those for the Stainless Steel hold-down measures about; 5 1/4 x 2 1/2" x 3/4" thick Teak. The countersinks that I made were 3/8, and I finally got around to buying the 3/8 inch bungs to fit in them. This is a modification worth doing if you ever had to get a 48 quart cooler in behind that step. Now,--all I do is remove the step, and drop my 50 quart cooler right in from the front. No more moving the Starboard settee mattresses and sliding it in from the side. "Easy, is always better." that's what I always say! The Teak that I used for this project, was bought used at a marine consignment store. It was cheaper to buy it that way. That's why I had all these odd thicknesses of Teak on hand, but you could use any type of wood that you wish. In building this companionway step, you may have to wing it a little bit like I did, in trying to construct it. Try to make the support boards that are attached to the mounts under the step, as wide as the bottom of the fiberglass mounts, to insure a stable step. I'm not sure what I used to cut out the fiberglass. I may have used a Dremel Tool with a cutting wheel, or a Saber Saw, but whatever works for you is what to use. I've submitted this project to the Knowledge base on this site for anyone who is interested in tackling this project. Good luck with it! Joe
