Has anyone built a boarding step?

[SoSound]

The docks at our current marina are much lower than what we have had previously. I am wondering if a boarding step might be worthwhile. I think that I might like something like the Edson One-Step, but I’m slightly less than enthusiastic about the price. I was wondering if anyone has built anything similar? We currently have a folding step that we set out at our regular slip, but we are tied up on the leeward side of the slip and the distance between us and the rest of the world increases in proportion with the wind speed… I would also love to hear about any other solutions that you have found to help with bridging the gap between ship and shore…
If you use a step, do you use it only when stationary, or do you also use it for stepping off when arriving at a dock?

 

[dlochner]

You can make them as fancy as you would like. We have 2 one I made and an inexpensive commercially made one.

The one I made is a simple 1x4 with two holes drilled into the ends through which a few feet of 5/16" polyester line is threaded. The ends are tied to the gate stanchions.

The commercially made one is very similar, except the board is enclosed in heavy duty polyester webbing. The webbing appears to be repurposed lifting strap that a crane would use. The strap is suspended by 2 nylon lines. Here's a link: C-Level Step-Up Rigid Step

We prefer the commercial one because the webbing is easier on the hull. I could pad the edges of the homemade one and accomplish the same.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I saw a beautiful wooden step at a boat show but choked at the $175 price. So with $10-12 of materials (each) and a couple hours of effort, I made my own step and two more for friends. I covered the edge that faces the hull with leather for protection.
I use this for stepping off at a dock for fuel or pump-out. At my slip I have a commercially manufactured large molded two-step platform.



To bridge the gap between ship and shore I use a line tied directly to the dock at the step. Pull in and get off quickly before the wind pushes you out again.

 

[justsomeguy]

Sure.

 

[Hayden Watson]

We also need to do this because our marina has banned dock steps. I had been using a manufactured 2-step on the dock for 15 years (replace with new every five years) and one day found the step removed from the dock and placed in the cockpit with a note that I would be fined $80 if I forgot to place the step back on board when not on the boat. After 15 years of just stepping off and walking away of course, I forgot and was fined.
It would not be nearly as frustrating if it were not for the fact that there are at least 20 boats in the marina that are allowed to have steps. The Harbor master always has some excuse as to why others are allowed an I was fined mostly dealing with liveaboard but I know of at least 3 boats that are not liveaboard and have steps.
How do you spell "capricious and arbitrary". Me and my photo album need to have a nice discussion with the city attorney.

 

[jssailem]

Dave
Here is @Terry Cox's answer to the boarding step query

Boarding Step

I made a boarding step for our boat out of inch and a half white PVC several years ago so that the admiral had a way to easily get aboard. It is about 18 inches long and 12 inches deep with 90 degree elbows at each corner. In the center of the deep side are tees with a piece of PVC connecting...

forums.sailboatowners.com

I carry a folding step stool. I tie a lanyard to it so it stays near the boat. It is serviceable.

 

[SoSound]

@Hayden Watson, ARGGHHH! That would be really irritating!

 

[SoSound]

Excellent, I can start scheming! Another project to go along with my cockpit table.

@Rich Stidger, the Edson one is currently over $300!

 

[Hello Below]

@Rich Stidger, the Edson one is currently over $300!

You don't love your boat?

 

[Rich Stidger]

$300 for a boarding step? Stupid money......

 

[shemandr]

I would have to have a lot of confidence in a boarding step to step off on it with the boat moving. It would have to be attached to the dock, be beefily built and have a rail. I'm not interested in taking a fall on or off of a dock.
Come to think of it, I've been boarding sailboats at the shrouds for at least a decade (At least on floating docks). I would say I've lost some balance. Standing on one foot without a handhold could be dangerous for me.
If you build a step you have to consider who is going to be using it. What may work for you may not for guests.

 

[dlochner]

I would have to have a lot of confidence in a boarding step to step off on it with the boat moving. It would have to be attached to the dock, be beefily built and have a rail. I'm not interested in taking a fall on or off of a dock.
Come to think of it, I've been boarding sailboats at the shrouds for at least a decade (At least on floating docks). I would say I've lost some balance. Standing on one foot without a handhold could be dangerous for me.
If you build a step you have to consider who is going to be using it. What may work for you may not for guests.

Good points. Like you, when I can't board at a gate and have to step over the life lines I always do so at the shrouds or somewhere that I can have a secure handhold.

Our boarding step, when we use it, is attached at the gate, this allows holding on to the stanchions when stepping up and there is a grab bar on the dodger that can also be reached.

 

[thinwater]

...when I can't board at a gate and have to step over the life lines I always do so at the shrouds or somewhere that I can have a secure handhold....

There are a great many boats with inboard shrouds you can't reach. Just sayin'.

 

[shemandr]

As I grown older I more and more appreciate a handhold somewhere on the dodger frame that is well supported by the frame hardware. For boarding and disembarking, or for going forward and back, It makes a lot of sense to me. Especially with the large dodger enclosures which are popular today. There is that transition from cockpit to deck that can leave a mate unsupported that is a risk.

 

[jon hansen]

old school here, and scottish. two fenders and my home made fender board that i made in 74' when dad bought the boat. just step on the top of the fender board. never scuffs the hull.

don't need no gimmick, yachty, pricey, step. would not want to store it on board or carry the weight.

 

[shemandr]

Arrrrrgh! Do you take your peg leg off to board?

 

[Allan12210]

I've built a couple of them over the years starting with plywood and carpet covered steps. My last step started life in the Bargain Bin at West Marine for $20.00. It was a three step gunwale boarding ladder. A bit of surgery with a tubing cutter to make it only two steps, some Starboard side pieces and a couple of bits of aluminum bar slotted for the toe rail made a versatile ladder. I extended the standoffs with a bit of PVC pipe and crutch tips so it hangs vertical. The good thing about the 1985 H34 is the extruded aluminum toe rail. I can put the step anywhere. It folds flat for easy storage in the dock box or down below.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I would have to have a lot of confidence in a boarding step to step off on it with the boat moving. It would have to be attached to the dock, be beefily built and have a rail. I'm not interested in taking a fall on or off of a dock.
Come to think of it, I've been boarding sailboats at the shrouds for at least a decade (At least on floating docks). I would say I've lost some balance. Standing on one foot without a handhold could be dangerous for me.
If you build a step you have to consider who is going to be using it. What may work for you may not for guests.

Some one on our group built a step that that I would have confidence stepping off onto with as much confidence I have on my dock step. It did hang from the toe-rail but instead of swinging, it had two suction cups that kept it in position on the side of the boat so that it could not move sideways as you step off. That is what I plan to build. It also 12" extended out from the boat so that you have a very wide and stable footing.

 

[shemandr]

Well yeah. My wife's foot/paw would be OK on some of these. But my 11 1/2 foot wouldn't. Wide and stable are good!

 

[Ward H]

Last week's Nor'Easter brought in especially high tides. I was able to step onto my boat when I arrived but had to jump to the dock an hour or so later, the water had risen beyond stepping off. Helped to rescue another couple who went sailing and were not able to get off their boat due to higher water a few hours later. Had to rig a step ladder for them.
Today I noticed quite a few milk crates and 8 x 10's attached to the finger piers. I guess we're lucky to have little tidal range on the BB.

A step like those shown above would have been helpful.