Our companionway steps are curved upward slightly on either end and are prone to being stepped on especially if the boat is heeling... well, one finally broke and I don't know where to look for a replacement. Or should we just replace all with flat steps? The ones we have look cool but are less practical. One also came unwelded so we have one missing step (unsafe) and one broken step. Help!
Hunter 456 companionway steps
- Thread starter Carolyn M
- Start date
Hunter is no longer making the curved steps so you'd need to fabricate those if you wanted more of them. They will make the flat steps they use on the current boats, however.
The curved steps are useful and safer than flat steps when the boat is heeled over. But they are prone to breaking as my 3rd step did in big seas. Hunter only has flat replacements $$$ unfortunately.
So did you get a flat replacement?
I never thought about the curved steps being safer, you learn something new every day! What to do?
I had a broken step. One of my dock mates suggested a metal guy. He welded the stainless back in place. It looks like new and has held for a few months. He did the work for 20 dollars.
It's broken on the side
where it curves up and there's no SS. Is that where yours broke? Thanks ~ Carolyn
Curved steps
Mine broke at the apex of the curve. I tried several woodworker including cabinet makers and the steps are impossible to duplicate without the proper machinery. Here is what I did; I bought one flat step from Hunter and put it on the bottom. I replaced the broken 3rd curved step with the good one off the bottom. It works really well and gives you a good solid step at the bottom where a curved is unnecessary.
Mine broke at the apex of the curve. I tried several woodworker including cabinet makers and the steps are impossible to duplicate without the proper machinery. Here is what I did; I bought one flat step from Hunter and put it on the bottom. I replaced the broken 3rd curved step with the good one off the bottom. It works really well and gives you a good solid step at the bottom where a curved is unnecessary.
Sorry,
Guess we had different issues. Though it looks like one of your steps needed welding. That was very easy and inexpensive as well. My broken step was the stainless under the wood. Not the actual wood piece.
Dave
Guess we had different issues. Though it looks like one of your steps needed welding. That was very easy and inexpensive as well. My broken step was the stainless under the wood. Not the actual wood piece.
Dave
That is exactly what I'm going to do!
I was so hung up on having them all the same...
I've had to remove the whole companionway and take it to a shop in the past for welding, hope I can find a "traveling welder" this time. Thanks so much, it became clear to me when I read your message, like the proverbial light bulb going on
I was so hung up on having them all the same...