locating gates in safety lines

[Sanders LaMont]

Has anyone put gates in the safety lines at the beam near the shrouds?I have to replace a stanchion or two and a friend on the dock suggested while I am at it I put a gate near the best available hand-holds.We currently have gate/clips at the cockpit but they are almost never used due to the lack of handholds and configuration of the dock.I typically put the dock steps on the lee side at the shrouds for ease of boarding. That puts more footprints on the deck, but is safer. I would worry about the stanchions at he gate being used as handholds unless they wre reinforced.Ideas?Sanderss/v Good NewsSacramento

 

[Steve Dion]

Easier boarding but don't like guests walking...

Sanders: We reversed out gate. I was set up so the entire life line dropped when you open life likes which where attached at the stern pulpit.This was not very safe when you some to the dock, there were a couple of times when the life lines got wrapped around someones feet.With our new arrangement the life lines from the bow pulpit to the last stanchion stay tight. My concern would be loading the boat with heavy load and trying to carry this stuff back to the cockpit. The other problem is having guests move from midship to the aft without something to hold on to as the move aft.