My name is Dave and I need more than two rungs.

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RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
After adding a two rung ladder to my boat I got pretty good at putting weight letting the boat go down, up, and climb when it came down again. I decided to add a third step when a friend's father could not get off the boat to swim because he would never be able to get up the ladder.

Old ladder with the supplies for the new ladder.




I used the aluminum steps as a template for the red oak steps.




Used a router to put 45 degree edges all the way around.



Got out the hole saw bits and put in the 1" holes.




Got out the sander and sanded all the edges to make it rounded and applied the first and second application of tung oil.



I will finish the ladder early tomorrow as we have friends coming to go sailing in the afternoon. I like projects that can be completed in 2 days.
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Tung oil is great, use it on my mahogany guitar, but are you going to seal the wood or just reapply the oil? Nice job. I should be able to do this also. What are you going to use for a non-slip surface?
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
The final prefit assembly. I will have to do the final drilling and put in the screws at the dock. I left my good set of drill bits on the boat. The set I have at home is missing a couple of sizes, and Murphy always makes sure those are the exact size you need to do it right.

Please excuse the cell phone pics, I need to get new batteries for the camera.



Brian D said:
Tung oil is great, use it on my mahogany guitar, but are you going to seal the wood or just reapply the oil? Nice job. I should be able to do this also. What are you going to use for a non-slip surface?
Click to expand
I use tung oil on my teak, so I had planned on re-oiling as I re-oil my teak. I roughed the surface with 60 grit sandpaper before oiling. It still has a texture to it. I am hopeful this will not be slick or I will have to move onto a new plan. I thought if I had to I could add a little sugar sand to a sealer before applying. I am hopeful this will be enough.
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
How are you supporting the rungs?

Hi Dave,

What's supporting the oak rungs? If it's just screws going in from the sides, or just one from the ends:eek:, I'd be some worried that it'll fail.

If it were me, I'd make/get big aluminum or SS "washers" and place one under each step, and put screws into the pipe under the washers; or I'd make some aluminum L-brackets and pop-rivet or screw them on underneath, to the pipe and the rung.

Or have you devised something more clever?
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
12 X 2 1/2 Stainless steel machine screws from each side with 4200 on each screw. They are rather stout and extend over an inch past the aluminum tubing into the wood on the other side. I duplicated how the old one was constructed and that held up for twenty years.
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
Mounted it yesterday and of course the first set of holes lined up to the transom bracket, but the second set was half a hole off. Had to get the cordless drill and convince it to get with the program. It went really well Had a friend that is a little bigger than me and it handles him at 6'2 and about 240. It helps that the boat lowers when you start up the ladder. I will just have to see how long the wood holds up. Knowing how to build the rungs will not make for a difficult replacement if need be. I spent a whopping $7 on red oak. Too many power boats out there to go sailing, unreal traffic as the town does their fireworks that night over the water. We spent the day and evening motoring and swimming and the kids were constantly up the ladder and jumping off.




 
dscribner

dscribner

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
Very nice job Dave. If it were me, I wouldn't have ther spine to expose it to the elements!
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
Thanks, not sure I know what their spine is? Cabinet maker I am not. I am just a kid with a router and a dream. :D
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
RECESS said:
Thanks, not sure I know what their spine is? Cabinet maker I am not. I am just a kid with a router and a dream. :D
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i am a cabinet maker and i am not sure about the spine thing all i see is rails and styles(steps).....thats a good job keep up the good work....

regards

woody
 
F

ffaubert

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Apr 29, 2010
209
MacGregor m25 Erieau, Ontario, Canada
RECESS said:
Thanks, not sure I know what their spine is? Cabinet maker I am not. I am just a kid with a router and a dream. :D
Click to expand
I think it's a mis-type. I believe it was supposed to be 'the spine' as in 'I wouldn't have the guts (or spine) to do that'.

Anyhow, that's a great looking piece. It has a very warm feel to it.

A different Frank
 
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RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
Thanks guys.

It probably was a typo, it makes more sense that way.

I have a club member going sailing with me tomorrow that wants to duplicate it. He priced some three rung ladders and he had no idea how much a good ladder costs.
 
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