Single Boarding Step
- Thread starter jviss
- Start date
Here was my solution. There are others. Just search the forums for "boarding" or "step".
https://forums.sailboatowners.com//index.php?threads/hardware.154893/#post-1046197
https://forums.sailboatowners.com//index.php?threads/hardware.154893/#post-1046197
Here's what I use. Dinghy to the deck via the starboard life-line gate. Attach the snap hooks to the stanchions on either side of the gate. Not great, but good enough even when the boat/dinghy is pitching some. The fender step is probably better. West Marine for one vendor.
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I've seen it, it's a bit no-yachty looking to be, but might be a great solution.
Thanks, KG, that's exactly what we have now! Only concern is scratching the painted topsides with the plastic, 'though I guess I could attach something.
Sure. The parts are only about $15, but my labor rate of 18 cents per hour will up the cost to about $344. Will one be enough?Thanks, Rich. I have seen your work. Can I order one?
I'm 290 and it has held up ok. Also I'm not sure what No-Yachty looks like or if it's good or bad
Les
Les
There is a 'sugar scoop' type transom with a boarding ladder. However, I have found that when it's not calm, there's too much movement at the transom to allow safe boarding. We generally approach and board with the dinghy about mid-ships, where the movement is least, hence, the need for a step.
Wow, so I had all winter to make the step that Rich made, and I didn't! The weather's lousy here today, so not going to the boat for the weekend. Will try for a day sail tomorrow. Maybe today I'll make that step! I have some 6x 4/4" (full inch) Mahogany decking.
I'm thinking of a more padded cushion that your leather piece, @Rich Stidger , and also maybe using Polartec instead of leather, 'cause the new boat is Awlgrip, and Polartec it the recommended covering material for fenders. Might put piece of garden hose on the edge and wrap it in Polartec.
I like the polyurethane finish you applied! I wonder why we don't just use that on the external teak, instead of all these expensive marine finishes that don't seem to last.
Cheers,
jv
I'm thinking of a more padded cushion that your leather piece, @Rich Stidger , and also maybe using Polartec instead of leather, 'cause the new boat is Awlgrip, and Polartec it the recommended covering material for fenders. Might put piece of garden hose on the edge and wrap it in Polartec.
I like the polyurethane finish you applied! I wonder why we don't just use that on the external teak, instead of all these expensive marine finishes that don't seem to last.
Cheers,
jv
I actually use MinWax brand Helmsman exterior polyurethane for all my external wood. I find that I like the finish, it holds up as well as the marine-specific products, and is half the price or less. I don't have any external teak, but rather some other kind of wood. Teak is an oily wood so I'm not sure about what glossy finishes are best. But if you have teak and are using some marine finish, I would expect that the MinWax Helmsman would work fine. If you find that it is not as good, then just don't use it again.
Thanks Rich. In fact, my wife was in charge of teak on our previous boat (the Catalina 35), and used that product for a long time. It didn't hold up great, but that may have been because of too few coats. Got pretty much the same results for much more money using the more expensive marine stuff.
With my new boat I have this fantasy of re-doing the teak toe rails in the fall, after hauling and before inside storage, using the Awlgrip system of Awlspar (varnish) for color, only two coats, topped with Awlbrite 3-part acrylic urethane - 10 coats! (As recommended by Alwgrip). It will take a complete staging set-up around the boat, and at least four days. Hardly seems worth it, upon reflection.
Someday someone will develop a robot that can do this, unattended.
With my new boat I have this fantasy of re-doing the teak toe rails in the fall, after hauling and before inside storage, using the Awlgrip system of Awlspar (varnish) for color, only two coats, topped with Awlbrite 3-part acrylic urethane - 10 coats! (As recommended by Alwgrip). It will take a complete staging set-up around the boat, and at least four days. Hardly seems worth it, upon reflection.
Someday someone will develop a robot that can do this, unattended.