Stepping Off & ON sailboat

[seadaddler]

Ok everyone let's see some good photo's of what you use when at the dock floating or fixed,I have a clip on to life lines step at my dock box not helping now,I usually back in but can't always so need to get good idea's what you use that works best and doesn't take up much room to off and on at the dock especialy at fixed docks none floating and these real short ones OMG.
Nick

 

[John T1594]

OK, so the photo is not the best but here is our dock set up. I always dock bow-in because I can't drive our boat well in reverse against the wind and current and it is not worth the aggravation to back it in after a long day out. We have a short finger pier on our port side. I cut the lifelines and installed pelican hooks to make a gate. I made a two step wooden stair that is about two feet high and that works pretty well with the tidal range in central NJ. There is a pilling on the end of the finger pier and I attached two sturdy grab handles made out of SS tubing and end fittings.
Our boat is a 2000 H340.

 

[LuzSD]

We have same setup as John describes, we go in bow first, have a step right at edge on starboard. Friends all seem to do the same. I would give one good bit of advise, whatever size step one uses..make sure they are weighted or heavy. Friends have a very light weight plastic 2 step and I know one of these days someone is going in the water or worse because of those steps. They are too lightweight and would scoot out from underfoot if one landed just wrong! I always go straight for the long jump instead, I trust my legs more than a lightweight step.

 

[paul1938]

I found an old plastic two-step and added a grab bar to the side facing away from the boat. Some of the guys made up a wooden step[one, two or three steps depending on gunnel height] and used L brackets to attach to dock. I think that the grab bar is key to being stable.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Nick...

We use a three step dock step as pictured for our boat access on our floating dock. I've since added a "grab arm" that fits in the side of the cockpit coaming to assist my wife's increasingly handicapped access.

When away from the dock, we use a folding kitchen step stool to get on and off the boat. It's sometimes used on the boat deck, sometimes on the dock itself, depending on the tide and dock construction.

 

[zeehag]

i csnnot use the steps that are made for this--i use me legs--you already seen them in fla... gooodluck and smooth sailing... i am in n=ensenada-- they placed a 3 step next to my boat for my ease of boarding--i push it a bit away soi can board and disembark without falling in public.....the ones with the grab bar are best--- but i still dont trust 'em--- something about slipping.....

 

[Stu Jackson]

We mostly use our legs and the shrouds for boarding and leaving. I "dis-encourage" people using the stanchions - they've never had to rebed them!

Sometimes we use the dodger tubing.

We have a clip on single step that goes around the stanchion bases.

Our dockmate has a single step heavy West Marine step that must have cost him two months berthing fees. He's never there anymore, so i used it when my leg was wonky, but it was on the other side of our boat from where we normally board, and where we keep our boom, so it wasn't that easy to use.

I've seen the nifty fold up steps which make great sense for using and storing.

Lots depends on your physical condition and your freeboard. I like using my legs, better exercise, but we're not that far off the dock.

 

[inarathree]

I know that my boat is smaller than most who responded, but I use these to get on an off my boat.

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

With Emmanuel's freeboard it is a big step up and down but it's never bothered me either. However, the next door neighbor last season made me a present of a carpeted single step that is heavy and stable. I like to use that when hauling heavy stuff on or off the boat. Guests like the step too.

 

[Florida sail]

I back into my slip and use a bridal line tied to the base of a stanchion and the other end looped over the piling to pull the boat closer to our non floating finger. when I leave the dock, I merely remove the loop from the piling. We use a 3/4" gangplank to get our 75 Lb Lab on board. I'm not quit sure if you can see the line on my avatar.

 

[seadaddler]

Thanks Everyone

Yes I also use my legs off and on but some times it's a strain on my back and jumping down is also not good but like I said I do OK but the wife is shorter than me and she has a tuff time getting up,most always I back in and no problem off and on out the back opening stern on my 07 H-36 but on this trip when getting in real tight with wind and waves from go fast boats we went in bow first,I guess I will remember to starting carrying mt 1-2 folding step and remember to just put it on the boat and leave it on the boat.
Thanks all
Nick

 

[thinwater]

My wife has had a knee replacement and has balance problems, and my parents are mid/late 80s. A few thoughts:
* Sugar scoops are great, because one of the steps is always the correct height. There is also a good rail there. This was a purchasing factor.
* I use a small block and tackle to pull the boat over TIGHT to the dock when boarding passengers (and I admit also when loading gear for a longer trip). Big help. I also loosen a line as needed. A fixed fender is stationed by the stern.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Advantage of a smaller boat

Our '77 h27 is only about a 9 inch step up from the dock. I drop the top lifeline (it's on a pelican hook) and it's an easy step on board.

 

[IanJ]

Re: Advantage of a smaller boat

I use a plastic milk crate, with a varnished board wired on top. I have this fastened to the dock, and works great. I inherited some WM plastic steps, but they shattered one day from sun exposure ( nothing to do with my beer consumption!!)

 

[Joe]

Home made with 1x8 redwood fence planks, covered with 3 coats of porch paint and non-skid sand. Not a great picture of the steps... but.. nice boat. heh, heh.

 

[zeehag]

i have a wood and bronze boarding ladder i need to install yet--is gorgeous!!!! but that is for another day-- willpost pix of it when happens....
when i am feeling unable/unwilling to step off boat, i plant my butt on the caprail and then step onto deck very safely without jumping or mess.... inch by inch lol

 

[seadaddler]

Sorry Sorry

I am sorry but did not explain more that at my Marina I have no problem backing into my slip and getting off the stern with my Hunter walk through stern.
It's when out cruising and in stange Marin at their dock and having maybe not so easy a job of docking in stern first and so dock bow first and than something easy and light to carry on the boat like a foldup ladder which I have a one step that clips onto the life lines but forgot to keep it on the boat .
I just wantede to see what type of boarding ladder everyone else was using in this situation.
Nick

 

[Ray Bowles]

When we were cruising every time we docked somewhere it was always a different height down to the dock. After Reba had her knee worked on I found a 3 step metal stepping ladder that open is 42"h at the handle, 28" at the upper step and 18" wide. Closed it is 48"h, 18"w and 3" deep. It stored very compactly in the lazerette and gave the solid and secure feeling required for those not fleet of foot.
Those of us too cool to use such a devise usually just do a face plant followed with a deck sweeping bow.
Ray