Advice stainless steel fitting.

[zaria123]

Hi Folks

This may be an unusual one.

I have a Broom Ocean 37, stern berthed, and rear boarding via a boarding ladder.

My issue is to get my elderly father on board there is too big a step between the top ladder rung, and the deck for him to lift his leg.

Ideally I thought we could add a single bolt on step to the rear fibreglass, approx half way between the top ladder rung amd the deck.

Sounds simple, however. The boat we have was a special build with an additional long range fuel tank in the stern.

This means we can't get behind to put nuts on the bolts.

Would anyone know is there such a fixings similar to those used on plasterboard walls, bit stainless which we could solidly mount an extra step with without having to access behind?

I've attached a photo of the rear of the boat.

Thanks for any advice or help

 

[Rappey]

What about getting another stainles step welded in (remove ladder first) or you may be able to find suitable clamp on fittings to mount another ladder rung ?

 

[Seastoke]

Like above get clamps to fit ladder , if you can’t find look at dairy industry they have the best 316 you can get, the step can be wood.

 

[zaria123]

I was thinking that, just wasn't sure where to go to find a suitable clamp on step.

I can't remove the boarding ladder without completely stripping the rear cabin and removing the huge fuel tank.

Obviously the boarding ladder must have been factory fitted.

I had thought about finding a mobile stainless steel welder but haven't been able to find one near me.

I'll go on the search for clamps now online and see what I find.

 

[JOHNPEET]

As others have advised, I’d be looking to fit an additional step to the ladder. Can the ladder be easily removed from the boat and taken to a fabricator? Otherwise it is very possible that a good SS fabricator could TIG weld an additional step to the ladder in situ.
An alternative might be to use the hinged canopy clamps here
https://www.baselinemarine.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=53&cat=Stainless+Steel+and+Cast+Range
to attach an additional step.

 

[[199490]]

Rivnuts or Jacknuts depending on the load you are looking at.
RIVNUT® blind rivet nuts and RIVSTUD® blind rivet studs | Böllhoff

Jack Nut – Roy Hopwood Fasteners

 

[Bouba]

Rivnuts or Jacknuts depending on the load you are looking at.
RIVNUT® blind rivet nuts and RIVSTUD® blind rivet studs | Böllhoff

Jack Nut – Roy Hopwood Fasteners

Just out of curiosity.....when you squeeze the Rivnut to fix it in place....wouldn’t that just crush the gelcote and possibly the fiberglass?

 

[Bouba]

Many fixings on a boat are just screwed in.....I think that a plate with a few screws is probably better than one.....hopefully there is space between the transom and tank

 

[BlueJasper]

These are like plasterboard fittings but expensive from Weaver. Being American these are also imperial.
TOGGLER SNAPTOGGLE® Anchors

 

[DavidJ]

I think welding is the answer even though you are having difficulty location a supplier.
I had a swim ladder break at the bracket and assumed my yard would take it off (easy in my case) but they welded it in situ (successfully) with no GRP damage. So I suggest a marine SS fabricator who will understand GRP
….keep searching!

After and before

 

[Greg2]

Just out of interest, we used to own an Ocean 37 and I can’t figure out how an additional fuel tank would be at the height where the ‘missing’ step appears to be at the top of the ladder. Is it a tall tank that stands up against the transom?

On the suggestions so far my tuppence worth would be that welding or clamping something to the existing ladder would be the way to go as an individual step somehow screwed to GRP only would be at risk of failure in the absence of glassed in (usually marine ply) strengthening pads. The transom steps on our Hardy are individual steps bolted through the transom and individual glassed in pads for each of the two bolts per step.

Another option might be to have an additional short ladder fabricated that hangs from sockets - something along the lines of this but bespoke (unless of course you can find one the right size). This could be stowed when not required and brought out when your Dad is aboard.
.

 

[Boathook]

As others have advised, I’d be looking to fit an additional step to the ladder. Can the ladder be easily removed from the boat and taken to a fabricator? Otherwise it is very possible that a good SS fabricator could TIG weld an additional step to the ladder in situ.
An alternative might be to use the hinged canopy clamps here
https://www.baselinemarine.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=53&cat=Stainless+Steel+and+Cast+Range
to attach an additional step.

The double take of clamp would work if the existing tubing is the right size.

I added step to my boarding ladder using lacing eyes and jubilee clips. Did it as a temp job to see whether my idea would work before getting it welded. 10 years later still awaiting the welding !

 

[Bouba]

Welding is one of those things where to be good takes training and experience......but to be a home DIYer is remarkably easy....in the sense of getting two bits of metal to stick to each other without it looking beautiful (although it’s amazing the difference an angle grinder makes to the finished look)...the equipment is also very cheap thanks to our friends in China. And there is a plethora of how to videos on YouTube.
This might seem an extreme solution.....but it is a skill that can come in mightily handy throughout your life....and this is a good time to start

 

[JOHNPEET]

The double take of clamp would work if the existing tubing is the right size.

I added step to my boarding ladder using lacing eyes and jubilee clips. Did it as a temp job to see whether my idea would work before getting it welded. 10 years later still awaiting the welding !

Fittings available here Marine Grade Stainless Tube and Fittings. for metric tube sizes.

I agree that it’s important to properly measure the OD of the ladder tube with a digital or vernier calliper, as it’s very easy to confuse metric and imperial sizes. Imperial size tube is still widely used in this field of work.

 

[PCUK]

I can supply you with stainless Jack nuts and bolts if you decide to go down that route. However the transom must have been reinforced to take the weight. You can always reinforce the transom on the outside if needed by bonding ply onto the outside. This can be finished to look smart.
Alternatively you can carefully cut out a section of the transom, insert a steel plate inside and reinstall the cut out section finishing with gel coating the cut, fairing and polishing.

 

[PCUK]

Welding is one of those things where to be good takes training and experience......but to be a home DIYer is remarkably easy....in the sense of getting two bits of metal to stick to each other without it looking beautiful (although it’s amazing the difference an angle grinder makes to the finished look)...the equipment is also very cheap thanks to our friends in China. And there is a plethora of how to videos on YouTube.
This might seem an extreme solution.....but it is a skill that can come in mightily handy throughout your life....and this is a good time to start

Tig welding stainless is nothing like arc welding and is far more difficult to master. Definitely not suitable for a beginner.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Tig welding stainless is nothing like arc welding and is far more difficult to master. Definitely not suitable for a beginner.

Especially if it's tube that you are trying to weld.

 

[PCUK]

Especially if it's tube that you are trying to weld.

Absolutely!

 

[Bouba]

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You have a longways to go Grasshopper to get close to that let alone equal it.