Foldable pontoon step

[mariadz]

Hi,

As liveaboards with a yacht with high freeboard, we find that people coming on board can cause us problems when they are grabbing the boat to pull themselves aboard. In our current berth, we have a "throne" of steps that helps people to get on board and these work really well. For when we go off travelling though, these will not work.

Recently, there was a video on Facebook showing a "deck box" which was beautiful but out of our budget. However, I was able to come up with a design for Pontoon Steps, which are portable. I documented the process, design, measurements and calculations in the below blog.

https://mariadz.com/2017/08/16/magic-pontoon-steps/

 

[Dutch01527]

I admire your innovation and woodworking skills and appreciate your need for such a aid.

However, I fell over a trolley left on a unlit pontoon at the weekend. There was a reasonable amount of ambient light such that I did not feel the need for a torch but the trolley was lost in the shadow of a boat.

Maybe a small led light added to the steps might be a good safety addition if they are left out at night? After all any reasonable sailor would not leave coils of lines on the pontoon because of the trip hazard.

 

[mariadz]

I can understand your concern and interestingly it fits in very well with Maria's request for some lights on her steps! I had previously fought against this "blinging" but since it is now for safety..... I will look at some LED lights to fit to the face of the steps. Maria will be pleased