foot rest while helming. ?

[UK-WOOZY]

Hi all. does anyone have any ideas on what could go here by the transom for helming. could do with something to push our feet against when sailing especially when the boats heeling. not sure what though.

thank you

 

[lpdsn]

Hi all. does anyone have any ideas on what could go here by the transom for helming. could do with something to push our feet against when sailing especially when the boats heeling. not sure what though.

Carbon fibre arranged in a hollow triangular shape (similar to toblerone chocolate). Also handy for storing sailing instruction mid-race.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

i meant something already available and affordable.

thanks anyway.


I use the boat for cruising and the occasional race like the thames trafalgar. and im on a budget.

i thought about a metal tool case. bolt it to the floor. could keep the fuel can in it and use to push our feet against. dunno

 

[PetiteFleur]

How about a length of wood, say 3x2", removeable, resting in a wooden slot at the stern and companionway. Height to suit. I have a similar setup on my boat for crew in the cockpit, I have wheel steering, just slots around wheel pedestal and in wooden slot at companionway.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

have any pics?, i cannot picture what your saying. thanks

 

[UK-WOOZY]

i think these would be ideal.. but not available in the uk as things never ever seem to be :ambivalence:

found searching on google for "boat foot rest"




https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...tlGgpzha7BT5u8D9HhHFfmy70TYLwiV2nDewZFbI__FPh


I thought about hand rails but they will likely be too low down when sat on the deck

 

[William_H]

I think you should experiment with a wooden box perhaps in the middle under the tiller. critical dimensions are the width hence distance from your seat to the box to suit you and likewise the height of the box. Once you ahve sorted the dimensions then you can make or buy a stainless stel rail to put your feet on probably one each side of the correct height or make a box or shape that suits you. Yes lopy top might be more comfortable.
You might also like to fit a webbing strap to fit over your feet for added security.
Just for interest my little boat has wide gunwhales. Beng tender as son as the wind comes up the helmsman is sitting up on the gunwahle with feet on the seat. I have webbing straps on the inner edge of the seat full length for hemsman and crew to tuck feet under for more security. If I am not up on the gunwhale then I don't need feet rest. Perhaps becuase I have improved rudder ballance making tiller loads a lot lighter. good luck olewill

 

[UK-WOOZY]

good ideas thank you.

my rudder is pretty well balance. but when the boat leans it would be good to have something to push againsts with the feet to stop one self from falling onto the other side. it can lean up to 35 degrees easily

 

[Lakesailor]

That's the problem with wide-arsed more modern designs. On a nice older boat you can put your feet on the lockertop opposite.
On my first trials car we had an alloy plate on brackets for the passenger to brace against

Reinforced at the back with brackets

As you will want it available from both sides you could just make a folded sheet, attached to the floor.

Which is what I have (on the right) in the current car.

​

You can get alloy tread plate cu to size from any decent fabrication shop. probably about £5 for what you want. You can cut it easily yourself with a jigsaw using a coarse blade, Spray the cut line with WD40 or Plusgas to prevent snatching.

 

[William_H]

Phil's (lakesailor) ideas for a folded piramid shape would be fine if the distance from your seat to the centre is the distance you want to be comfortable when helming. It may be however if you have short legs that you need the rest closer to you. ie wider than just folded to a narrow vee. It also might be that you prefer a rest less vertical ie I imagine about 45 degrees might be better than the tight vee shape. Hence my proposal to build a test fixture in wood like a box to get the dimensions you want. or you may be able to guess with a helper. Definitely the finished product could well be out of ali plate as Phil suggests. Next step is to incorporate padding and even elctric foot warming. good luck olewill

 

[LadyInBed]

I use a stool, pegged into the grating. It's also useful for climbing out of the cockpit

especially when it's heeling like this!

 

[UK-WOOZY]

thats genious


i dont have grating on the floor though. mine is just a 22ft yacht. with tiller steering.

did you buy that stool premade or did you make it?

 

[LadyInBed]

Made it, what you can't see is that my boat is pilot house, so I can sit on the stool with back resting against binical and keep watch through the pilot house windows.

 

[[70521]]

How about some webbing like what you find in some dingies (not that I've been in one for over 40 years)? You should be able to rig a lenght from the transom to where those winches are. Cheap and you can remove it easily when not needed.

 

[UK-WOOZY]

Made it, what you can't see is that my boat is pilot house, so I can sit on the stool with back resting against binical and keep watch through the pilot house windows.

would you be available to make another one for some £££

thanks

 

[LadyInBed]

would you be available to make another one for some £££

thanks

Wouldn't postage costs be more than the box was worth?
Take the pic to a local diyer and ask if he/she can knock one up for you.
Measurments would be specific to your boat.
PS You could make it with a solid base and hinged top flaps