Gangway step treads.

coopec

coopec

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I'm considering short "wedges" at the ends of each step to make it easy to climb the steps when the yacht is heeled.

Screenshot 2021-12-06 at 10-05-18 yacht companionway steps - Google Search.png

But I need to tread the steps:
  • to make them safe (particularly in wet weather) AND
  • to cover up the scratches and dents. (I shouldn't have used them while I was constructing the yacht)
Any suggestions? Thanks!

imgonline-com-ua-resize-BmpKAqSAbS4zWvqi.jpg
 
Sand them down, apply a coat of clear epoxy & before it is dry sprinkle some sand onto the surface ( a bag of dry block paving sand will do) Then another thin layer of epoxy over that. You will not need any wedges,
My steps are curved at the ends, but I suspect it is for show rather than anything else
 
Mine (Jeanneau) has strips of what I'm guessing is cork leather which looks very nice and isn't slippy at all
 
Daydream believer said:
Sand them down, apply a coat of clear epoxy & before it is dry sprinkle some sand onto the surface ( a bag of dry block paving sand will do) Then another thin layer of epoxy over that. You will not need any wedges,
My steps are curved at the ends, but I suspect it is for show rather than anything else
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Although it doesn’t apply to me, I’m not sure that sand would be kind to those who are in the habit of getting around with bare feet.
 
lustyd said:
Mine (Jeanneau) has strips of what I'm guessing is cork leather which looks very nice and isn't slippy at all
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I had thought of strips to stop slipping but would strips hide the blemishes in the varnished stairs?

Maybe something like this would be preferable.


01_anti_slip_decking_strips_non_slip_step_strips_black.jpg
 
johnalison said:
Although it doesn’t apply to me, I’m not sure that sand would be kind to those who are in the habit of getting around with bare feet.
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You are correct & I did delete a comment to that effect when I wrote it. However, one can reduce the sharpness of the sand by applying a coat of varnish in differing layers . But each one reduces the effect. Personally I do not run about in bare feet & do wince at some videos I see of people standing on the tops of engines etc in bare feet. I would certainly not want to stub my toes on deck fittings. If in a quiet harbour there would be no side pressure on the foot, so the non slip would not be an issue. Would one be bare footed in F4+. ?
One thing - if they were -it would help remove the hard spots :rolleyes:

I have seen 150mm wide self adhesive strips with a fine abrasive covering & was given some (purloined ex Ford MC) for around my mast on my first boat. They were brilliant. I have seen 2 inch wide ones but cannot find them on google
 
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Here's the stuff on mine, nice to step on and looks nice while being grippy. No idea what it is but as I said seems like cork leather, cork or leather ?
steps.png
 
These are the steps in my Bavaria
IMG_20140101_000146.jpg

Excellent. The non slip strips are let into a routed groove, all easy to do when you have CNC and making hundreds of steps at a time.

For my new boat I am making closed side steps like the OPs and not sure wedges are really necessary. Will coat in Floor varnish and stick in strips of non slip tape. Plenty of different types available either as pads or on a roll.

For the OP, suggest strip the steps down to bare wood and recoat with floor varnish which is long lasting, relatively non slip and UV resistant. Epoxy is not appropriate in this application as it is slippery, scratches easily and does not like UV.
 
Tranona said:
all easy to do when you have CNC and making hundreds of steps at a time
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Wouldn't be that challenging with a jig and a small hand router either to be fair. although you'd miss bits in the angles. Agree with closed sides it's probably unnecessary to have wedges
 
Coopec - in NSW I understand, not necessarily correctly, that polished wood steps on staircases (but maybe only spiral staircases) it is a requirement to have non slip on each 'tread'. It comes in rolls, is self adhesive (the adhesive is very strong) and looks surprisingly like a roll of garnet sandpaper. Go and ask a wooden floor supplier, where the wood is decorative as well as functional. We use this at home and are bare foot in the house (except winter when its Uggs). (No shoes in the house and no-one seems to wear socks anymore.). When applied you need a rubber hammer to hammer the strips down. Our strips are 50mm wide - but I have seen narrower.

Our stairs do not get wet, or not so far, but the garnet is quite coarse and the non slip effect would still be evident even if wet (like wet a dry emery paper is still abrasive when wet).

Strangely enough we use the stairs every day :) and the abrasive nature of the stairs has never been raised as a disadvantage - and we have 4 granddaughters.

The strips would cover blemishes - but you will still be left with uncovered blemeshes - sand back the current varnish to bare wood, wet the steps to raise the grain and sand back again. Re-varnish and then apply non slip strips.

Jonathan
 
The comments, plural, of water on the steps underline my concerns about carpets - they will get wet. We prefer wipe clean and dry floors with the ability to take the dampness outdoors, in the form of a damp towel or rag. Nothing worse than a damp carpet for mould to develop. If you are concerned about security, slipping - use abrasive tape in key areas and/or removable non slip (rubber backed) rugs/mats.

Jonathan
 
I wouldn't have though a damp synthetic carpet would get moldy?

All the floor panels have finger pulls. I suppose there is nothing wrong with rubber backed mats covering the panels. Of course if you had to get down in the bilge you'd pull the mats aside and lift the panels. If I used mats I'd paint the floor panels a matching color.
 
coopec said:
I wouldn't have though a damp synthetic carpet would get moldy?

All the floor panels have finger pulls. I suppose there is nothing wrong with rubber backed mats covering the panels. Of course if you had to get down in the bilge you'd pull the mats aside and lift the panels. If I used mats I'd paint the floor panels a matching color.
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I'm not suggesting the carpet would be mouldy - but a damp carpet will raise humidity levels and everything else will get mouldy. It interesting that our UK brethren lay their yachts up in winter - and use dehumidifiers. To me a modern yacht, one built in the last 20 years - or more, should have dry and clean, sparkling white, bilges. Maybe they all use carpets, that are damp.

Oddly none of the yachts I see at boat shows - my exposure to the modern yacht - none of them have carpets. They all seem to have some form of 'synthetic (wood effect) laminate flooring.

Sorry but I've drifted your companionway steps thread to your carpet thread :(. We have laminate flooring and a rubber backed rug/mat, say 2' x 4' at the galley/sink (they are opposite each other) a mat inside the cockpit entrance and one outside the entrance (that is lifted when we take following seas). We do have steps down into each hull, no non slip, but lots of hand holds.

If the mats get wet - we simply hang them on the lifelines.

Jonathan
 
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Two (flat) steps covered with plain Treadmaster, top of engine compartment with diamond Treadmaster, all periodically refreshed with Treadmaster paint - was quite expensive IIRC but little is needed for a small area and it has remained perfectly usable for many years.
 
I also have the jeanneau non slip on steps, but I slipped in my new 'non skid ' boots when wet and jumped 2 steps landing head first in the sink !
I added to the strips which were worn, with stuff like your croc strip.
works a treat !
And there is enough to restrip another few times from the one roll too. bargain.
 
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