Gate in guardrail wires

[RupertW]

Width is not a problem on newer boats as most are as wide aft as in the middle. Gate is primarily for boarding from a dinghy or from a pontoon. Rafting is easier from near the shrouds.

Agree with you on wide sterns making gates good just forward of the cockpit, but I can't imagine using ours for dinghy or pontoon as it would be way too high - stern is the way in and out for us then. I think the only time we use our gates is when alongside a fuel pontoon or high dock to pay a toll fee.

I do find it odd the UK habit of buying modern stern entry boats then still going into their berths forward so they can do gymnastics to get down to a finger pontoon as if they were still in their old Westerleys. To me it looks like having a perfectly good front door but choosing the downstairs loo window as the entry and exit point, with lots of good ideas about a stepladder up to the window, or a fenderstep or really strong stanchions on the window frame to haul yourself through.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I do find it odd the UK habit of buying modern stern entry boats then still going into their berths forward so they can do gymnastics to get down to a finger pontoon as if they were still in their old Westerleys.

You will see from my pics in the previous post, some of us park our old Westerlies stern to

I generally board from the stern too, as mine has a gate in the pushit, but the guardwire gates can be handy sometimes for loading supplies or in strange marinas.

 

[Daydream believer]

Most factory fitted gates are not at the widest area of the boat so little use when rafted up.

You would have to hop over the other boat's guardrail anyway. Plus one would expect you, by way of courtesy, to cross over at least as far forward as the shrouds. Not just somewhere where a gate might be, especially if well aft.

 

[Tranona]

I have just fitted gates to my Westerly. I replaced an existing stanchion with a double one, as already discussed, sturdy fittings were made for the new stanchion where it fits over the toe rail. The pushpit is used as the aft gate "post". Guardwires were cut and new fittings crimped on with a hydraulic crimper. The gates and all of the fitting were purchased from Premier Fittings (no connection) and the fittings were made locally.

That is the same arrangement as my Bavaria, and as I said on a number of occasions is cheaper and easier than having the more common two sets of double stanchions a bit further forward - but not always feasible, particularly if the boat has a narrow stern and minimal side decks alongside the cockpit.

 

[Tranona]

Agree with you on wide sterns making gates good just forward of the cockpit, but I can't imagine using ours for dinghy or pontoon as it would be way too high - stern is the way in and out for us then. I think the only time we use our gates is when alongside a fuel pontoon or high dock to pay a toll fee.

I do find it odd the UK habit of buying modern stern entry boats then still going into their berths forward so they can do gymnastics to get down to a finger pontoon as if they were still in their old Westerleys. To me it looks like having a perfectly good front door but choosing the downstairs loo window as the entry and exit point, with lots of good ideas about a stepladder up to the window, or a fenderstep or really strong stanchions on the window frame to haul yourself through.

Suggest you read the article in this month's YM on boarding boats in various situations. Fender step is useful for boarding alongside the boat when it is too choppy to board from the stern.

I reverse into my berth, but my boat has a drop down boarding platform which is rather impractical to leave down, not just because of the damage, but the extra metre or so would lead to far to much of the boat sticking out in front of the pontoon and cleats. I use a £2.99 plastic stool on the pontoon for boarding, dropping the guard wires and using the double stanchion to pull myself up to reach the grab rail on the sprayhood.

As always you have to work out what is best for you in any situation given the resources available, so what works for you might not for me.

 

[Daydream believer]

That is the same arrangement as my Bavaria, and as I said on a number of occasions is cheaper and easier than having the more common two sets of double stanchions a bit further forward - but not always feasible, particularly if the boat has a narrow stern and minimal side decks alongside the cockpit.

Or for getting off a short pontoon where reversing in might have been awkward. Or for getting off the dinghy in a chop. & in many cases the top of the stanchion is still too low for that final heave onto the boat as ones "bent body centre of gravity" is just outside the vertical line of the hull

 

[RupertW]

I reverse into my berth, but my boat has a drop down boarding platform which is rather impractical to leave down, not just because of the damage, but the extra metre or so would lead to far to much of the boat sticking out in front of the pontoon and cleats. I use a £2.99 plastic stool on the pontoon for boarding, dropping the guard wires and using the double stanchion to pull myself up to reach the grab rail on the sprayhood.

We haven't yet found a place where we need to board by the gates (except for fuel jetties) but take your point about the drop down stern platform. Our boat is the generation before those so still has a sugar-scoop and I see a lot of drop down platform boats nervously backing towards a pontoon where we are able to push ourselves fendered back into it and hold ourselves there while sorting everything else out. I also see so many chipped platform ends on charter boats as you can't keep fenders permanently on the stern and just kick them into the water when approaching a pontoon.

But I love the way boats look with them up - proper sterns again.