gettin off/aboard aft cabin boats.

Robin

Robin

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2001
Messages
18,088
Location
high and dry on north island
Visit site
ou new to us birchwood ts37 is great for living, not so much for getting on/off unless we carry our heavy wood step stairs around everywhere with us. getting moored is not the problem, lassoos and grab hooks solve that or call ahead for a helper on shore. but for lonearrivals we need a means of getting on/off that is safe for two old wrinklies. have tried a boarding ladder from lalizas but it is very flimsy and doesn't fit the undercut hull profile making its flimsiness even more dangerous. the boat has moulded in steps in the hull sides by the gates but these are difficult to see let alone climb. so how do other high sided boat owners cope? thinking of trying one of the newer majoni 4 step fender steps, do they work? swim platform seems obvious but tender hanging in davits and placement of ladder needing a traverse to reach it complicates.

tia.
 
How about a custom ladder similar in principle to the Lalizas, but made to measure with fixing sockets in the deck and perhaps some type of fixing in the hull side?
 
If it's side access you're after then yes it sounds like Mark says above, you could have sockets in the gunwale for the top edge of the ladder to secure into and then the bottom legs could have wheels to allow the ladder to move to accommodate boat movement, this could even have a removable handrail up the side. I guess you could bastardise an existing product or go completely bespoke ?
 
I suspect a bespoke ladder fitting into sockets would be the easiest option, I'm assuming the TS37 doesn't have one as standard?
We have a very mangy set of folding metal steps, these can be reached from the aft deck, lifted aboard and folded and then lowered down on arrival.
Not ideal, but a decent enough solution for us and they're lightweight.
We do have a ladder which fits into sockets, but it does put a lot of stress around the mountings so I don't like using it. It's also at just the right height that a small wave catching the boat at a critical time coupled with just the right height pontoon can neatly lift the ladder up enough to disengage it from the sockets and deposit it in the drink.
 
We have a custom set of free standing stairs with rail, not so much because we are getting on, but because the freeboard from the side is higher than the kids
 
Robin said:
Great except for on a finger especiallya bouncy one.
Click to expand...

I'm really not saying that's the answer, but isn't the movement taken up by the steps pivoting at the point where they fix to the boat and then the wheels allow the steps to move angle relative to the boat with the rise and fall ?

I'm honestly not saying my post is the best idea just 'cos I found 2 photos on google,:D, but it's going to be difficult solution, if the stairs are fixed to the boat they'll smash on the pontoon on a swell down stroke so the only alternative is a set of fixed dockside stairs that will be a bugger to transport with you. I'm sure there will be a solution somehow,, which is of course what you asked in your 1st post ...

We're also aft cabin but only ever access via swim platform.
 
Last edited:
markc said:
How about a custom ladder similar in principle to the Lalizas, but made to measure with fixing sockets in the deck and perhaps some type of fixing in the hull side?
Click to expand...

Exactly what I got made for a Broom 37 we used to own. Any good fabricator should be able to knock up a custom stainless steel tubed/teak step ladder with sockets to be sunk into the gunwhale. Also a good idea to have it hinged at the top so it can be folded upwards rather than removed when the boat goes to sea
 
When the kids were small we got one of those step fenders, the three step version, and I like it.

For a start it is pretty good as a fender anyway and it does make getting on board easier - the only caveat being that the treads are quite narrow. Also good for getting into/out of the tender when alongside.
 
bedouin said:
When the kids were small we got one of those step fenders, the three step version, and I like it.

For a start it is pretty good as a fender anyway and it does make getting on board easier - the only caveat being that the treads are quite narrow. Also good for getting into/out of the tender when alongside.
Click to expand...

It is a bit heavy,like me but today's test shows it does the job. the steps are narrow for my big feet but as long s I get the sequence right, start with left foot it works ok. Tender wise we have a swim platform and davits on the stern. When I get round to splicing the lines on neatly and maybe finding a quick way of attaching same it will e even better,

If all else fails I guess I need a stairlift!
 
Deleted User said:
Exactly what I got made for a Broom 37 we used to own. Any good fabricator should be able to knock up a custom stainless steel tubed/teak step ladder with sockets to be sunk into the gunwhale. Also a good idea to have it hinged at the top so it can be folded upwards rather than removed when the boat goes to sea
Click to expand...

Good thinking Batman! will follow up on that when in a suitable place near a fabricator as we want a bow roller too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top