High C easy...

[veshengro]

Does anyone have an opinion, actual use of, experience of... Fender Steps?

Boarding the boat from my Dinghy, blowing a Hoolie, choppy ebb against the wind and the boat is dancing round her mooring bouy.
One foot on Dinghy thwart, hands on rail, leg over top rail...Dinghy falls away, ...I am thinking of applying to Royal Opera for a vacancy as a High Treble.
I need a single step boost for boarding from alongside, not over the transom, and I don't want to cut the stainless rail for a boarding gate. I'm guessing a Fender step would be kinder to the topsides than a rigid ladder even a one or two step, as being battered 'tween dinghy and topside would be a regular event at my mooring.

 

[PabloPicasso]

I have a fender step that gets used whever anyone may have this isssue.

Its a single triangle type with one tie on point at the top. There are other types with the same or more steps that also work well. Our toerail has holes evenly spaced so easy to tie on. I'm guessing that it is the availability of solid tie-on points that makes them easy to to use or not

 

[PabloPicasso]

We have one of this type

 

[Sandy]

I have the same fender step as @PabloPicasso Attached at the shrouds allows you to step up while holding on.

 

[vyv_cox]

I had one like a 2 or 3 rung ladder, a long time ago now and don't remember which. It was extremely heavy and not easy to use so it soon went.

We saw one in New Zealand that we adopted. It was two wooden rungs and two small fenders with holes right through, strung onto two lines. The fenders held the rungs off the hull and the whole thing could be disassembled quickly for stowing.

 

[veshengro]

Thanks all, I'll give one a go. I just need the single step to get a boost over the rail.

 

[LadyInBed]

I have a 9" wide plank of wood, rope holes in the four corners and a strip of split hose over the inside edge as a buffer against the hull.
Does a job.

 

[bedouin]

I have a two/three step one that I like. It makes a pretty good fender in its own right when in a marina (I bought it when the boys were little) and it is good for climbing into/out of the tender.

 

[Slowtack]

I use a normal fender hung horizontally from the midships cleat...

 

[veshengro]

The boat is an 18 foot Day Sailer so quite low freeboard which would normally make boarding easy even for a wrinkly with duff legs like me, but the previous owner had a custom made stainless pushpit made. It in fact makes the cockpit a very secure place for a small boat and with a Great Grandson who at 4 years shows Orangutang climbing abilities, I'm reluctant to alter the stainless 'cage'...

I was going to make a wooden hanging step but it will get hammered against the topsides if today was anything to judge by, so if the fender step works as suggested I'll be happy.

" I use a normal fender hung horizontally from the midships cleat..."

Yes, I did consider carrying something like a size 3 fender and wrapping it with non slip tape, but if a smaller step one works I'd prefer to use one.

 

[William_H]

I think hand holds up high are the main requirement for boarding. I use rails on cabin top but even then not high enough. (21ft boat) Perhaps hand holds up the cap shroud. Yes fender step could work well but as said you can fabricate something similar out of wood and rope. Attachment points being critical. (tricky). ol'will

 

[LiftyK]

My old triangular fender step didn’t like my weight. At a boat show I spoke to some guys from Scotland who had a different design that spreads the load more effectively. It works really well. Now what was the company name….Aha! I found them. 1 x Boarding Fender: 45cm x 12cm

 

[vyv_cox]

Here is our simple ladder. The wooden rungs are carpet wrapped as they are also occasionally used to keep lifting strops off the toerail. The fenders are also used sometimes with the dinghy.

 

[veshengro]

Thanks for that VYV, if I find the single fender step doesn't work, I'll copy your idea and rig it so that the top step is just slightly higher than the Dinghy thwart when I am alongside.

 

[dunedin]

This type works well for us, with much higher topsides Majoni Step Fender 2 Step White

Single step version also available

 

[bedouin]

This type works well for us, with much higher topsides Majoni Step Fender 2 Step White

Single step version also available

That's the type I have

 

[Refueler]

Here is our simple ladder. The wooden rungs are carpet wrapped as they are also occasionally used to keep lifting strops off the toerail. The fenders are also used sometimes with the dinghy.View attachment 154690

That is neat ... like it.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I have a single fender step which we bought years ago on our first trip to Holland when we spotted it in a local chandlery. I notice you can get two step versions. Excellent kit.

 

[jac]

That's the type I have

Also have that type - 2 step. key is to ensure it is properly inflated and that the attachment has some tension fore and aft as well, not just straight up and down which helps stop itswaying a little