Passarelle Upright angle

[MarieK]

Hi guys

I'm new to the world of passarelles. I have a Besenzoni on my new (to me) boat and trying to figure out if I can adjust it to be more upright in it most upright position. The attached photo shows it in its most "upright" position but I've seen other boats where the passarelle points straight up thus allowing for better access on swim platform. Any thoughts on whether there is opportunity to adjust it somehow? Hard to judge if I'm at theax angle for the ram, it looks like there should be a bit more in it.

Many thanks

 

[markc]

I'd say that's at max, but you can measure the ram to make sure it's fully extended. Ours doesn't go fully upright, although it does go more vertical than yours.

 

[vas]

as mark says, measure the ram calculate an extra say 50-80mm that wont go out as well.
then also check if the main passerelle mounting hasn't got any "lip" or reinforcement that wont allow the thing to go further up, doesn't look like it in yours but cannot see clearly from the pic.
TBH I'd expect it to go further up in this setup as the ram mount is v.close to the main mount (stressing the grp in the area more!)

V.

 

[Portofino]

Isn’t there a way of moving the ram attachment on the passerelle?
Mine has 5 pre set positions and indeed we did move it back towards the boat two places to increase the up right sos to vertical ise it get it out of the way @ anxhor .
Its a pincraft make not bessenzoni though.

Here from the Pincraft site ….the red circle shows alternative holes to fix the ram thus altering the steepness ……both ways up and down if the jetty is Uber lower .



In this illustration 4 positions .
Thought they all would have that flexibility?

Need to see a pic of the underside of the OPs pass where the ram attaches to comment further .

 

[MarieK]

This is photo from underneath, I don't see obvious way to adjust

 

[jrudge]

Mine goes close to vertical but the ram is longer and mounted lower.

 

[Portofino]

Isn’t there a way of moving the ram attachment on the passerelle?
Mine has 5 pre set positions and indeed we did move it back towards the boat two places to increase the up right sos to vertical ise it get it out of the way @ anxhor .
Its a pincraft make not bessenzoni though.

Here from the Pincraft site ….the red circle shows alternative holes to fix the ram thus altering the steepness ……both ways up and down if the jetty is Uber lower .


View attachment 138568
In this illustration 4 positions .
Thought they all would have that flexibility?

Need to see a pic of the underside of the OPs pass where the ram attaches to comment further .

Ah ! In which case a JRudge says …..longer ram if possible lower mounted .Bessenzoni do that way alter the ram L and foot position.
Wonder if it was a aftermarket fitment specced by the PO for his useage ……lower quays and jetties or tender launchers into the sea ?

 

[Croftie]

Are you sure the ram is coming all the way it can? Looks to me its only just over half way out, the red lines are equal length. Low fluid level?

 

[vas]

good point by Croftie, had that again yesterday, got a small leak at the ram and once or twice a season I have to add some more fluid.
Before you do so, lower it as much as it will go, and retract the extension. This way, all the oil will be back in the tank. THEN add new oil (don't brim it!)
100ml may give you an extra 5cm extension on the ram.

Alternatively, and to test the low oil theory, retract the extension and try bringing up the passerelle, it should go further.

 

[Bouba]

Where the ram meets the transom, put a spacer block ...this is the way to increase the vertical angle...so you can walk past it on the swim platform. Check the lowest angle, because of course this will also rise

 

[MarieK]

Ok a few things to check. Will followup shortly

 

[MarieK]

Revisiting this 6 months on. Topped up the fluid level (it wasnt particularly low) and marked with a pen on the ram so i could measure if I got any more extension. It didnt extend any more even with the additional fluid. The model is a PI359 and ive been through the installation manual but there is no mention of adjustment. I also dont see any wiring for sensors on the passarelle which might be sending a stop signal. Only thing going to it is the 4 hydraulic hoses.

I now know for sure that it should extend more as there is an identical boat in marina with same passarelle and it extends to almost upright position.

Any additional ideas welcome, also reached out to Timage who originally supplied when boat was new.

 

[vas]

haven't seen any with sensors to stop it moving. Typically it's done on the motor/pump assembly with a pressure sensor (my guess, haven't bothered to take apart mine...)
two more things:
when you lift it, you hear the motor humming away and then when it reaches the point it stops, do you hear a change of motor/pump assemby tone? Going higher pitch a bit?
When it stops moving, can you still hear the motor running or it stops?
If motor is still running, what happens if you try to "help" it with your hands (pushing up I mean) will it go any further?

And out of curiosity, another test, extend the second section as much as it will go with passarele lowish. Then instruct it to go up, will it go up to the same mark or stay lower?

EDIT: else and considering you're absolutely sure there should be more to go, I'd check the pump/motor assembly either for a pressure release valve that needs adjustment/replacement, or some other issue in there. That would be particularly possible if it does move higher if you "help" with your hands.

V.

 

[jfm]

Croftie makes a good point in #8 - the cylinder looks like it could extend more.

1. Can you compare with the other boat? Post side by side photos? Different extensions of the cylinders?

2. When you lift it as high as it goes, you should hear a clunk as the cylinder hits its max extension stop and the pump motor should carry on running, possibly with a change in tone. The motor should not stop. (This is perfectly ok - it is ok to run the motor against the stop because there is a pressure relief valve). Can you describe whether this is happening, or what else is happening, exactly?

3. What's the model of the boat (can see it's Rodman)?

 

[jfm]

OK can see it is Rodman 41. Here is a pic grabbed off the net, alongside yours. Resolution not good enough to compare the extension of the lift cylinder, but if you have another in your marina you can check that. However the installation geometry iseems similar so you need to check your lift cylinder is working.

On google imaging these boats you can see that several different models of passerelle are fitted to the fleet, and the Delaware boat below has a slightly different model from yours, so you might just be stuck with a short-stroke lift cylinder which you could replace to fix your problem.

 

[jfm]

Here's that same boat in high res. Different model of Passarelle from yours. Is your passerelle retro-fit or factory fit? Possible that someone retro-fitted a suboptimal model of passrelle? I'd still check that cylinder is working though.

 

[jfm]

And to add further mystery, here is same model passerelle as yours but fitted to a pre-face lift Rodman 41, much older than yours. I can't see that the transom changed between the pre and post face lift models, so this again suggests your lift cylinder isn't extending properly.

 

[Bouba]

Isn’t there a way of moving the ram attachment on the passerelle?
Mine has 5 pre set positions and indeed we did move it back towards the boat two places to increase the up right sos to vertical ise it get it out of the way @ anxhor .
Its a pincraft make not bessenzoni though.

Here from the Pincraft site ….the red circle shows alternative holes to fix the ram thus altering the steepness ……both ways up and down if the jetty is Uber lower .


View attachment 138568
In this illustration 4 positions .
Thought they all would have that flexibility?

Need to see a pic of the underside of the OPs pass where the ram attaches to comment further .

I’ve never seen one with the different hole positions...very clever. Much better than placing a block of wood between the transom and the base of the ram

 

[MarieK]

Firstly guys - really appreciate you taking the time out to help. To answer a few questions

VAS

when you lift it, you hear the motor humming away and then when it reaches the point it stops, do you hear a change of motor/pump assemby tone? Going higher pitch a bit?
Yes pitch changes but motor still runs - its an immediate pitch change as opposed to gradual, i do not hear a clunk as such suggesting its hit a stop.

If motor is still running, what happens if you try to "help" it with your hands (pushing up I mean) will it go any further?
Havent tried this - will do next. I assuming i should be able to assist it to get higher if there is still some extension left?

And out of curiosity, another test, extend the second section as much as it will go with passarele lowish. Then instruct it to go up, will it go up to the same mark or stay lower?
It goes to the exact same mark and stops

considering you're absolutely sure there should be more to go, I'd check the pump/motor assembly either for a pressure release valve that needs adjustment/replacement, or some other issue in there. That would be particularly possible if it does move higher if you "help" with your hands.
Noted - will have a look here. Nothing in manual but it does say that user shouldnt need to make any adjustment

JFM

When you lift it as high as it goes, you should hear a clunk as the cylinder hits its max extension stop and the pump motor should carry on running, possibly with a change in tone. The motor should not stop. (This is perfectly ok - it is ok to run the motor against the stop because there is a pressure relief valve). Can you describe whether this is happening, or what else is happening, exactly?
The motor continues to run with change in tone but not hearing a clunk (will tune in more to this next time though).

Your last photo looks to be identical setup and can confirm the other boat in marina has exact same model Passarelle. I have also have an install certificate from Timage when the boat was new, lending some credibility to the install.

 

[vas]

I'm running out of ideas, after all it's a v.simple thing...

If you can help it with your hands and it goes higher, I'd call it a motor/pump assembly issue and I'd look for the pressure release valve.
Check if it's adjustable, and/or replace.
If you take a couple of pics of the assembly usually somewhere hidden under deck, someone would be able to help. Bez have stickers with model # on them, that would help.
I recon that's your last easy and not messy option.

Before declaring a ram issue and start shopping for a replacement (you probably don't want to hear prices of them!) I'd lower the lot and let the passerele rest on a couple of blocks of wood on the bathing platform, leaving enough space to undo the ram to passerelle through bolt. May be a proper bolt, may be a simple rod with threads where washers/bolts secure the thing in place.
I'd let the ram loose on a smaller piece of wood or whatever, Free from the passerelle, operate the controls as normal. IF it doesn't go any further I'd call it a ram issue, if it goes, I'd look at the passerelle pivot for fouling. Mind passerelle could well be 150+kg so not something you can do just like that...


good luck!

V.