Boarding your boat

[tess26]

Hi, I own a Pacific Seacraft 20Ft sailboat. Flicka.
I need a ladder to be able to board from the water.... Have nothing now.
What can anyone recommend .....

[zeehag]

i used to use a rope i made into a step on my ericson. worked well.

[Pblais]

We use a "Fender Step" If you goggle it you can see it's a fender that is built so you can stand on it tied to the side of the boat. It works nice and makes no marks. It's also a handy fender too. I use it as my third fender. For a tall deck add two one above the other.

I just finished scarfing in two sections of toe rail where the PO had screwed on a boarding ladder at the gate. 4 screws each side of the ladder then when it failed moved the ladder over and drilled new holes. When that failed he went to the other side of the boat and did it all over again. 32 holes most poorly patched! The teak split from the screws then that rotted. Teak does rot if you let water sit inside it. Attaching ladders to boats is not a trivial task.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Pblais

We use a "Fender Step" If you goggle it you can see it's a fender that is built so you can stand on it tied to the side of the boat. It works nice and makes no marks. It's also a handy fender too. I use it as my third fender. For a tall deck add two one above the other.

I just finished scarfing in two sections of toe rail where the PO had screwed on a boarding ladder at the gate. 4 screws each side of the ladder then when it failed moved the ladder over and drilled new holes. When that failed he went to the other side of the boat and did it all over again. 32 holes most poorly patched! The teak split from the screws then that rotted. Teak does rot if you let water sit inside it. Attaching ladders to boats is not a trivial task.

Those fender steps look awesome; nice find.

[gettinthere]

I made a step with a pressure treated 2 X 4. Added 2 blocks of 2 X 4 to act as standoffs. "Boat Blanket" material from Sailrite to protect the hull. Old halyard line to hang it from the stanchion gate posts. Works very well, lots of compliments.

[bstreep]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Those fender steps look awesome; nice find.

Yes they do. And they are total crap. REALLY. We've had 2, and they lasted less than a year. They were bought from Defender, and they offered to replace them at their cost. See, here's the problem...

The company that makes them does NOT support their warranty. You have to send the defective fender back to DENMARK for warranty service. Ours both tore at the white/black seam on the fender.

We've contacted the company repeatedly to see if there's something else they might do, and they have completely failed to respond.

So, don't waste your money.

[zeehag]

i just tied the line to 2 stanchion bases,backed up by a winch, and taa daaaa---an easily removed and used for something else. portable step for my boat. used that for 4 years.

[Ex-Calif]

Google "Sailboat Boarding Ladder" and filter on images. You will get a ton of ideas...

Your transom is pretty vertical so something like the attached may work. That is pretty much what I have on my boat. I have found a foldable ladder that can extend into the water to be useful for boarding after a swim. A ladder that does not extend into the water is apon,y uesful for boarding from a dink.

[simonmd]

Thats exactly the ladder I have on my Cat and they are very handy indeed. Also can be removed to store in a locker when not required.

Re- fender steps, I was always under the impression they were never intended to be used as a regular boarding solution, mearly an additional 'emergency' way of making it easier to clamber aboard.

To all those who are reading this and dont have a ladder or steps yet, GET SOMETHING! I was involved in trying to help sevaral people get someone out of the water who had fallen in the marina recently and the rear of the sailboat they ended up near had no ladder on its sugar scoop transom. It took FIVE men to haul one guy out of the water, the difficulties of getting out without a ladder must not be underestimated.

The two that had jumped in to save the other guy (who didnt make it im sorry to say) needed to get out on the bathing platform of an adjacent powerboat that I had managed to unlock and lower the foldaway ladder from.

[Aussiesuede]

There is an outfit called Exit Engineering that makes a variety of gangways and dock steps, all in carbon fiber. So the are very light, foldable, and easily stowed.

[simonmd]

Heres a pic of my stern boarding plank (called a passerelle here in the Med'), being tested by Harvey just after I got it.... the second pic showing it after the rear arch was fitted....

As you can see, essential if you have four legged crew!

[Ram]

The passerelle or Gangways-should be as long as possable to keep you away from the wall- many places large vessels throw a wake (Ferry’s or Yachts) and if your close to the wall your going to bang into it- I had this one made extra long in Turkey , and its beautify functional

[Phx]

Originally Posted by Janny

Thanks guys, Ed says she's too 'curvy' for rope or side ladder. The Marina steps would be ok to build, but what happens when we're out? Guess a gangplank set to go from the side or bow will be our only solution but hate to clutter the deck...can one be made to fold up?

mediteranian type gang plank?? Can anyone refer me to a photo?

(I just feel so dumb)

Deck and Rigging Upgrades

[cdennyb]

All the above are great suggestions, I only have to ask if there's a late night and alcohol involved?
My choice would then probably change.

[Phx]

Yes, and yes!