Fiddles that double as hand-holds.

[johnn33]

Slightly off the stated topic, but if hanging part of your weight from one or two handholds as the boat is heeled, then it is worth thinking where your boots go. If you miss a hold, then pad the sharp corners as oilies are not that thick. A couple of ropes rigged fore and aft help.

Hallo to Wotname - do you have a protective cover (for a slipping boot) over the instruments under the lowest step of your companion way?
John

[Cheechako]

I like the tall handhold style fiddles. The thing is, once you have anything there at all, it makes wiping a counter difficult. So 2" or .25" doesn't really matter. You might as well make it big. Besides, any less doesn't really stop stuff from flying off! JMHO

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by GILow

Geez guys, I have to bring you back on track a little here.

This is a photo of the sort of thing I am wondering about. The photo is cropped from a larger photo on facebook, from the interior of a very impressive NZ yacht with serious blue-water credibility. Seeing this setup on such a boat reminded me that this was something I was considering for this boat.

Yep, I like em.

[wingssail]

Every horizontal surface is a candidate for a fiddle and if you might ever put your hand there in a seaway the fiddle should be big enough and strong enough to use as a hand hold. They don't have to be big. Ours are about 1 inch tall but you can grab them.

The thing is while in rough water you might have your hand on a spot to the low side to keep yourself from falling that way, then suddenly the boat lurches the other way and now you need to hang on, not just lean against it. There are never too many hand holds, and falls cause injuries on boats.

[mitiempo]

Here are some examples from Dashew's Setsail site. I think handholds that are not overhead are a good idea throughout the boat.

[Macblaze]

I like the fiddles on my Hunter. Slightly curved inwards... make a great hold.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Panope

Old picture.

7 or 8 hundred hours currently.

Steve

And 6 hundred of those were pulling on anchors.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Panope

...
They would be even better with a shallow "finger recess" machined along the inside edge. A pass or two through a table saw or router table prior to installation would have been easy.

Excellent idea!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Bill O

...
Aesthetically, I don't care for the little hand cut outs in the trim, but that's a personal thing. I've made them before on a previous boat and didn't think the extra effort to make the cut outs was any more functional than just sold trim.

Fair enough, and when combined with Panope's router idea, problem solved.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Here are some examples from Dashew's Setsail site. I think handholds that are not overhead are a good idea throughout the boat.

Excellent gallery with some ideas I can use. Thank you!

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I like the tall handhold style fiddles. The thing is, once you have anything there at all, it makes wiping a counter difficult. So 2" or .25" doesn't really matter. You might as well make it big. Besides, any less doesn't really stop stuff from flying off! JMHO

Very much in line with Wotname's caution about them being high enough.

The gallery provided by Mitiempo shows a good work around for the bits that are too high to allow you to work easily, there's a good cutout at the sink for instance.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Macblaze

I like the fiddles on my Hunter. Slightly curved inwards... make a great hold.

I like them. And the addition of the handle is clever. Does it present any problems with cleaning the bench at that point?

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by GILow

I like them. And the addition of the handle is clever. Does it present any problems with cleaning the bench at that point?

Ya, I have to get out the toothpick every once in a while, but its no worse that it is behind the faucet etc.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by GILow

Geez guys, I have to bring you back on track a little here.

This is a photo of the sort of thing I am wondering about. The photo is cropped from a larger photo on facebook, from the interior of a very impressive NZ yacht with serious blue-water credibility. Seeing this setup on such a boat reminded me that this was something I was considering for this boat.

I'm kind of late to this party, but I do like that handhold, too. Wingssail is right, one does grab whatever one can. Place your handholds (if they are not already adequate) so they are easy for the smallest crew person to reach. And, I am a great fan of crumb holes, for everywhere except the sink.

Cheers.

Ann

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Bill O

...
Aesthetically, I don't care for the little hand cut outs in the trim, but that's a personal thing. I've made them before on a previous boat and didn't think the extra effort to make the cut outs was any more functional than just sold trim.

This is an interesting point, and given some the alternative methods suggested here for getting a decent grip on the fiddle, something I will consider. Thank you.