I keep my CD27 in a slip. Real nice spot but there is no float involved with the slip. The tidal changes can be rather severe at certain times making getting on and getting off something more fit for acrobats than ordinary sailors. The dock surface can be quite a bit higher than the transom (or bow for that matter) which makes it almost impossible to get off. I'd like to install a boarding ladder down the face of the bulkhead so when the tide is low people can simply climb up or down the ladder as needs be. This is a marina so I suppose a permanent installation would be frowned upon (really shouldn't be). I also think I'd like a ladder where the lower rungs could be folded up to the upper ones...otherwise the lowers, constantly in water would collect barnacles and slime. Has anyone else with this tidal problem used a "ladder" approach to solve it? If so, which ladder? What length? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Warren Kaplan
CD27 "Sine Qua Non"
hull #166 (1980)
Setsail728@aol.com
Boarding ladders
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Ken Coit
Re: Boarding ladders
Warren,
We have a similar situation. At high tide, it is only a foot down to the deck, at low tide it is four plus. We also have a covenant against making structural changes to the piers, but many have in order to accomodate a ladder. Since our slip is on the main pier and at the very foot of it, I am in a very visible location. What I have done is to purchase a removable aluminum ladder that is intended to be used on the gunwhale of a power boat. It has two small brackets that can be permanently screwed to the deck of the pier. It needs support somewhat down the ladder to keep it from swinging under with someone on it. My plan is to put a brace on one of the pilings that the ladder legs (or perpendicular posts) can bear on.
The advantage to this is that it is light, will fold flat for storage, does not have to be left in place, leaves very little evidence behind, and can also be used as a secondary boarding ladder for the boat at the gates. Our fixed ladder is on the transom and there is no gate, so one must climb over the lifelines. That is easy for the nimble, but not so great for some of us.
If you have a more rugged but removable installation in mind, there are steel raft or dock ladders that mount either permanently or on a bracket. I think those run about $130 at Overton's. Try the link below for a start.
http://www.overtons.com/cgi-bin/overton ... ?spec+2M2B
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
Ken Coit
S/V Parfait CD-36 #84
Raleigh, NC
parfait@nc.rr.com
We have a similar situation. At high tide, it is only a foot down to the deck, at low tide it is four plus. We also have a covenant against making structural changes to the piers, but many have in order to accomodate a ladder. Since our slip is on the main pier and at the very foot of it, I am in a very visible location. What I have done is to purchase a removable aluminum ladder that is intended to be used on the gunwhale of a power boat. It has two small brackets that can be permanently screwed to the deck of the pier. It needs support somewhat down the ladder to keep it from swinging under with someone on it. My plan is to put a brace on one of the pilings that the ladder legs (or perpendicular posts) can bear on.
The advantage to this is that it is light, will fold flat for storage, does not have to be left in place, leaves very little evidence behind, and can also be used as a secondary boarding ladder for the boat at the gates. Our fixed ladder is on the transom and there is no gate, so one must climb over the lifelines. That is easy for the nimble, but not so great for some of us.
If you have a more rugged but removable installation in mind, there are steel raft or dock ladders that mount either permanently or on a bracket. I think those run about $130 at Overton's. Try the link below for a start.
http://www.overtons.com/cgi-bin/overton ... ?spec+2M2B
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
Ken Coit
S/V Parfait CD-36 #84
Raleigh, NC
Warren Kaplan wrote: I keep my CD27 in a slip. Real nice spot but there is no float involved with the slip. The tidal changes can be rather severe at certain times making getting on and getting off something more fit for acrobats than ordinary sailors. The dock surface can be quite a bit higher than the transom (or bow for that matter) which makes it almost impossible to get off. I'd like to install a boarding ladder down the face of the bulkhead so when the tide is low people can simply climb up or down the ladder as needs be. This is a marina so I suppose a permanent installation would be frowned upon (really shouldn't be). I also think I'd like a ladder where the lower rungs could be folded up to the upper ones...otherwise the lowers, constantly in water would collect barnacles and slime. Has anyone else with this tidal problem used a "ladder" approach to solve it? If so, which ladder? What length? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Warren Kaplan
CD27 "Sine Qua Non"
hull #166 (1980)
parfait@nc.rr.com
-
Warren Kaplan
Re: Boarding ladders
Ken,
Thanks...I'll look at Overton's. West Marine's catalogue also has many "dock ladders" or boarding ladders that might fit the bill. Take a look.
Setsail728@aol.com
Thanks...I'll look at Overton's. West Marine's catalogue also has many "dock ladders" or boarding ladders that might fit the bill. Take a look.
Setsail728@aol.com