Swim Step(s) on a CD22 twin.

[Grumpy]

Some of you guys were lucky enough to get the swim step designed by Les at EQ.

Now it appears that the people who make the brackets will not do less than an order of 6-8 sets at a time.

Does anyone have an alternate solution and/or is there enough interest here to get a minimum order batch going ??

Merv

[starcrafttom]

what does this swim step look like? I bought my boat from les but the swim step came from the factory ,I think?

[Sea Wolf]

[Roy and Lucky]

That's a pretty nice swim step. What's the going price. I might be interested.

[ffheap]

You can but a swim step that will work on the newer (post 86 ) 22' C-Dory's at West Marine. They only work on a perfectly flat transom.

Fred

[ffheap]

Sorry, not "but" but "buy".

[Grumpy]

Thanks for the inputs guys. Fred, do you happen to know which model # from WM ??

Merv

[Alyssa Jean]

I'm pretty sure the type he is talking about is the ladder type that hooks to the top of the gunnels and hangs down the side.

They are about $160 at the Bank of WM.

[Swee Pea]

This summer my wife took a dip in the Potomac and even with the factory swim step, had some difficulty finding the first step to get back on board. The factory swim step is installed on Swee Pea. Reading this thread and doing some searching, I found that the factory uses a Garelick 19522 two step folding ladder. Come to find out that Garelick makes a three step ladder that matches (19533). I have an email in to them to see if it in fact will "swap out" and store the same as the two step. Just wanted to know if any of you Brats have the Garelick three step and if it is worth the $145 at www.boatfix.com ?

My best to all

John
Swee Pea

[Sea Wolf]

My general conclusion is that most of us need an extra rung or two as we get older.

It's not much fun finding your sunken center of mass is more than a little below the first crossbar, and the days of hoisting yourself up with your upper body strength have gone South along with that same center of gravity.

So unless we're planning on limiting ourselves to the geriatric underwater limbo, getting back into the boat requires a foothold further down the ladder to push up the old bod with our legs, which are the primary muscles we can still use to push ourselves upward and aboard.

It's also of paramount importance to practice this maneuver in warm water under non-emergency practice conditions, so that you can find out exactly how many additional rungs are necessary, if at all.

It might be possible to add one rung of rope tied onto the existing ladder to extend it's range, but rope ladders don't have the stability of rigid ones, the rope swinging away under the boat partially with your weight rather than providing you with the firm foundation to push yourself upward.

Joe.

[Sawdust]

Gee, Joe,

Which arm do you use when you pull yourself aboard without a ladder? I'm a lefty

Dusty

[Sea Wolf]

Dusty-

Well, I certainly don't anymore, but when I was younger, say up about 40-45 or so, we would hoist ourselves back into a capsized dinghy sailboat after righting it by reaching up over the side of the boat and gunnel and down to the hiking straps next to the floor, then just pulling ourselves back up over the gunnel and into the boat using the straps as holds.

As we got older, it became necessary to climb from the centerboard over the side of the boat and step into the boat as we righted it from the horizontal knocked down position, using our weight on the centerboard as a lever to upright the boat.

At my age and condition now, however, I might as well just pull the turtled dinghy over on me and make it my burial at sea coffin! Ha!

Never did need or try to get into a power boat without a ladder, though!

Joe.

[oldgrowth]

[ffheap]

Sorry I did not answer the question as to which plat/form ladder that is needed. Somebody else did. I once purchased a swim platform/ladder for my 22' 1983 C-Dory. Because the transom is curved, it would not work and I took it back to the store. I now have an extension ladder which gets a little harder to use every year.

I do need a platform if I am going to go to areas that demand docking stern-to like Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. Rather than make a whole new platform that was explained in another thread a while ago, I am going to try and make one with the help of my Son-in-law who is a marine mechanic and has access to all the pipe bending tools that would be needed, a platform that would fit on the ladder so I can use it when I need it. It would be needed if I go south in that some marinas have stern-to docking only for boats of our size.

One thing I have noticed is that it gets a little harder to climb the ladder each year. I am going to add a handle on the stern deck so it will be easier. My ladder is permanent mounted so if I fall overboard, I can get back aboard.

Just another idea.

[Sea Wolf]

fheap wrote:

"One thing I have noticed is that it gets a little harder to climb the ladder each year. I am going to add a handle on the stern deck so it will be easier. My ladder is permanent mounted so if I fall overboard, I can get back aboard."

Don't let this idea slip by! Having an adequate ladder is one thing, but you may need additional handles above the ladder and waterline to safely pull yourself aboard, especially in choppy seas.

Again, try out your set up long before you need it.

Also, when considering the alternatives between various ladders, platforms, hoists, etc., be sure to have a plan for how to get back on board BY YOURSELF. Many of the removable ladders are not available when you accidently fall overboard alone. The detachable side mount ladder does you no good stored up in the v-berth or under the engine well when your up to your neck in water on the bounding sea looking up at your former command!

Joe.