Transom Steps on Catamarans

[beiland]

I’ve seen all of these ‘grand stairways’ to the sea that incidentally most often offer no handholds to grab onto….fine at the boatshows, but not at sea. I much prefer to walk down my more narrow, indented steps with something to hold onto, or lean against rather than fall over the side. Besides I don’t need a big width of steps to stroll down side-by-side.

While attending the Annapolis Sailboat Show and took a couple of photos of these two different sterns that illustrate my point. Which one would you rather negoiate, particularly at sea?

[multihullsailor6]

What cat has the top row of steps? It appears to have much narrower hulls than the lower cat (Lagoon ??? I believe).

[mikefp60]

It is partially a factor of the width of your hull. I like ours but we don't go down them when we are at sea or in any kind of rough conditions. The width makes it easy for one person to hold the dink and others to get past them or pass up provisions.

[44'cruisingcat]

Neither looks all that good to me.

[mdsilvers]

A good read on this exact topic...


Steps « Catamaran Concepts

[Tropic Cat]

I've seen some transom step designs that completely lift up to provide engine access. Makes for interesting trips into the engine space in any kind of a sea.

[Cotemar]

Hand rails are very easy to add. Ours came with one and we added another.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post347093

Mark

[Palarran]

mdsilvers - That's a good photo of a cat in a storm or near storm conditions.

[Abaco]

The Leopard 47 has a nice transom step that is wide enough for two people to sit side by side. Great feature when you are swimming off the stern at anchor. Also, on a long trip in following seas, it's good for sitting on the bottom step while underway and letting the waves flow over the bottom step. It felt great on a summer day. We did end up adding a line across your waist to keep from getting dragged off the boat.

[David M]

There are lots of solutions out there....
https://www.google.com/search?q=boat...w=1509&bih=971

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Palarran

mdsilvers - That's a good photo of a cat in a storm or near storm conditions.

Roger Simpson designed "Ramtha" in the 1994 Queens Birthday Storm

Queens Birthday Storm 1994 - HMNZS MONOWAI
Jetsam

[Cheechako]

Both look very convenient to me. The hand rail is a nice thing though. Although unless taller it wouldnt get used except when sitting! I always felt more secure on the Cat back steps than on a mono's side deck, even with the lifelines!

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Tropic Cat

I've seen some transom step designs that completely lift up to provide engine access.

The last place you would want an engine.

[Teeto]

I definitely go for the first transom. Much easier to pull your dingy up parallel to the hull and get off onto the inside cutaway. Especially in a strong tidal flow.
Handrails are essential if you actually want to retrieve that MOB.
I suppose they could be a little wider so you have room to scale that huge fish!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by cat man do

The last place you would want an engine.

My lagoon was that way and I wouldnt have it any other way personally.