Ladder or Stairs?

[Chasing Summer]

The last thread I started got a lot of stumilating posts. Let's see what I we can do with this one. ... hey, I'm a submariner .. they don't have stairs.

Ladder: Pros - takes up way less cabin space
- hand rails all the way up on both sides all the way to the top ... bet you stairs don't have that
- your heels don't slide of when you're going down
- if place right you don't have to move it to winch items out

Cons - you can't turn around to come down like stairs
- if you're a stairs person there's a big hole where the stairs should be
- you're friends think you nuts

Stairs: Pros - easy to go up and down
- easy to go up and down ( is that all you got?)

Cons - they take up a lot of valuable cabin space
- very easy to slip and fall on your @$$ and bruise your coccyx. (ok, your tailbone) ouch... that smarts ... sore for 2 weeks

OK ... now all of you fill in all the other good and bad reasons for one or the other.

[Kettlewell]

Stairs with handholds is the way to go. When it's calm you can go up and down carrying stuff--try that on a ladder! When it's rough, you use the handholds and still have better footing too.

[Stumble]

I am with Kettle. Try carrying groceries down a ladder a few times.

[itreboR63i]

I only have 2 steps

[nigel1]

My dog cant do ladders, good on the stairs though.

[onestepcsy37]

- your heels don't slide of when you're going down

i only wear my heels with my tight black skirt, and then i find that the skirt makes it doubly difficult to go down the ladder.

[onestepcsy37]

actually, on our boat there are only three steps and they're wide and broad. i put rubber non skid panels on them for safety. there are handholds and other places to hold on to when going up/down. since the space they occupy is part of the engine cover i don't feel like i've lost any space at all.

[Chasing Summer]

Maybe I should mention that I Chasing Summer I 6, yes 6 steps. I haven't fastened anything in place yet. I'm just toying with the idea. Part of the stairway is over the engine. The stairs block good access to the area under a very large bridge deck, which housed the after berth and my little workshop.
As for heels, Onestepcsy37, ah ... I rarely wear my tight black skirt. hee hee
For groceries simply use a small cargo net with a purchase line attached to the boom. Ever watched a crew load stores down a submaring hatch?
I do agree with all of you. Steps are much more convenient.

Good comments ... let's see what others think

[onestepcsy37]

we looked at an endeavour 40 some years ago. the owner had completely equipped it for cruising, then was diagnosed with some serious stuff and had to sell her. my wife loved the boat except for the vertical six step ladder - the only way in and out of the boat. she couldn't see herself scaling that ladder a couple dozen times a day, and neither could i.

[goboatingnow]

In my one experience. If you slip off a ladder you fall all the way to the bottom. If you slip on a stairs you just might not go all the way to the bottom. The best companionways are a stairs and two proper sidewalls with hand rails , all the way up.

Also ladders are more tiring to climb. And require you to use yours hands all the time.

Dave

[saw77]

My dog also votes for stairs. Actually he votes for a lift but he's not gonna get one.

[thinwater]

Not all people can physically do a ladder.

Try a ladder with a sprained wrist. With any more serious injury evacuation becomes complicated.

Statistically far more falls on ladders than stairs, though if you add motion and heel I suspect this might swing the other way, depending on the stair in question.

---

I understand ladders. I like ladders. What gets me is a ladder as sole access on a $500,000 yacht, where space in not a factor, being marketed to folks with "experienced" knees, who are only getting older. I suspect they are loosing sails at every boat show. Beautiful boats I am certain my wife would not be able to enjoy.

[markpierce]

Stairs are definitely safer and more easily traversed. Ladders (requiring both hands) save space, but I try to avoid them particularly when the boat is moving.