Any of you stuck working on a boat for...

[Sumner]

...extended times in a yard with it on stands. We found ourselves working and living on the boat at the same time while on stands. On top of that Ruth had a couple foot operations that made it somewhat painful dealing with an extension ladder.

To help her and myself I made a ladder for about the same price as a cheap extension ladder...



...and it is way easier on the feet and is a lot sturdier and easier to climb. You can make it in less than a day.

The mod is here for anyone interested....

Endeavour 37 Outside Mods page 1

We used it for 3+ months living and working on the boat and it was a great investment of time and money,

Sum

[Nicholson58]

For your deck height, you could easilly use a step ladder which has broad flat steps. Turn it 90 degrees and tie off to a stanchion. Really nice ones are made with a hand rail and top platform.

[Sumner]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

For your deck height, you could easilly use a step ladder which has broad flat steps. Turn it 90 degrees and tie off to a stanchion. Really nice ones are made with a hand rail and top platform.

I did look at them and the better ones, still without hand rails/platforms were well over a $100 and still not as stable in the gravel there as this ladder is. Still something that might work well for some,

Sum

[delmarrey]

I know what you mean extended times! Mine was on the hard 95% of the time for 10 years. Just went out for a few weeks in the summers. The rest was rebuilding the boat.
Were I was a lot of the people built stairs..... Some with a door and used as a storage shed.

.

[Ex-Calif]

You know you have a project boat if...

You build permanent installations around it!

[GaryMayo]

The Occupational Safety and Health Adminastration has a label on all ladders sold for use in the USA . While your ladder may be wider, stronger, more stable on the ground and rungs more comfortable, should someone get hurt using your home made ladder, your insurance will bail on any claim made and OSHA will fine you enough, you could purchase 5 37' sailboats.

Interestingly, ladders are to be used then put away. If OSHA sees a ladder leaning anywhere someone is not currently using it, ten grand fine. That according to my business property landlord.

Maybe build a proper set of stairs with a platform and stair rails. Hate to see one of you tumble and fall or get OSHA riled. I use a scissor lift working in or around my boats. Makes any job easier. Like having an elevator at the jobsite.

[MysticGringo]

Well, no wonder why it's taking so long... you're busy building ladders.

We stayed on my boat on the hard for a week while I sanded and painted the bottom. I had to fireman carry my dog up and down the ladder. Boat didn't feel right not moving. Felt so much better once we had her back in.

[sharkbait2035]

maybe its darwinism.... if you can't work a ladder, should you really be sailing?
and where to you stow your scissor lift while underway??
nice ladder Sumner, wish I'd thought of that while we were in the yard for a year and change, best I managed were homemade saw-horses!

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

For your deck height, you could easilly use a step ladder which has broad flat steps. Turn it 90 degrees and tie off to a stanchion. Really nice ones are made with a hand rail and top platform.

That's how I got on and off when I lived "on the hard" on the boat. It was a rolling staircase with broad steps, much easier and safer than a ladder.

The night the winds went up to 45 mph I could feel the boat "wiggling" on the stands, and I did throw in the towel that night and go to a motel. Logically I did not believe the boat would fall over, but each little noise was magnified by the hull and it was completely unnerving for me.

[GaryMayo]

Originally Posted by sharkbait2035

maybe its darwinism.... if you can't work a ladder, should you really be sailing?
and where to you stow your scissor lift while underway??

I seldom ride bicycles, so I should not drive a car?

I use the lift while working on the boat in my business parking lot. When I sail, I use a slip

Globally, 1000 workers die daily, and falls is very high on this list. In the USA over 600 people a year die while working on ladders and scaffolds.

Ladders are very dangerous and anytime one is working on one, there is a need to be careful.

While I appreciate the desire of Sumner to make a better mousetrap, all ladders are inheriantly dangerous. I am just asking everyone to be careful around ladders. I personally rarely touch the contraptions.

My marina has started wrapping sailboats and they are using ladders. I grabbed a trailer and took them two portable stairs with arm rails and wheels to roll them. Like the ones used to stock high shelves at box stores. I use them around my art studio because they are safer than ladders. I also use something called a crown wave and two scissor lifts. Tools can make the workplace safer and more efficient.

The crown wave is like a go cart that has an elevator built in it. Great tool. Purchased it at a government surplus auction for cents on the dollar. Got to love uncle Sam.

Check out that photo of the Asian 3 stooges using the ladder. This guy will be fine, while the next guy on a four foot ladder breaks his neck.

[Bash]

Lovely. Thanks for sharing your mods--it's nice to see a craftsman take such pride in his art.

[Sumner]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

....The night the winds went up to 45 mph I could feel the boat "wiggling" on the stands, and I did throw in the towel that night and go to a motel. Logically I did not believe the boat would fall over, but each little noise was magnified by the hull and it was completely unnerving for me.

We had some of those nights, especially when Debbie was hanging off the coast and the boat was vibrating on the stands. We just figure that it does it if we are there in it or not, so we just go back to sleep. The next morning all of the boats are still on their stands.

There was a tornado, not big, one day about 6 miles from the boat in North Port. We didn't even know about it until a couple weeks later. After that I told Ruth if we see a funnel cloud we are in the Suburban and off down the road.

Our worst night/couple days was on Lake Powell....

08-09 Sailing Lake Powell page 9

...in over 50 mph winds. I can't imagine what some of you guys have gone through that have crossed oceans though. Getting too old for that, I think I'll stick to my ladder .

Thanks Bash and I like the "how to tell a project boat" , Hopefully we can maybe pass the ladder on to someone else this next year ,

Sum

[SunDevil]

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Check out that photo of the Asian 3 stooges using the ladder. This guy will be fine, while the next guy on a four foot ladder breaks his neck.

Attachment 48485

I see your ladder photo and raise you this one. I wonder if they took a photo of the aftermath.

If you are going to be spending months on the hard, wouldn't it be better to build stairs out of stringers along with handrails?



Although I think they sell precut ones like this:

[rebel heart]

I for one think they look lovely.

[s/vfootloose]

Every boatyard I've been at has ladders. 2'x4"x12' with 1"x4" nailed to the front. If I was to be at a place for a while and wanted something wider I think I would do the same thing but add a 1"x4" to the back then add a 1"x 6" between the 1"x4"s. 20 bucks at Home Depot a circular saw, hammer and 30 minutes and your done.