Ladder for bow?
- Thread starter bobliz
- Start date
gulfcoast john
New member
Bobliz,
You haven't been posting here much, so you may not know that Bob Austin is our 'go-to' C-Dory expert, and he's owned a TC255 as well. Bob has been to Powell many times and we never have. It looks rocky in many areas, not sandy.
Like you, I've thought about this issue and driving the 255 up onto a soft sand beach with a front ladder. The upside is that I already have an Armstrong dive ladder for the back that could be switched around to the front with the right Armstrong platform mount, as long as it didn't stick out past the rubrail (where it could catch on pilings etc). However, the bow safety railing makes it a really athletic affair to get past the railing and down a ladder... we had to give up half marathons in 2007 and aren't athletic any more. My ladder would be a perfect length, but I just can't make it work getting around the bow rail to get down the ladder without contortions worse than yoga.
The 255 has a beauty of a bracket so you can back up into ankle to calf deep water and most likely a safety railing to help you out (ours was the only one I've ever seen without that railing until we had one custom installed last year). That would be a much safer and more practical option if you're over 30 years old. Others would throw you a line and pull you in. I'd say cut and raise one engine, and use the other partially raised to carefully back in towards the rocky shore. Your chain rode would pull the boat back away from shore after you disembark safely from the stern bracket.
I respectfully await Bob Austin's take on your best options.
PS agree life is short, but we like Black Box Chardonnay even though it's fairly cheap. First Exposure at a Miami Boat Show circa 2001.
Can't wait til we retire next July!
John
You haven't been posting here much, so you may not know that Bob Austin is our 'go-to' C-Dory expert, and he's owned a TC255 as well. Bob has been to Powell many times and we never have. It looks rocky in many areas, not sandy.
Like you, I've thought about this issue and driving the 255 up onto a soft sand beach with a front ladder. The upside is that I already have an Armstrong dive ladder for the back that could be switched around to the front with the right Armstrong platform mount, as long as it didn't stick out past the rubrail (where it could catch on pilings etc). However, the bow safety railing makes it a really athletic affair to get past the railing and down a ladder... we had to give up half marathons in 2007 and aren't athletic any more. My ladder would be a perfect length, but I just can't make it work getting around the bow rail to get down the ladder without contortions worse than yoga.
The 255 has a beauty of a bracket so you can back up into ankle to calf deep water and most likely a safety railing to help you out (ours was the only one I've ever seen without that railing until we had one custom installed last year). That would be a much safer and more practical option if you're over 30 years old. Others would throw you a line and pull you in. I'd say cut and raise one engine, and use the other partially raised to carefully back in towards the rocky shore. Your chain rode would pull the boat back away from shore after you disembark safely from the stern bracket.
I respectfully await Bob Austin's take on your best options.
PS agree life is short, but we like Black Box Chardonnay even though it's fairly cheap. First Exposure at a Miami Boat Show circa 2001.
Can't wait til we retire next July!
John
Brent and Dixie have the best answer (as always). We do prefer stern to the beach, if the engines can come up enough. (Ours did). The reason was so the dog could get off easily--but she swims, and loves it...
The bow ladder as in Discovery is the best answer, beside their dog is lighter than a nerf ball!
Have fun at Powell. A few times we have gone stern to rocks or a ledge under water, but 95% of the time it has been sand or fine gravel.
The bow ladder as in Discovery is the best answer, beside their dog is lighter than a nerf ball!
Have fun at Powell. A few times we have gone stern to rocks or a ledge under water, but 95% of the time it has been sand or fine gravel.
Thanks to all of you for your input! Our problem is solved ... Thanks Roger, looking forward to getting that bracket on and trying it out at Lake Powell towards the end of this month. Think we will go back to Lake Powell if there's a gathering there! Would love to see how all you Tomcat owners have done up your boats...always looking for new ideas! Bob and Liz on Catfish :thup