OLDER

Big dave

Big dave

Member
As we age, we are starting to notice it is a little bit harder to climb in and out of our 22' C-Dory using the stock step that is molded in from the factory.
Have any of you "maturing" brats come up with any ideas or is it just me and my knees that refuse to bend like they used to.
Any pictures or links would really help me out.
Thanks.
Dave.
Raven Dancer.
 
Dave I'm only 31 and I dont understand the molded step at all, it seems pretty difficult to use.

Tim and Betsy of C-Chantey have an ingenious setup using a step ladder on their boat. I'll email them and see if i can find a picture.
 
Hi Dave:

Please check out my photo album in the "Enhancements" folder. I made this a couple of years ago. I used readily available parts and it is working out well.

Best regards,
 
I have a cooler that's a bit higher than the built in step. I usually just drag it over to whichever side I want to step up on and use it. It's my fishing chair too.
 
We have a simple white plastic folding two step stool usually available at Wal mart, etc. for about $20. It opens up into an A-Frame shape. Ours has lasted for more than 6 years and makes things easier.
 
mgarr682":1ej88su8 said:
I have a cooler that's a bit higher than the built in step. I usually just drag it over to whichever side I want to step up on and use it. It's my fishing chair too.
Click to expand...

thats actually what I use, i'm just afraid I'm going to break it eventually.
 
Here is what I did for steps, I can put them on either side.

Works good at a dock but not good for me when coming up a stepladder when on the trailer.

Bill Kelleher

Steps.thumb.jpg

Sorry for the small size, it took me 15 minutes just to get the picture here. LOL
 
That's what we had on our 22 and 16. It's made by Garelick and, while pretty pricey, you can put brackets on both sides of the boat and use it in both places.

Charlie
 
rogerbum":zyd1vemm said:
Here's a large version of the same image

Steps.jpg
Click to expand...
Yup, that's what I installed after about 5 years and now I wonder why it took me so long before I bought it. It makes a world of difference, especially on these older, aching knees! :wink

BTW, I found a good price online and WM matched it so not too pricey.

Peter
 
Dave;
In a like fashion I have added these steps made of SS hardware and marine lumber to Sea Angel's inventory. I bought duel mountings so I can move the step ladder to either side, also.

This was purchased as an option when I bought the CD25 from Cutter Marine [2004] for $141. It does store easily in the V-Berth.

The CON to this is: I do find that with the camper back in place it is a challenge to move to the gunwales to go forward, but fine to get to the docks in they are a floating type.

This is a link to my album -

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php

Art
 
DuckDogTitus":1pkib8ga said:
mgarr682":1pkib8ga said:
I have a cooler that's a bit higher than the built in step. I usually just drag it over to whichever side I want to step up on and use it. It's my fishing chair too.
Click to expand...

thats actually what I use, i'm just afraid I'm going to break it eventually.
Click to expand...

Good luck. I've got two 48 quart Igloos I've been using for step ladders since the mid 80's. I've had to replace the hinges and drains a few times but they still hold me up. The 96 quart Igloo bought in the mid 90's still holds me up too but it's just a teenager.
 
My best boating buddy (aside from the wife) is our 140 lb mastiff dog with a bad case of hip dysplasia.

We use the cooler trick too at the dock, and havent heard a compaint or wimper out of her yet. She's just happy to get invited. I also really like the higher step of the cooler when returning from the bow when messing with the anchor or dock lines.

We bought a big pelican cooler with rubber feet, and i bet it could double as a jack stand for our tow vehicle. Its not breaking! My lower back is another story, damn that heavy cooler!
 
Here's the photo of what Tony on Cview did (looks nice!). I had seen it once before in the albums (but could not remember where) and it's what came to mind when I first read this thread. His photo caption reads as follows:

My solution to the big step in getting in and out of the cockpit. Added a second step attached to tray below gunwale and supported by two vertical members. Wood is purpleheart which is one third price of teak and weathers to look like teak.

IMG_0430.sized.jpg
 
Tony (on C-View),

My wife had spotted your solution to the 'step problem' a few months ago. Currently we're using a cheap plastic step ladder that can double as a seat. I don't see this as a permanent solution. I was not sure how you secured your ladder to the boat-and I was wondering if you installed one on each side of the boat? Is it epoxied to the fiberglass step on the boat and somehow secured to the side? At some point I may like to duplicate this or one of the other solutions on the site.
Regards,
Jack Howell
 
Jack,

My solution is totally put together with bronze wood screws. Three screws go through the bottom step into the top of the fiberglass step provided by the manufacturer. The top step is secured by screws from the inside of the ledge into the wood. It is important that the vertical pieces are cut to the proper length and installed so that they carry most of the weight put on the top step.

I installed the steps on both port and starboard. On the starboard side, the bottom step has to be shaped so that the cabin door can open fully.

As a side note, if you look carefully at the picture, you'll notice that I drilled a drain hole in the molded in step provided by the manufacturer. I was surprised to find one of the steps filled with water.

Tony
 
Hi my names Jimi from the 16 cruiser Ocklawaha Queen down in Fl. I'm 59 and have a muscle disorder that is effecting me from the waist down.
My muscles are very tight and I am simply limited in range. Everything I'm going to suggest won't require a trip to ACE or West Marine those are my stores by the way :thup .
I now have to rethink most of my moves, if I approach things with my mind of when I could do these moves with speed it's easy to become discouraged :cry . So now I rethink my moves :idea as to what I am able and make it work. To enter my boat I always sit on the dock first swing my pitiful legs into the boat first then with my arms I slide my weight on to the rail of the boat, then it's just inches before I drop my weight into the boat. Going up and down really is difficult so I go to a lot of effort to get as much done while I'm in that position. My upper body is what enables me so I'm hopeing yours will be able to accomidate you.
I always plan my moves with something I can pull myself with. Example my marina has 4X4 rails that hold the roof up, the marina alowed me to put lag bolts in the rails to lift myself up. I'm not telling you to adapt my pysical moves because everybodys body is of course different.
I'm suggesing you adapt you pysical moves to your current abilities and be joyful for what you have because it's "Just Like Sands in the Hour Glass" :rainbow All the best with your moves. With :love Jimi
 
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