26m Ladder Mod

[curtis from carlsbad]

I've got an idea I'm going to implement soon. I carefully watched my feet as I was going up and down the ladder from the cockpit to the cabin. I discovered that I only use one foot at a time on each rung (stair). I only rarely stand with both feet on one stair to peer out of the cabin facing aft . Then I eyeballed the width of my foot (shoe on) as it was on the stair. It took up only about one third of the inner (usable) flat part of the wooden stair. When I descend, I only use the heel of my foot on the stair and it is relatively narrow compared to the front of my foot. When I ascend, I only use the front part of my foot and it is narrower than the ball. So why in the hull would I have to stare at the other unused two thirds of that width as I'm seated in the below ! And why in the hull should I have to become a contortionist just to get to my rack (rear Queen berth ) like in my old submarine days !? I'm gonna take that ladder apart, saw off two thirds of each of the three wooden stairs, and affix and reinstall the port side vertical attachment rail resulting in a fixed ladder one third the width of it's former bloated self. The ladder will therefore be slightly off the centerline to stbd. I sat at the forward dinette seat facing aft and envisioned the line of sight that would be opened up to the rear part of the queen bed. I layed down in the rear berth and eyeballed/envisioned this mod and decided it was nearly a criminal act not to do this. The newfound access looks incredible. You guys are the superego and I am the id and ego. Can anyone talk me out of this mod ?

[pokerrick1]

Someone may talk to you about structure - - - the ladder is important structurally!

Rick Less

[Currie]

Hi Curtis,

I did this mod - http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1173 - which has been great. You're idea sounds very cool (as long as your happy with the width). I would definitely take Rick's comment into consideration. When I pulled my ladder to do the mod, the companionway immediately sagged about 1/4". It also felt very weak with my weight on it. I was very careful to make sure the modified ladder was the exact original height and was also firm and secure when the ladder was closed and in place. IOW - it still supports both sides of the companionway. I'd give some consideration to making your ladder offset, but still curved and welded so as to support both sides of the companionway.

Hope that helps. Sounds like a cool project!

~Bob

[Calin]

I have moved mine sideways towards port.

[Octaman]

Hi guys and Greetings from Athens,

I agree on the structural aspect.
The companionway does cave-in when the ladder is removed.

I will not disagree on width to suit you, although I feel wider is safer.

Most importantly though, whichever way you decide to go, I think the ladder should be centered regardless of the width. Failing to do so may provoke an accident when coming down. If the ladder is not centered and you are coming down in a hurry, you (or someone else) may miss it and fall. And it will be a nasty fall.

I would definitely keep it centered.

-------

I have made mine to be removable. I only take it off when I am safely tucked in a berthing in a port. This gives me totall access to the after berth and we love it. However, if we are at anchor it stays on so that I can get up and out in a hurry if I need to; and back down safely with one eye shut.

Hope this helps.
Happy sailing.\

[mastreb]

The companionway will flex when people are on the starboard side of the cockpit without the support under it. You might consider simply moving the ladder to port, such that the starboard ladder post is now centered, then putting the port post as far to port as possible, and then shortening the rungs to fit.

Or do what I did and stop sleeping in the aft berth. The Admiral and I both fit on the dinette berth as it turns out. Didn't think we would, but we tried it and it worked great. Now we put the monkeys in the back berth, and they prever contorsions.

Matt

[BOAT]

Dear Captain Currie,

Your companionway and aft berth mod is the nicest thing I have ever seen. I am inspired to do something but I too fear in regards to the structural support.

I saw that your bulkhead mods go from the hull all the way up to the roof – is that not enough to hold the cockpit from bending??

I’m surprised to hear you cite structural concerns with your mod – if you open the ladder and someone sits on the port side cockpit will the ladder still close?? Does it still bend even though you have erected sturdy bulkheads in either side of the cockpit entrance??

[Calin]

Hi guys and Greetings from Athens,

I agree on the structural aspect.
The companionway does cave-in when the ladder is removed.

I will not disagree on width to suit you, although I feel wider is safer.

Most importantly though, whichever way you decide to go, I think the ladder should be centered regardless of the width. Failing to do so may provoke an accident when coming down. If the ladder is not centered and you are coming down in a hurry, you (or someone else) may miss it and fall. And it will be a nasty fall.

I would definitely keep it centered.

-------

I have made mine to be removable. I only take it off when I am safely tucked in a berthing in a port. This gives me totall access to the after berth and we love it. However, if we are at anchor it stays on so that I can get up and out in a hurry if I need to; and back down safely with one eye shut.

Hope this helps.
Happy sailing.\

In my case moving the ladder sideways 4.5 inch is enough to access the aft berth. The ladder width is 16 inch so the center line of the entrance is still well on the ladder.

[BOAT]

I am really at odds with that part of the setup - I loved the openness of the MAC with the single row of black windows: (the X?) lots of light and big windows. The M looks better on the outside with the double row of windows and that bend in the deck for the second row of windows does indeed make the deck a lot stronger. I can feel the difference from jumping on the single black line deck and the double black line deck. But I have an M now and I fear that if I enclose the rear berth it’s really going to close in. I think the key is to do something with that damn galley - I have not yet figured out what I'm gonna do - but there are going to be changes. I need a lot of time to think on it - but that ladder is DEFINITLY going to be changed in some way to provide better access to the rear berth.

[mastreb]

I am really at odds with that part of the setup - I loved the openness of the MAC with the single row of black windows: (the X?) lots of light and big windows. The M looks better on the outside with the double row of windows and that bend in the deck for the second row of windows does indeed make the deck a lot stronger. I can feel the difference from jumping on the single black line deck and the double black line deck. But I have an M now and I fear that if I enclose the rear berth it’s really going to close in. I think the key is to do something with that damn galley - I have not yet figured out what I'm gonna do - but there are going to be changes. I need a lot of time to think on it - but that ladder is DEFINITLY going to be changed in some way to provide better access to the rear berth.

Two bolts and the galley comes completely off, unless you've plumbed it with a water system. If you don't use it, you could just leave it in the garage.

I wouldn't do anything more structural than curtains to close off the aft-berth. It's tight inside the M.

[BOAT]

I was sort of coming to the same conclusion the longer I look at it. I think one mod I might make there is to make the backrest on the rear dinette a fold down (you know, like the old jeep-seat) so it's easy to just fold down the backrest and go in and out.

I'm coming up with a few more ideas as I look this thing over. It's critical to not add weight, so I am reluctant to get into any real bulkhead mods. (Although, I am going to change how the door on the head works to accommodate my wife and daughter).