Interior ladder

[NiceAft]

A great concept.

The brace across the top adds strength to both the sole of the cockpit, but also the right side of the ladder to be secure when bolted.

When the ladder is closed and bolted, it equals the purpose and strength of the original equipment.

Ray

P.S. The Mac appears to be the very early which didn’t have the sliding galley.

[apsaunders]

I would love to do a mod that would gain access to the aft berth through the ladder area.

On the port side I want to keep the galley free to slide to enlarge the cabin area. If I use our butane burner, I don't want the galley slid forward. I want all that heat and steam going through the hatch. Climbing through the port side is difficult to say the least.

On the starboard side is where we keep our huge Yeti Cooler. It pretty much blocks the entrance. Even if you do manage to get back there, when you turn and see the ladder in the way, you start wondering if you can get back out.

If I could move that ladder, I would too. Even if we didn't sleep back there, think of how easy it would be to access that rear area as a storage area. I sure hope someone can come up with a reasonable answer and mod.

[BOAT]

This is a mod worth doing - as we get older it's harder to get around back there - mods like this can allow us to enjoy our boats into more advanced ages.

I am going to mod that ladder - it's going to happen but I need help. Some one who knows all about pipe bending and metal strength and stuff like that. I don't mind being the guinea pig and spending the money and time to mod this and come up for a solution for all so the rest of you can do it right the first time without wasting your money.

The best idea I can come up with is to use the same metal pipe that the ladder is made of - or maybe a size larger, and bend the entire thing into a giant C shape sort of like this:



And use that as the starboard leg of the ladder - that C brace would take the place of both the port and starboard ladder rails and allow you to build and insert any ladder you want in there and manipulate that ladder as you please.

I don't know if metal tubing is that strong - someone with knowledge would need to school us on the strength of metal tube. If the tube is a no go the only thing I can come up with is a submarine brace like they use in submarines to brace the outer hull from the inside:



It would need to be made from heavy iron and welded - and again a a lot more engineering involved.

[NiceAft]

BOAT said: “It would need to be made from heavy iron and welded - and again a a lot more engineering involved.”

I’m sure iron is not the answer on a boat. Some non ferrous metal would be a better choice. There must be some strong material that would suit the purpose.

Ray

[BOAT]

Could it be made from aluminum? Does anyone know how to weld aluminum?

I think I could design an aluminum brace that could go in there made from flat stock - you know - cut the pattern from (1/8"? 1/4"?? how thick should it be?) and then weld the pieces together.

Is that a hard thing to do? I can cut aluminum pretty good with my power tools - even thick stuff. But WELDING aluminum ?? ?? no way I could do that - I can't even weld a coat hanger with a torch - I'm still trying to learn how to solder! All my solders fall off on to the floor in little siver balls.

[kurz]

hmm... yes the ladder $ucks...

How about having some big things like this:
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=ht ... mrc&uact=8
If prepared well you just open all and take the whole ladder COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE. --> then all free. When back, bolt it tight and it will hold...

[Highlander]

Alum flat bar won,t b strong enough maybe1/4"x4x2 alum angle , but I,d go with 1 1/4" S/S Tubing would b more appealing to the eye,s


The S/S 1 1/4" bar u see in this photo I picked up 6 of these all still wrapped in factory paper brad new for about $10. each at an Marine used store
this is what u could use the top fitting is round with a 3 hole base same as the bottom plate one is vertical while the other one is horizontal

J

[BOAT]

Stainless Steel tubing eh? That sounds like a great idea - what is the stuff they used on the original ladder? Is that SS Tubing?

I can get some pretty big SS tubing bent in the big C shape by someone - I will find someone.

I think the bottom part can bolt right up to the original holes and bolts - the top - not so much. The top will require some tricks.

I will need to figure out how to connect the top. - I need to go out into the boat and make some measurements.

Once a good brace is in place creating an unobstructed access to the rear it's anybody's game what the ladder looks like - you could use a solid ladder door that swings up so people can't walk in when the ladder is up, or re-use the original on a hinge - or recreate a completely new one - the possibilities are endless . . .

In regards to the stability of using tube - I really son't think torsioning is a big deal in that area - so if the tube TWISTS it would not be a big problem - it's really gonna depend on the strength of those bends - will the bends hold firm or will they give a little (or worse - give a LOT).

Steel plates welded with gussets and brackets are stronger but I like the idea of using tube - it has a better appearance.

[Highlander]

orginal ladder is 1" s/s tubing

[BOAT]

Okay John, I made edits before your response - I will talk to "people" about bending 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inch SS tubing and see what the torsional tolerances are for a span of 5 feet.

If the fix is that simple we could make a cheap remedy available to all.

[Highlander]

Any stainless steel fabrication shop that doe,s marine work will have the necc die,s to do the work but u will likely b on the waiting list as a fill in job

I went out & bought one of these when it was on sale for $165.00 but it only goes up too 1"
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/ ... -p8708067e

J

[Highlander]

proto type of my next project







if I go thru with this it will b 7/8" s/s tubing

J

[Hamin' X]

This is the company that made the original ladder and other SS parts for Roger: https://railmakers.com/

~Rich

[kurz]

Maybe the following was easier: Put a stron tube from top to botom, fiexed, just for supporting structural loads, on the one side of the ladder.

Then, as long as you dont have to think anymore about the loads of the cabin/traveller, you can design just a ladder, thads folds in an easy way.

[Highlander]

My major concern is safety if someone goe,s down takes the ladder out of place goe,s for a Knapp an emg. happens crew needs to get down there for what ever reason asap ! person down there get,s injured due to what ever happened & can,t put the ladder back into service mode & seeing that most emg. happen in the worse weather it becomes a bad situation turning into confusion pretty fast if u do not have a well trained crew , on my boat I have 4 safety grab bars to use for exiting or entering the cabin I also have 5 more from the V-Berth thru too the ladder

Just sayin that,s all

J