I remember when you made them and I am still amazed at the way the old-school sailing methods still work fine if built well. I would not be surprised if 50 boats turn up in the next few months sporting these steps.
Probably. That's kinda how it goes. For instance, there have been a surprising number boats in the Westsail fleet glassing there leaky hull/deck joint after we did ours.
Thanks. The dinghy is doing great, but we are feeling the need to upgrade to something with more range. I think we’re going to be on the hunt for a 12’ “tinnie” so that we can explore more.
Will there be room to store on deck? I bought a digital copy of the plans for the Chameleon after watching you build yours. One of these days! Enjoy your sailing season. Cheers!
I must admit after I saw yours I decided to make one for Roci even though we have a folding swim & dingy step in the stern. I want to be able to use the swim step for swimming, so I decided to use the side entry with the "Sailboat Story Dingy Step" (TM) for the dingy. The only real difference is I am making ours out of wood and it will attach to the stanchions... and I have added sacrificial split Pool Noodles on the hull facing step edges as wear guards. It looks to me like your hull is getting a little wear where the steps rub... or am I seeing that wrong? SOOOOOO GOOD to see ya'll back out there!!! You all look happy and the Sea Rat is a Great boat!!
Ahoy, nice job... I'd suggest to any new builders that the bottom step doesn't need 3 cross planks, 2 will be fine if kept in the same postition as the 3 are now with just the one next to the hull either cut away or left off. Pad the two under planks to save the paint. Save a little weight for handling could be a benifit. ... just thinking out loud.
Thanks so much for this video! I’ve been pausing your other videos trying to get a good view of it. Great idea using the plastic board. I’ve got to run now to the hardware store so I can get busy building mine. Fair winds!
I also spotted your step. Reminds me of our rope ladders we had in the Coast Guard. Good design as it's simple. I met you and your family before your launch in Green Cove. Keep the videos coming.
Great design. I have a platform on my boat made from half inch Starboard. It holds a person's weight just fine over the same sort of span used here. It's half the thickness of this design and should be half the weight for the same size. A strip of gunwale fender attached to the hull side of the steps would protect the boat.
Did you use any kind of padding where the steps come into contact with the hull to protect it from abrasion? Never mind, I just read the comment and response just before mine, question answered.
Thank you very much 😊 I’ll be stealing your design (if you don’t mind). This will help So much for my wife 🤩🤩🤩Love your videos , been following since the beginning. Hopefully we meet up in the Bahamas
Nothing, but it could use something. You can see the paint scuffed off behind the steps. The gelcoat is waaaaay tougher than the garbage paint that's on this boat. When we get back I'll put some kind of rubber pads on the backside. I've also done a rope wrap on the previous step that worked well. Yeah, now that I'm thinking of it, I'll probably do the rope wrap again.
can you climb onto the boat from the water using those steps? something to think about for when you go swimming :-) good idea though, i hate sugar scoops.
is that rope dinghy float line? I have been always been looking for a better yellow line for my jib furler (I don't know why but I insist on yellow on the furler) I bought the yellow dinghy float line they sell for dinghy painters etc and it works fine but has seriously faded over the the past year or so. any insight into some yellow rigging line would be greatly appreciated!
Question, on your steps have you thought of a way to cushion your boat from your steps to prevent Boat damage? I was thinking apply swimming noodels between the steps and the boat side.
I tried noodles, but they detach easily. My first step had a line of holes along the back edge that a rope wrapped through. The rope cushion worked well and I’ll likely do that on this new step as well.
@@womackke The bare, cheap foam of pipe insulation and noodles just doesn't hold up well in my experience. Perhaps if an added canvas cover was made to go over the foam, but the bare foam lives a short life in the direct sunlight, especially further South.
Hmm. Let’s see. Bowline, larks head, clove hitch, rolling hitch, stopper, and 2 others I can’t name. One is like a hangman’s noose, the other is a simple loop tied in the middle of a line. Occasionally I’ve used a truckers hitch for securing things.
Not yet. I will do a rope wrap like our last step had at some point. If the topside paint wasn’t already horrid, I’d be more motivated to do something about it.
@@Sailboatstory What you have looks amazing. I will be using your idea and try to include a swim ladder for getting out of the water. Thanks for the video.
It’s is, but it’s just the garbage topside paint that peels off by breathing on it. I’ll do a rope wrap on the step at some point like I did on our last one. Just not motivated enough to bother with it yet.
I remember when you made them and I am still amazed at the way the old-school sailing methods still work fine if built well. I would not be surprised if 50 boats turn up in the next few months sporting these steps.
Probably. That's kinda how it goes. For instance, there have been a surprising number boats in the Westsail fleet glassing there leaky hull/deck joint after we did ours.
The envy of the anchorage!!!
Funny Bobby noticed it and loved it .. glad u posted how to make it
Thanks 😊
You’re quite welcome, guys.
Put some felt or other weather stripping on the back and it will save your paint on the boat, but nice job looks really good.
I’ll do a rope wrap like our last step had eventually. No worries on the paint, it’s all horrible topside paint that we’ll redo eventually.
Nice steps. Your dinghy seems to be holding.up well too.
Thanks. The dinghy is doing great, but we are feeling the need to upgrade to something with more range. I think we’re going to be on the hunt for a 12’ “tinnie” so that we can explore more.
Will there be room to store on deck? I bought a digital copy of the plans for the Chameleon after watching you build yours. One of these days! Enjoy your sailing season. Cheers!
Yes, there’s room forward of the mast.
Good job on the step Ben
I must admit after I saw yours I decided to make one for Roci even though we have a folding swim & dingy step in the stern. I want to be able to use the swim step for swimming, so I decided to use the side entry with the "Sailboat Story Dingy Step" (TM) for the dingy. The only real difference is I am making ours out of wood and it will attach to the stanchions... and I have added sacrificial split Pool Noodles on the hull facing step edges as wear guards. It looks to me like your hull is getting a little wear where the steps rub... or am I seeing that wrong?
SOOOOOO GOOD to see ya'll back out there!!! You all look happy and the Sea Rat is a Great boat!!
Ahoy, nice job... I'd suggest to any new builders that the bottom step doesn't need 3 cross planks, 2 will be fine if kept in the same postition as the 3 are now with just the one next to the hull either cut away or left off. Pad the two under planks to save the paint. Save a little weight for handling could be a benifit. ... just thinking out loud.
Thanks so much for this video! I’ve been pausing your other videos trying to get a good view of it. Great idea using the plastic board. I’ve got to run now to the hardware store so I can get busy building mine. Fair winds!
You are so welcome!
I also spotted your step. Reminds me of our rope ladders we had in the Coast Guard. Good design as it's simple. I met you and your family before your launch in Green Cove. Keep the videos coming.
Very nicely done
Thanks for the details on the new steps!
Great job (as usual). I hope your trip is going well! AndyK-
Thank you! We wanted a closer look. 👍😎
Sweet step! subscribed...
Thanks for the sub!
I noticed and admired this the first time l saw it; to quote Frank Lloyd Wright: Form follows function; function follows form...
Great design. I have a platform on my boat made from half inch Starboard. It holds a person's weight just fine over the same sort of span used here. It's half the thickness of this design and should be half the weight for the same size.
A strip of gunwale fender attached to the hull side of the steps would protect the boat.
Did you use any kind of padding where the steps come into contact with the hull to protect it from abrasion? Never mind, I just read the comment and response just before mine, question answered.
Thank you very much 😊 I’ll be stealing your design (if you don’t mind). This will help So much for my wife 🤩🤩🤩Love your videos , been following since the beginning. Hopefully we meet up in the Bahamas
Steal away - glad to hear that it will be helpful for her.
Thank you! Exactly what I needed to know
Glad it was helpful!
Ben, What are you doing to protect the gel coat?
Nothing, but it could use something. You can see the paint scuffed off behind the steps. The gelcoat is waaaaay tougher than the garbage paint that's on this boat. When we get back I'll put some kind of rubber pads on the backside. I've also done a rope wrap on the previous step that worked well. Yeah, now that I'm thinking of it, I'll probably do the rope wrap again.
Was gonna ask same thing
High quality excellent job!!
can you climb onto the boat from the water using those steps? something to think about for when you go swimming :-) good idea though, i hate sugar scoops.
No. We use our folding ladder for that. It’s right next to where the step hangs.
The legendary Wicked Salty just posted.
How R those toe rails holding up? Was kinda curious if the motion of the ocean might flex them a bit.
No signs of anything cracking or flexing. Rock solid.
is that rope dinghy float line? I have been always been looking for a better yellow line for my jib furler (I don't know why but I insist on yellow on the furler) I bought the yellow dinghy float line they sell for dinghy painters etc and it works fine but has seriously faded over the the past year or so. any insight into some yellow rigging line would be greatly appreciated!
It's not. Polyester double braid. We use Blue Ox ropes.
Question, on your steps have you thought of a way to cushion your boat from your steps to prevent Boat damage? I was thinking apply swimming noodels between the steps and the boat side.
I tried noodles, but they detach easily. My first step had a line of holes along the back edge that a rope wrapped through. The rope cushion worked well and I’ll likely do that on this new step as well.
@@Sailboatstory /upvote, maybe pin this (your) comment. thanks
pipe insulation plus the line of holes and rope maybe awesome
@@womackke The bare, cheap foam of pipe insulation and noodles just doesn't hold up well in my experience. Perhaps if an added canvas cover was made to go over the foam, but the bare foam lives a short life in the direct sunlight, especially further South.
I wonder how many types of knots you use on your boat.
Hmm. Let’s see. Bowline, larks head, clove hitch, rolling hitch, stopper, and 2 others I can’t name. One is like a hangman’s noose, the other is a simple loop tied in the middle of a line. Occasionally I’ve used a truckers hitch for securing things.
Does that stuff float, or could you build it on down into the water for a swim ladder to?
Is there any chafe protection against the hull?
Not yet. I will do a rope wrap like our last step had at some point. If the topside paint wasn’t already horrid, I’d be more motivated to do something about it.
@@Sailboatstory What you have looks amazing. I will be using your idea and try to include a swim ladder for getting out of the water. Thanks for the video.
Nice
Thanks
Is it possible to board the boat from the water if something was to happen to the dinghy?
Yes.
It looks like it's scratching the boat pretty good.
It’s is, but it’s just the garbage topside paint that peels off by breathing on it. I’ll do a rope wrap on the step at some point like I did on our last one. Just not motivated enough to bother with it yet.
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