Association Forum - Companionway steps/ladder question

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Companionway steps/ladder question

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Rick Evans
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
38 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/06/2003 : 19:00:44

When sleeping in the aft berth, the darn companionway steps/ladder hangs down. I've got to crawl around it to get out of the berth to use the head. I thought about using a bungee cord to keep it elevated but it prohibits the head door from opening. Has anybody come up with a solution to this?

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

Members Avatar

880 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2003 : 21:42:46

I just stand on the fuel locker, but then you would have to put the ladder down for that also!

Is that with the pop top up? Just wondering how high it will pivot. I've been thinking about a hook or something myself but never got around to it.

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk
<img src="http://www.members.aol.com:/benraye/pictures/fullsail.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - ben - fl on 04/06/2003 21:44:55

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2003 : 21:49:34

When the pop-top is up, with or without the pop-top cover on I use my adjustable boat hook and lay it crossways for the steps to sit on. Doing this allows the head door to be opened. I don't think there is a way to do this with the pop-top closed and still operate the head door.

Bryan Beamer
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc23b3127cce9462f2858f2b0000001010" border=0>
Daylight Again
C250wk #495

Edited by - on

DavidCardoza
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
9 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 13:56:03

With the top up including the canvas and the bar. We bungee the stairs to the bar that crosses over the companion way and this keeps it well out of the way of everything. The stairs on the WK fit nicely in the overhead space created.

Edited by - on

Rick Evans
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 22:12:41

Talk about feeling really, really stupid. I never thought of raising the ladder with the pop top up. I had only tried it with it down and, as pointed out by Bryan, it won't work. Next time I'll raise the top and I'll be able to get out of the berth easier. My wife calls the after berth the MRI Chamber since it does have some rather obvious space limitations. Thanks for your suggestions, guys.

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 22:30:43

I raise the ladder up and rest it on the open head door. I used a bungee a couple of times and the weight of the ladder overcame the bungee in the middle of the night and I woke with a bang. With the ladder resting on the top of the head door you can easily get in and out of the berth but you do not get to close the door to the head unless you lower the ladder. We rarely sleep with the pop top up since it is either to cold or to hot in central Texas and we either have our heater or AC running. March and April are the only months we can have that Spring like temps and Rain in the night often keeps the poptop closed...,
Steve

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc32b3127cce94d57c8cff3b0000001010" border=0> Moon Chaser #385WK <img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/forum1.gif" border=0>

Edited by - ssteakley on 04/07/2003 22:32:00

Edited by - on

Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2003 : 23:00:14

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I raise the ladder up and rest it on the open head door. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

The only concussion I have suffered to this point of my life was from doing that. I crawled out of the aft area forgetting the door was holding the steps up I pushed the door and WHAM right on the back of the head.<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> I had a headache for 3or4 days. I will never use that technique again.<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> We rarely sleep with the pop-top up since it is either to cold or to hot in central Texas and we either have our heater or AC running. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Don't you have a pop-top enclosure? I use mine in the fall, winter & spring. Had it up in some bad rains and never had a leak.

Bryan Beamer
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc23b3127cce9462f2858f2b0000001010" border=0>
Daylight Again
C250wk #495

Edited by - on

zebra50
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
408 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2003 : 21:15:10

You are all lucky. I have the WB and our stairs are not moveable

Jay
Papa's Boat II
250WB #370

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2003 : 08:59:58

Ouch Bryan!...
I am always aware when the ladder is propped up but the Admiral may not be so I am changing my ways immediately<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>! When I go to the boat this weekend I am going to create some type of sling that will be reliable and simple to deal with, perhaps some 1/2" width web strapping with a loop at each end which could slid over the ends of the pop top supports and the leg/s of the ladder
any other ideas??
Steve

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc32b3127cce94d57c8cff3b0000001010" border=0> Moon Chaser #385WK <img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/forum1.gif" border=0>

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.