thru-rudder boarding step

[JeffM]

Still fussing over boarding ladders.  Current version is 2X2s bolted together;  folds to a longish narrow bundle for storage.  But is a heavy, clumsy thing that would not be quick to deploy in an emergency, and couldn't very well be deployed from the water (in a capsize situation, say).  Reminded by a remark in a Duckworks article comment that people sometimes cut a boarding step in their rudder.  This would solve all of above problems of storage and deployment, but would (I expect) spoil the rudder shape badly and introduce all kinds of turbulence and drag.  (To heave my bulk aboard, its important the step be well below the waterline.)  The colder the water gets, the more urgent the issue.  Anybody have a nifty way of having such a cutout without the down side?

[Ken_Potts]

Maybe if you secure a line with a foot loop alongside the rudder or even on the transom (in either case above the waterline) so it could be easily deployed by a swimmer?  You could augment the loop with a boarding step permanently attached above the waterline.  Then you could swim to the rudder, deploy the (velcro- or bungee-secured) loop and use it to step up onto the permanent step.

[Howard]

Jeff:

Why not use something like the ladder that was used on the first Princess 22?

http://www.bandbyachtdesigns.com/princesspic14.htm

Not too intrusive and always ready. There are also telescoping versions that fold up pretty compact.

[JeffM]

Thanks for the ideas.  Actually, I already have a rope boarding ladder (Duckworks), that leaves me lying on my back half under the boat, so I am wanting something rigid that won't swing under the boat when I put my foot into it.  Since the transom is already pretty busy (motor mount on port side, name and fixed boarding step on starboard), I'm hoping for something unobtrusive and foolproof. 

[Mike Vacanti]

I saw this article on Duckworks a while ago, http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/columns/rob/index5.htm. Another builders interpretation, http://xoomer.alice.it/renlione/Slipper2/scaletta.htm. This design looks easy to build and strong, I don't know how easy it would be to actually use to board the boat.

[Charlie Jones]

same basic ladder we used on the second one built- Travis's Pilgrim-

[JeffM]

Thanks, all!  I'm beginning to catch on that cutting a hole in my rudder might not be the best idea...

[Peter HK]

Jeff

A variation on your original thought of a hole in the rudder blade is a horizontal shelf on one or both sides a bit like a cavitation plate on an outboard. You could even tell people that's what it's for (to prevent cavitation) and that it's the latest go-fast concept

Ian Farrier suggested this for transom hung rudders on the F series trimarans where cavitation/ventilation is sometimes a problem especially as the main hull starts to lift.

If it were nicely faired in then I suppose it wouldn't disturb the flow much- but the nonskid on the upper surface wouldn't help. Bit of a problem when the rudder isn't fully down though. Also, might put too much strain on the rudder/box assembly.

Peter HK

[JeffM]

Good thought.  Some of Phil Bolger's boats feature just such a T-shaped rudder cross section, making rudder area more effective so that a rudder can be shallow enough for thin water without need for kicking up.  But I think it would be difficult to make the end plate strong enough to support my weight, and of course I'd want it to go deep enough to be used conveniently--which means it would have to kick up!  Oh, well...