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Author Topic:   13 Whaler Transom Step

rhysleo posted 02-07-2012 05:20 PM ET (US)
Hey, would anyone recommend one of these for a 13 Whaler to put on the transom of an '85 13 whaler?
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/products/9201-transom-step-handle.html

tjxtreme posted 02-07-2012 07:00 PM ET (US)
I'd be worried about the stress of someones body weight torquing on the screws and letting water into the precious transom wood.
Perhaps you can talk the Transom Saver guy into making an extra thick one for you to step on?
Tohsgib posted 02-08-2012 01:42 PM ET (US)
Just use the engines cavitation plate.
rhysleo posted 02-08-2012 03:58 PM ET (US)
I've heard from many people that using the cavitation plate puts much stress on the engine, and even in some cases people have actually badly broken their cavitation plate because of that, so definitely a no.
Tjxtreme, what do you mean by making an extra thick one? Wouldn't that still put the same amount of pressure on the transom because the weight of the person will still be the same? I'm not really sure what you mean.
Thanks
tjxtreme posted 02-08-2012 04:06 PM ET (US)
Oops I meant Stern Saver... but it was just an idea. Looking at their website they don't recommend for heavy loads, even though I thought I remember him saying it was so strong you could stand on it.
Tohsgib posted 02-08-2012 04:14 PM ET (US)
You would have to be one fat son a gun to break a cavitation plate. So fat that a 13' would not plane your your gargantuan arse in it ;)
Seriously it does not hurt anything. When you initailly stand on it the water absorbs all the stress and the boat sinks down. You then swing your other leg over and climb in. Hardest part is all the junk in the stern of the boat you need to climb over. Personally I think climbing in sans anything is at the stern SIDE(just aft of the stern twart) of the boat is the easiest way. As soon as you grab and start to lift the rubrail is pretty much water level.
rhysleo posted 02-08-2012 04:44 PM ET (US)
Did some more research on using a cavitation plate as a ladder, and I guess I was wrong. They even have swim platforms that you can attach to your cavitation plate!
But still, does anyone else have any opinions on this product? Thanks
Tohsgib posted 02-08-2012 09:50 PM ET (US)
Do as tjextreme recommends. Years ago I thought of adding oneof those foldup swim steps(6"wide) to my 13 but I decided against it. If you do try one, make sure your screws and everything is bedded in and sturdy.
andygere posted 02-09-2012 12:40 AM ET (US)
Your 13 draws something like 6" of water. I doubt that you could mount that little step low enough on the boat for it to be of any help at all. Your leg would literally be over your head to get your foot on the step. The anti cav plate works great, and it's low enough to actually get a foot on.
Russ 13 posted 02-09-2012 01:38 AM ET (US)
I would have to go with stepping on the cavitation plate.
With the engine turned off, of course.
The 13's hull is not deep enough to mount a regular small
swim platform with step.
Plus the reinforced part of the transom is only in the center, where the engine mounts.
I don't see 1/4 inch fiberglass supporting a platform mount, or ladder mount, without eventually tearing out.
Basshole posted 02-09-2012 01:53 AM ET (US)
rhysleo-If you are interested in making a custom Stern Saver for your step please let me know. I am curious to see if the Stern Saver can hold up to those kinds very heavy loads. I can stand on the ones on my boat, but I have not put the kind of pressure you would put on it, if you were thrusting yourself out of the water with your foot on a step mounted to one. That takes a pretty solid bond and I am up for the challenge.
Our adhesive has tensile adhesion strengths of 2500 depending on the surface and how well it is prepared. The Stern Saver has 3 square inches of adhesive contact area which can theoretically give you 7500lbs of tensile adhesion. I doubt we actually get that much in the real world but that is way over kill anyways. One thing we can do is increase the number of threaded wells in the block which would increase the adhesion area of the block.
This would be great for testing the shear strength of the bond that the Stern Saver makes with the gel coat.
One thing is for sure, I would not want to mount that step by drilling and screwing it directly to the transom.
I'll make you a deal, I'll make you a custom one for the price of the standard Stern Saver and if it falls off I'll completely refund you your money.
Binkster posted 02-09-2012 07:34 AM ET (US)
I wouldn't screw anything to the stern of a 13 footer that you were intended to stand on. Its all foam backing in that area anyway. I would go with basshole's proposal.
Tohsgib posted 02-09-2012 03:50 PM ET (US)
Honestly with that much strength just from adhessive I would be worried the gel would crack off, maybe even some mat. You guys are right though..step would be too high to get up on anyway if over your head in water.
Nevek posted 02-10-2012 02:53 PM ET (US)
Basshole's stern saver is a top notch product but I agree, any step on the transom is going to be too high to be that useful anyway.
pcrussell50 posted 02-10-2012 10:26 PM ET (US)
Based on opinion from a different thread, isn't it considered a design defect, if a company makes a swim ladder that close to the prop? And aren't you negligent, if you install it?
Myself, I like to use the A/V plate... but not when the engine is running. I do have 3 1/2 years boating experience to draw upon, so don't you guys try it yourselves.
-Peter
phillnjack posted 02-18-2012 04:11 PM ET (US)
what about those fold down steps that attach to the engine mounting bolts ?
The ones ive seen fold down and can take a lot of weight and dont get in the way when folded back up.
why not Just get a hang over the side type ladder and use it on the back, can easily be folded out the way and can be used anywhere round the boat if you need to.
phill
Tohsgib posted 02-20-2012 11:29 AM ET (US)
The boat is only 6" off the water behind the stern twart. If you can get out of a pool without a ladder, you can get into a 13' Whaler.
rhysleo posted 02-21-2012 05:25 PM ET (US)
Wow, some good advice. I guess putting a step on the transom would be to high to make it easy to step on, so I'll give a shot at using the cav. plate on the outboard. Getting ready to start working on the boat before boating season, so you might see me asking a lot of questions on here. Thanks :)
Tohsgib posted 02-21-2012 10:08 PM ET (US)
Put a piece of non-skid tape on the plate if you are concerned about slipping off.

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Author	Topic: 13 Whaler Transom Step
rhysleo	posted 02-07-2012 05:20 PM ET (US) Hey, would anyone recommend one of these for a 13 Whaler to put on the transom of an '85 13 whaler? http://www.westmarine.com/buy/products/9201-transom-step-handle.html
tjxtreme	posted 02-07-2012 07:00 PM ET (US) I'd be worried about the stress of someones body weight torquing on the screws and letting water into the precious transom wood. Perhaps you can talk the Transom Saver guy into making an extra thick one for you to step on?
Tohsgib	posted 02-08-2012 01:42 PM ET (US) Just use the engines cavitation plate.
rhysleo	posted 02-08-2012 03:58 PM ET (US) I've heard from many people that using the cavitation plate puts much stress on the engine, and even in some cases people have actually badly broken their cavitation plate because of that, so definitely a no. Tjxtreme, what do you mean by making an extra thick one? Wouldn't that still put the same amount of pressure on the transom because the weight of the person will still be the same? I'm not really sure what you mean. Thanks
tjxtreme	posted 02-08-2012 04:06 PM ET (US) Oops I meant Stern Saver... but it was just an idea. Looking at their website they don't recommend for heavy loads, even though I thought I remember him saying it was so strong you could stand on it.
Tohsgib	posted 02-08-2012 04:14 PM ET (US) You would have to be one fat son a gun to break a cavitation plate. So fat that a 13' would not plane your your gargantuan arse in it ;) Seriously it does not hurt anything. When you initailly stand on it the water absorbs all the stress and the boat sinks down. You then swing your other leg over and climb in. Hardest part is all the junk in the stern of the boat you need to climb over. Personally I think climbing in sans anything is at the stern SIDE(just aft of the stern twart) of the boat is the easiest way. As soon as you grab and start to lift the rubrail is pretty much water level.
rhysleo	posted 02-08-2012 04:44 PM ET (US) Did some more research on using a cavitation plate as a ladder, and I guess I was wrong. They even have swim platforms that you can attach to your cavitation plate! But still, does anyone else have any opinions on this product? Thanks
Tohsgib	posted 02-08-2012 09:50 PM ET (US) Do as tjextreme recommends. Years ago I thought of adding oneof those foldup swim steps(6"wide) to my 13 but I decided against it. If you do try one, make sure your screws and everything is bedded in and sturdy.
andygere	posted 02-09-2012 12:40 AM ET (US) Your 13 draws something like 6" of water. I doubt that you could mount that little step low enough on the boat for it to be of any help at all. Your leg would literally be over your head to get your foot on the step. The anti cav plate works great, and it's low enough to actually get a foot on.
Russ 13	posted 02-09-2012 01:38 AM ET (US) I would have to go with stepping on the cavitation plate. With the engine turned off, of course. The 13's hull is not deep enough to mount a regular small swim platform with step. Plus the reinforced part of the transom is only in the center, where the engine mounts. I don't see 1/4 inch fiberglass supporting a platform mount, or ladder mount, without eventually tearing out.
Basshole	posted 02-09-2012 01:53 AM ET (US) rhysleo-If you are interested in making a custom Stern Saver for your step please let me know. I am curious to see if the Stern Saver can hold up to those kinds very heavy loads. I can stand on the ones on my boat, but I have not put the kind of pressure you would put on it, if you were thrusting yourself out of the water with your foot on a step mounted to one. That takes a pretty solid bond and I am up for the challenge. Our adhesive has tensile adhesion strengths of 2500 depending on the surface and how well it is prepared. The Stern Saver has 3 square inches of adhesive contact area which can theoretically give you 7500lbs of tensile adhesion. I doubt we actually get that much in the real world but that is way over kill anyways. One thing we can do is increase the number of threaded wells in the block which would increase the adhesion area of the block. This would be great for testing the shear strength of the bond that the Stern Saver makes with the gel coat. One thing is for sure, I would not want to mount that step by drilling and screwing it directly to the transom. I'll make you a deal, I'll make you a custom one for the price of the standard Stern Saver and if it falls off I'll completely refund you your money.
Binkster	posted 02-09-2012 07:34 AM ET (US) I wouldn't screw anything to the stern of a 13 footer that you were intended to stand on. Its all foam backing in that area anyway. I would go with basshole's proposal.
Tohsgib	posted 02-09-2012 03:50 PM ET (US) Honestly with that much strength just from adhessive I would be worried the gel would crack off, maybe even some mat. You guys are right though..step would be too high to get up on anyway if over your head in water.
Nevek	posted 02-10-2012 02:53 PM ET (US) Basshole's stern saver is a top notch product but I agree, any step on the transom is going to be too high to be that useful anyway.
pcrussell50	posted 02-10-2012 10:26 PM ET (US) Based on opinion from a different thread, isn't it considered a design defect, if a company makes a swim ladder that close to the prop? And aren't you negligent, if you install it? Myself, I like to use the A/V plate... but not when the engine is running. I do have 3 1/2 years boating experience to draw upon, so don't you guys try it yourselves. -Peter
phillnjack	posted 02-18-2012 04:11 PM ET (US) what about those fold down steps that attach to the engine mounting bolts ? The ones ive seen fold down and can take a lot of weight and dont get in the way when folded back up. why not Just get a hang over the side type ladder and use it on the back, can easily be folded out the way and can be used anywhere round the boat if you need to. phill
Tohsgib	posted 02-20-2012 11:29 AM ET (US) The boat is only 6" off the water behind the stern twart. If you can get out of a pool without a ladder, you can get into a 13' Whaler.
rhysleo	posted 02-21-2012 05:25 PM ET (US) Wow, some good advice. I guess putting a step on the transom would be to high to make it easy to step on, so I'll give a shot at using the cav. plate on the outboard. Getting ready to start working on the boat before boating season, so you might see me asking a lot of questions on here. Thanks :)
Tohsgib	posted 02-21-2012 10:08 PM ET (US) Put a piece of non-skid tape on the plate if you are concerned about slipping off.