If you cut a section out do you think adding a 'gate' would help hold rigidity? Either with a length of tubing or a length or lifeline wire. Then it could be removed when going through and replaced to hold rigidity the rest of the time.
-Ivan -----Original Message----- From: "Bob" <[email protected]> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:52:15 To: <[email protected]> Subject: [IC27A] Re: swim ladder upgrade Hi Richard, My '76 has the single rail pulpit, as does yours, I believe I had considered cutting out the center section as well, but decided not to. With the pulpit removed from the boat, the whole unit displays a surprising lack of rigidity. I believe it gains rigidity because is is in tension when mounted, and cutting it would remove much of that tension. Instead I split the backstay to clear the area. I even attempted to remove the center chainplate, but was unable to loosen one of the bolts due to lack of access. I applied non-skid tape to the top of the transom, and learned to step over the rail, while my kids learned to go under it. Bob Stockley Sundance #2436 --- In [email protected], "Richard and Judy Bell" <randj...@...> wrote: > > I have purchased the "stern mount" ladder from Catalina Direct with the > intentions of mounting on the transom of my 1974. I was thinking of cutting > the stern rail and capping the tubing some way. My concern is that the rail > may not be sturdy enough once it is split into two pieces. Has anyone done > a similar upgrade? Did you do anything special to strengthen the rail? > > > > Richard Bell > > 1974 Trad TR Atomic 4 >
