Permanent Dock Steps

[TopHattandTails]

O.K. - this is a dumb one - at least for the DIY'ers on the site. I'd like to make a set of permanent dock steps on my dock, which is a wall dock (port side tie). The idea would be to make a set that were 36"s high x 36"s wide. The length is unimportant. I'm envisioning a setup that would have a side entry (up the steps parallel to the port side - fwd climbing aft). at the top of the 36" height I like to have a small deck / landing area. The landing would be 48"s long (fore to aft) and at least 48"s deep (from edge of the boat to outer edge. I'd also like to have about an 18" - 24" overhang over the water so I don't have a 2' gap to navigate after cocktails or with older passengers. Anyone have any well thought out plans or pictures? This will be permanent and could be move about 30' for winter storage, or I can leave sit. It should be heavy enough not to blow away, and I would like Trex or some other no-maintenance set up. It needs to look REALLY professional (naturally). I'm electrically inclines and wood working just doesn't come out well for me... Even better - a nce deck / step out of fiberglass would be great with a $200 budget. What say 'yee?

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I've made them out of treated lumber before. It's not that hard. Just pick up some 5/4 deck boards for the treads and some 2x8's for the risers. A drill and a skill saw is all you need.

Your budget will not allow for anything else unless it's used and you find a deal.

 

[OBXTucker]

Don't forget the big box of galvanized deck screws!
Very doable on the $200 budget. I'd recommend cutting it off-site and assembling on the dock. It's going to weigh a ton once it's put together. You can add 4 - 6 galvanized angle brackets to the bottom to keep it place.

 

[REBrueckner]

Nothing will stay put in strong enough winds; whater you do, fasten it with screws to the dock....

all fiberglass marine dock boxes are foolishly expensive.....

An option: put a dock box on top of a lower box of pressure treated lumber....
I did that because the three step fiberglass box I had was not high enough..so I built about a 12" high "platform" and screwed the fiberglass dock box on top of it....

 

[eze2bme]

Building the steps is easy. I made mine using treated 4x4's for corner posts then 2X6's for top framing and 2X12's for step stringers. I used 6" decking for the top platform and top of steps. Everything bolted and screwed. For a little "extra" I was able to design the steps around a plastic two-door storage unit from Lowe's which just fit under the top of the platform. Like you I have the side access to the boat and made handrails around the top platform and down one side of the steps. I used angle brackets and secured the legs to the dock. If you want some pictures send me an email to: eze2bme@aol.com

 

[bobk]

I Don't know where you are, but don't forget to take the tide rise into consideration if it is large.

Bob

 

[TopHattandTails]

Tides aren't a real concern on Lake Erie. We do get wind tides and can go up or down a few inches to a foot at times. I took measurements throughout the season last year and 36"s will do it just about perfect. However, late in the season (September+) we can loose water real fast (last year we had a couple seiche's and it went down 6'). I'm going to build 34's high - which will allow the up and down pretty good, I think. I don't think we'll have more than a 7"-8" up and down most of the season (which is a comfortable riser height). At that height I have the top riser of the treads even with the platform - so if its not tall enough, I can re-mount the steps to use the platform as an additional 6" riser to boost me up another 6"s. I was wondering how to make it water proof inside for storage - love the mini storage shed inside the steps idea. If I don't have room - I can still probably use large tupperware containers inside the step. Nailing to the dock will be difficult - its a gravel parking area. I might be able to run a 2x4 across the dock poles and mount to that. Otherwise - I'll be looking for some sand bags to put inside.

Now- what ideas to "jazz it up"? Went with pressure treated platform and stringers. No decision yet on treads and risers. Maybe just pressure treated deck lumber with a stain and non-skid mixed in? Go with Trex and paint the other wood? Ideas???

 

[Vincentc]

I designed a set of steps which have worked well for me. It used 1+ sheet of 3/4 plywood and 1/2 sheet of 1/2 plywood, fg tape, epoxy and HD hinges. Total materials would be in your range.

The hinged "drawbridges" drop down for access and swing back to allow clearance. Our tide range here is about 2.5 ft.

The steps are attached to the dock decking and the step enclosure allows for protected storage. Let me know if you would like more details.

I'm kind of proud of my Idea. Has anyone seen steps like this before?

Regards,
Vincent

 

[stilespb]

Home Depot has precut stringers of pressure treated pine and gavlanized carriage bolts to use to hold things together well. Picture of my set attached. Be careful of the water overhang you mentioned. My set is VERY heavy but I can still drag it around on our wooden docks.

 

[TopHattandTails]

looks great. Yah- the water overhang will be tricky. I've got 36" ball bumpers that keep her off the dock. So I've estimated that an 18" overhang is the max I wan to go - so when she is pegged against the dock, I'm still clear. I can always move the steps away from the boat as well (a wall dock onto a parking lot - so plenty of room). Going to box them in and create storage underneath. Might even put a length of dock bumper along the overhang edge - just in case. A (terrible) thought occurred to me that I might enjoy a coat or two of stain and sikkens gloss with nonskid mixed in for a nice added touch. If I don;t do that, I'll just put some skateboard non-skid tape along the steps and landing. This will be a great place to keep extra power cords adapters, hoses, 5 gal oil buckets, cleaning supplies, and soda wash...

 

[stilespb]

My set is just 24 inches wide; just a tad less than half out finger pier; 48 inches tall. A water overhang would not really work for me. Good thing I do not need one. If you hang out 18 inches you may need to bolt down or brace or both to keep from tilting over and smashing you boat.

 

[TopHattandTails]

Rethought the overhang- not gonna work. With my angle of entry into my slip, it will just be a question of when and not if I hit 'em and/or the steps go swimming. What a pain that would be to dock on top of... No overhang. But we will have 54" wide steps and low voltage lighting in them.

 

[Vincentc]

Regarding overhang,
I wonder if you missed my comment regarding the fact that the walkways are hinged. When not in use they swing back on on to the steps, and nothing extends past the edge of the dock.

I may have misled you, posting only phots with the walkways extended out toward the boat.
Regards,
Vincent

 

[Phildm]

Vincent,

I really like your design. I have a similar problem I am trying to find a solution to. I have a floating swim dock next to a pole mounted fixed dock that has the slip my boat is in. I currently use a vertical ladder to get down to the swim dock. Sometimes the swim dock can be 6 to 8 feet lower than the fixed dock. I would like to implement your design for stairs mounted on top of the swim dock running parallel with the swim dock and fixed dock finger - swim dock is 6ft wide and 20ft long. Can you tell me what the width, depth and length are of your steps? What did you use inderneath for bracing? What do you estimate the weight is of your complete setup?

Regards,
Phil

 

[Boatnut]

Home Depot has precut stringers of pressure treated pine and gavlanized carriage bolts to use to hold things together well. Picture of my set attached. Be careful of the water overhang you mentioned. My set is VERY heavy but I can still drag it around on our wooden docks.

Very nice set of steps, I'll bet if anyone ever occupies the slip next to you, they will surely appreciate them.

A guy in our marines pulled that same step idea, he also hogged up the dock, when the marina asked him to remove them, he got pretty snotty with them, they tossed him out, and now he lives in another marina, without the stairs, as he attached them to the dock, and had some kind of problem removing them.

 

[Vincentc]

Phil,
I do not recall the measurements, but can get them.



The only bracing is the 1/2 inch plywood. It is stiffened by its shape and held together with 2 part epoxy and fiberglass cloth. I used 18 ga stainless brads to hold it together until the glue set up.





I would guess the weight to be about 70 lbs.

 

[mdshore]

wow thats some crazy looking steps .function over form to say the least

 

[SportFishCruising]

I've seen Home Depot & Lowes mentioned in previous posts; I have those brand stores locally and it's competitors. I forget which one I actually used but - I went to them with the measurements and a penciled out idea. They put it on their computer, printed out a finished design with instructions to build, and a list of materials of what I needed AND delivered it to my site when I built my home decks.

It was amazingly easy and was a first time project for me; 20 years later, still standing

 

[Vincentc]

wow thats some crazy looking steps .function over form to say the least

Designs from scratch result in add on's. the primary purpose was to provide safe access for our elderly parents. The steps had too much rise without the additions. The vertical tabs, a bad idea but don't hurt anything but aesthetics.

The steps have not only provided safe assess but allowed me to carry stuff on and off the boat easily. A second build would be prettier but no more functional. It has worked for me, and if the post helps someone find a solution, that pleases me more.

Regards

 

[zigzag930]

I know this is an old thread, but any "new" original ideas? Our 58LRC is between 48 and 82 inches off the dock (in height) to the boarding door. I do have a 7 step Marquipt, but it is too short at high tide and I don't like keeping it permanently attached.

Thought about a setup like that dual step platform, but adding steps that rise up from the below platform. Been fooling around with steps that are a box inside a box design that are flush with deck when down, but raise up on pulleys. Might work, but seems a bit complicated and haven't worked to all the details.