somebody is gonna fall overboard

[chriscraft254]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Longer rods and a braid harness, issue solved. And if you are pulling in a 800 pound sturgeon, you might want a bigger boat.:facepalm:

Seriously though, if you are looking to modify the boat, you could put rails on the inside of the gunwales like the ones that are in the stern on port and starboard sides in the pic . It could extend inward to give you something more level to lean against and could pobably be hinged to fold down. Think it would be simple for a fabrication shop to do and it could be welded to the aluminum hull and paint matched..

 

[island mike]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Stand up gear is what I think of too,But then again you left a lot of questions about your boat unanswered..difficult to answer your question,Maybe try sitting down..

 

[sschefer]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Actually the toe kicks are the right solution. I had them in my North River but don't and wish I did in my JetCraft. With your toes under the rail you're held back just enough from the gunwale to make a difference. It's a lot like standing at your kitchen counter and I never once felt like I would loose my balance and go over. The JetCraft is another story, I tend to get up tight on the gunwale and even a momentary loss of balance makes me feel like I could easily go over. I've got some 3/16 5052 H32 and time so I'll probably make some and weld them in before the season kicks off.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Something like this, take the bar thats circled in brown, have two made to point inward into the hull as long as you want them made. Position them where the red lines are, like I said, could be folding with a lock pin.

You could also use the aluminum safety bars they make for showers for the elderly. I have installed 100s of them in showers. They come in lengths all the way up to 5 ft I think.

Or go with the toe kicks like I suggested earlier.

 

[sschefer]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

What you have to be careful about when adding in rails or grab bars is normal access like when trying get in or out at the dock. Stepping out over a rail and dropping in two feet can be a bit of a challenge. I've got a cooler behind my passenger seat and I cus it everytime I have to dock on that side. Problem is, it's the best spot for it so I live with it. I guess you could learn to live with the rails if the benifits outweighed the risks.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

What you have to be careful about when adding in rails or grab bars is normal access like when trying get in or out at the dock. Stepping out over a rail and dropping in two feet can be a bit of a challenge. I've got a cooler behind my passenger seat and I cus it everytime I have to dock on that side. Problem is, it's the best spot for it so I live with it. I guess you could learn to live with the rails if the benifits outweighed the risks.

Yup, thats why it would be nice if they folded down with a locking pin.

 

[lingcod]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Stand up gear is what I think of too,But then again you left a lot of questions about your boat unanswered..difficult to answer your question,Maybe try sitting down..

haha, you have never been hooked up to an 6-800 lb fish before. sitting down just wont work. I will see if I can find an actual interior pic of my boat. the one above is the same make but slightly different model. I do like the idea of the inside rails. this would be better than a 6" cushion on the boat.

here is a pic of my boat. stern looking forward. I think I like the idea of the rails inside. might be a little tough on the thighs though.
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2012-Northwest-218-Ht-Lightning-O-B-101583696

 

[fishrdan]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

My 18' Crestliner has the same issue and I don't feel 100% secure while leaning against the rail. I'm not fighting fish like this, but trying to stick them with a gaff or something else that has me leaning against the gunwale. I've almost fallen in while on the hook, in calm waters, leaning against the rail,,, and one of my kids runs to my side of the boat....

I think the best solution is to add a thick coaming pad. I haven't done this as the lip on my gunwales isn't very big, about 2", not much to mount a thick coaming pad too... CC254's suggestion of a mounting a bar would work, but I wouldn't want to be leaning up against a tube like that in pitching seas or fighting a HUGE fish, it could leave a nice bruise.

Maybe we just found another use for pool noodles on a boat...

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

haha, you have never been hooked up to an 6-800 lb fish before. sitting down just wont work.

The main problem is that your boat wasn't designed for you to fight these type of fish, meaning it wasn't designed to have people leaning over the gunwales with a force pulling them towards the water. If it were, those gunwales wouldn't have such a slant. I know that I'm playing Captain Obvious here, but it's important to set that tone. You are looking to modify your boat for a use different than intended and/or compensate for a poor design if that was the boat manufacturer's intent.

All of that said, I would go with any kind of a side or top rail. It looks like you've got diamond plating on top of the gunwales, which suggests to me that this is wear passengers embark and disembark. Unless a rail folds completely out of the way, it is impairing safe entry and exit from the craft.

I also don't think that rubber mats (my original suggestion) or grip tape is going to solve the problem. You've got a balance problem due to the side angle, not a shoe grip issue. The solution is to either find a way to straighten the sides, either using removable cushions or to consider an anchor point. You could use ropes/straps to keep people more upright when fighting a lunker, but then you have trip hazards in the boat. I really think that your only solution that will work, outside of a better-suited boat, is to change the angle of the sides with a cushion or other removable apparatus.

You also need to make sure that whatever you use on the sides, is tall enough. A cushion or rail at mid-thigh level won't help. It needs to be at least hip height or higher to keep people in the boat.

 

[CoffeeHound]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Only take very short people fishing with you == Problem solved !!

Do not put inward mounted rails in a boat unless you want them as stepping points !!
Don't know Coast Guard regs on ubstructions in Exit /Entery areas ! Know they are
illegal in ladder areas!
Suggest rail system about like a toony !!

 

[island mike]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

I am a big game fishermen and have had some heavy fish on the end of my line...I suspect YOU have never hooked up to as you stated a 800lb fish,Because if you did than you would know that a fish that size is almost always battled in a fighting chair...Thus :sitting down!
Regards.Island mike.

 

[Beefer]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

I didn't read every post, so my apologies if this was suggested before.

Chriscraft254 is on the same track as I am, but I'd install removable cushioned combing pads. Put them up while you're fishing, take them down when you aren't. They'll be tons more comfortable then leaning onto a rail, and they can be made to look really nice. You'll want them extra thick, and use a firm padding, and that should do it in style.

 

[island mike]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

I have a suggestion: A battle station..Check it out ..

 

[Mike Zee]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Put in 2 flush mount rod holders on each side. Make up a nice stainless or aluminum rail, at any degree you like. Problem solved, with style! Now the railing is easily removed and repositioned. Turn around to lean out.

 

[island mike]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Put in 2 flush mount rod holders on each side. Make up a nice stainless or aluminum rail, at any degree you like. Problem solved, with style! Now the railing is easily removed and repositioned. Turn around to lean out.

I have not a clue of what you mean.....
Anyway I still say a battle station ,If you dont know what it is look it up,its like a stand up fighting chair bolted to the deck of course. It supports your waist..

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

If you put in a folding rail as suggested I think that would be your best bet. As for the comfort issue simply pad the rail. Pool noodles would actually work quite well or you can get pipe insulation. That is what is commonly used to pad roll cages in race cars.

 

[seabob4]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

Ling,
Bud is spot on with the rails...try to reduce the angle, get the angler more in an upright position. Toe rails would be an added benefit as well...

Hey, are you the same lingcod over on THT?

 

[buildmark]

Re: somebody is gonna fall overboard

not sure if it would help as much but how about that shelf, making it a kneeling pad to kneel on. I think if you can kneel one leg, and bending over the side, you might not tend to slip. that's if it can handle the weight.