New Swim Grid for Uncle Pug (the boat)

[Uncle Pug]

After watching the spectacle of DD imitating a sea lion boarding a bell buoy while trying to get back onto Uncle Pug (the boat) I decided we needed a proper swim grid... with ladder.

So Shane and I took measurements and scribed lines on cardboard to match the transom of Uncle Pug (the boat.)

Shane welded up a frame work and also welded in wire mesh. Since Shane does this at work all the time building catwalks for the rock crusher plant I figure it was better for him to do it than me. Plus he got the steel for it from the scrap bin... that means free.

He is bringing it up this morning and we will fit it to the back of Uncle Pug (the boat) and using a small 110v wire-feed welder we will tack the braces in place at the proper angle.

I was supposed to make the ladder... but... well... I was busy diving a lot this week... so good thing Shane went ahead and made one of those too. (He knows me.)

We will take it to Seattle next week and have it hot galvanized. Should cost about $100.

Now we thought about making the thing out of marine grade aluminum but the cost of materials would have been more than we are willing to spend.

We also thought about making it of S.S. which wouldn't have cost much for the frame since I have plenty of stock... but I didn't have any SS mesh so we would have had to spend the $$ for either SS mesh or some $$$ for fiberglass grid... the Boeing surplus center was fresh out.

But really... nothing is quite as manly as galvanizing anyway... and as an added bonus it is inherently skid proof

Pictures to follow.

 

[newton]

That'll help us single-tankers you graciously take out in your boat, but how will it help you and Shane with your doubles? Or will you still use the winch for that?


Nate

 

[Uncle Pug]

...doubles shouldn't be a problem.

After Shane tack welded the struts in place we removed the whole thing and took it home and welded them up solid. It gets galvanized next week.

I wanted to make the ladder a little beefier but since I slacked off we will give Shane's version a try. It will pivot up and down and be located on the centerline. There will be a 2" hand rail located there as well.

 

[O-ring]

Is that Shane in the picture? What's with the helmet and full face mask? Where's his buddy?

Seriously, how were you getting into the boat previously?

 

[Uncle Pug]

O-ring once bubbled...
Seriously, how were you getting into the boat previously?

...that skinny little swim step under the grid... one hand on that pulling while flogging the Turtles and the other hand grabs the top of the stern. Do it right and you can get a knee up on the step.

Split fins need not apply.

 

[Goeduck]

That swim grid is looking pretty good. Should help you and Shane and DD and whoever else a lot in getting out of the water, not to say anything about adding a little weight to the back end of your boat.

 

[JT2]

It sure looks like that new one should be a lot easier to get in and out of the boat with UP. By the way, is "swim grid" a northwestern term, down here we call that a swim step. Is your boat made out of wood, or is it wooden core with fiberglass over it? I just had to have a new teak swim step made for my 20ft Taylor, well actually I had to have two of them made (one to go on each side of the new 225 Johnson) now if I could just get people to quit grabbing the ends of my dual ram steering cable housing to pull themselves up by, I would be a happy camper. The new swim grid looks great by the way!

 

[Uncle Pug]

Goeduck once bubbled...
adding a little weight to the back end of your boat.

That was part of the idea of using steel. I think Shane said the grid weighed 115 lbs. To that we add the weight of the bracing and the ladder... I suppose even the galvanizing will add a little.

BTW... how did the class go today?

 

[Uncle Pug]

JT2 once bubbled...
is "swim grid" a northwestern term, down here we call that a swim step.

They call them swim steps up here too...

I just decided to call this one a *Swim Grid* because of the way Shane made it... sounds more manly too.

Uncle Pug (the boat) is glass over wood. In the right corner you can see where the resin dripped down from some repairs we made around the scupper (wet deck.)

Beautiful ain't it

 

[Goeduck]

The classes went great. I posted a new thread titled "WE DID IT".