Walk through transom usage

[sunshinecoasting]

Watching one of the original Macgregor 26X promotional videos the other day and they said something that surprised me, they said that the concept behind the tilting captain seat and walk through transom was for easy boarding while at dock, simply step off the dock on to the transom and walk aboard. I never considered doing this as a proper solution to boarding as I always found it fraught with danger asking non sailing people to negotiate the rear of the boat from the side of the dock. I do sometimes do this myself but only occasionally, normally we climb over the side on to the seat, much safer. I guess you could reverse in to the dock (I hate doing this) and step on the transom from that way but this would require leaving the motor down which I wont do due to excessive electrolysis that occurs on my motor leg for reasons unknown to me (But I suspect is related to earth and shore power maybe?) In any case you still need to step across a wide gap that I just know my friends and family will eventually fall through. Either way requires the captain seat to be left up all of the time you are docked. Personally I only use my walk through when wanting to go for a swim or working on the motor in the water (add oil etc.)

So my question is this, does anyone actually use this feature while docked?

P.S. I am guessing this relates to the as well as the

Cheers, Den.

[Chinook]

We've never considered exiting the boat via the transom while docked, because it's a long, awkward step. I carry a small folding plastic step which I set on the dock to shorten the step on and off the boat, while climbing directly into the cockpit. We do regularly exit via the transom when getting into the dinghy, while anchored out. I built a platform which sits above the steering arms, so we have a clean flat surface to walk on.

[Don T]

Hello,
I do board through the transom but it depends on the dock, dock height and how I'm tied up. If I have it backed in a slip I put the boarding ladder down resting on the dock so I can walk across it. Pull it up at night. At Roche Harbor, for example, the old docks are at the height of the gunwales so it easy to board.

[BOAT]

Have none of you guys opened the seat and stood on that lower deck around the motor well? It's a great place to stand if you want to helm the boat while standing. It puts you down lower and closer to the wheel than standing in the cockpit.

If I am all alone and unsure of a dock I will indeed back into the dock in reverse. If I have the seat open I can stand very nicely at the helm because I don't stand in the cockpit I stand on that lower deck near the motor well. When your going backwards and you take the motor out of gear it tends to stop sooner and makes approaching the dock a littler easier if your going too fast. Also, it's easier to get the stern to go where you want it to go than the bow letting the motor pull you around instead of pushing from the rear. I have that small etec60 motor so it's real easy to walk around it and step on to the dock right from the motor well. After I get on the dock I pull the boat around with a line and get it properly tied off. After that I have to crawl over the side to get in and out. Sometimes when leaving the dock I let all the lines loose except a stern line - as the boat drifts away the stern stays at the dock and I walk into the boat from the rear but you need to have the seat up. (like your wife always says don't forget to put the seat down after your go).

Hey Don! What's the deal with your picture? It looks sideways.

[kurz]

Well thats quite an interesting idea, boat!

BUT: When I want to dock backwarts it like in the mediterranean sea. They do all so and smash the anchor at the bow docking with the stern.

With the I find it very very bad to do. BECOUSE the stern is very vulnerable. The outboard - not god to smash somewhere... neither are the rudders.
So you need quite a space between the outboard and the dock! And give some more for the anchor setting...
And on top - the dock is quite often very high... So climbing over the ob up to the dock that is quite fare away for the ob safety... Didn't get familiar with this. Give some wave or wind... all gets worse.

I have no good solution for this, especially when single handing. Best would be a platform at the stern... there are some good solutions on this site...

[Russ]

Rudders and motor back there. Doesn't seem easy to board from.
I DO board from there when on the trailer. It also makes for a great place to use the aft "head". Close to the water and wind can't blowback on you.

[NiceAft]

Everyone seems to forget that Rodger had very good marketing skills. Using a large, open transom as another positive to his boat, is something to be used as a selling point; whether it is actually functional for that use is irrelevant .

[BOAT]

Yeah, I think Ray is right - Roger said I could use the transom to exit the boat so I guess i just believed him and have been doing it for a long time. If somebody would have told me that was just a marketing skill I probably would not have started doing that. Now I will probably have trouble doing it now that I know it's not actually functional. I guess i was dumb enough to believe the marketing stuff.

I can tell you that it works with the rudders up or down and most the docks here are pretty low in the water so it's a lot easier (well, WAS a lot easier) than trying to go over the side. On the really high docks I slide my butt over the top of the outboard.

I will make sure I stop doing that. I did not know that was just marketing stuff. Thanks. (Hey, maybe I could have broke something! )

I was thinking of making a step that hooked on to the genoa track.

[NiceAft]

Anytime BOAT; you know how to reach me

[BOAT]

Anytime BOAT; you know how to reach me

Thanks - I'm probably getting too old for that stuff too. The genoa track can be a good hook for some kind of a metal thing that could be a step on the side of the boat. My wife has a real hard time getting into the boat - she is short.

Again, I need some welding expertise here.

[Jimmyt]

I don't really have an opportunity to dock stern-in. The ramp area access is the right height for stepping over into the cockpit, so that's the normal access for us, when docked. We routinely go up the ladder and through the stern when swimming and setting up or tearing down. I don't find it very awkward, but I've had a good bit of practice. Plus the etec 60 is low and thin as BOAT pointed out. I go up the ladder, sit on the motor and slide in.

No question that Roger could sell ice cubes to eskimos, but a lot of the features he bragged on are on point. From a floating pontoon on a calm lake, seems it would be fairly convenient, compared to trying to go up and over into the cockpit.

[Jimmyt]

Hey Don! What's the deal with your picture? It looks sideways.

Maybe he needs to Reef! Definitely lots of heel and big seas!