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I had pulled some muscles raising anchor a month ago and those was still hurting, I woke up last night and had heard a bump and my arm was hurting and then I realized that I had swung my arm in the night and hit the companion way ladder, Must have done it sever times as my arm is sore in several different spots. Anybody do the same?

Anybody put anything against it to stop it? I wrapped some foam around one and I have some 1 1/2 close cell that I can fit on it if that does not solve it.

One possible solution is to trade your M in for an X, then you can hinge the ladder up at night

Mike

James V wrote:I realized that I had swung my arm in the night and hit the companion way ladder, Must have done it sever times as my arm is sore in several different spots.
Anybody put anything against it to stop it? I wrapped some foam around one and I have some 1 1/2 close cell that I can fit on it if that does not solve it.

How about some sedatives sounds like you are having some active dreams
I use the ladder rails to haul myself in and out of the sleeping bag so I don't like to cover it with anything. I did coat the steps in liquid plastic to protect them longer and I don't slip on them either.
It seems like a long stretch to reach the ladder even if you are in the middle. I sleep up against the starboard hull opposite the Admiral and even keep a water bottle under the last step and have never knocked it over. I can't quite picture in my mind how one can bang their arm on that ladder.

James V wrote: Anybody do the same?

Strangely, recently I found myself bumping my right elbow when walking, working , reaching, etc. always awake, and the soreness was aweful. Only way I solved it was repeating -- "watch that corner, watch that elbow, watch out, be careful, stop bumping it, just quit it, etc"
Yeah, I know, talking to onself doesnt sound to 'balanced, but anyway, it worked. Elbow is okay now.

I dont know a solution to prevent bumping things when in the bed, especially in the cramped quarters in a sailboat bunk

I am 6'4" and sleep at an angle usually, Just moving my arm up over my head I get close to the ladder. I will let you know how the foam turns out..

i sympathise with you james,my arm doesnt ache but my ribs do i cracked a couple last sat,i was lazing in the bath and decided i wanted a smoke,so i reached over,i stretched a little to far and slipped,i came straight down on the edge of the tub.........yeeeeeeeeouch,the lingo was a bit stronger than that at the time

James V wrote:I had pulled some muscles raising anchor a month ago and those was still hurting, I woke up last night and had heard a bump and my arm was hurting and then I realized that I had swung my arm in the night and hit the companion way ladder, Must have done it sever times as my arm is sore in several different spots. Anybody do the same?

Anybody put anything against it to stop it? I wrapped some foam around one and I have some 1 1/2 close cell that I can fit on it if that does not solve it.

We swing the ladder up on our X and use a bungee cord to keep it up when sleeping. Makes it so much easier to get in too. Simply unbolt the ladder and installed plastic lumber blocks (about 1" thick) as a spacer and added longer stainless bolts. Just have to watch that the blocks aren't too long or the ladder will not clear the rear settee.

I used quickpins on my stairs for a couple seasons but found the factory method of friction holding the stairs in any position to be better for cockpit movement than the stairs being removable.

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I don't think that the ladder on the M can swing up. It is part of the support of the cockpit and I would not want to rig such a thing. I also need to be able to get topside in a hurry and I do need the ladder.

I wraped some 1/2 blue backpacker around one side. So far, so good.

Best soultion.

Take the seat cusion that you do not need when moving up the galley and jam it under the ladder.

Spair pillow on the glass where the galley was, do not move all the way forward.

Enough padding to make it work

as your in the middle of the bahamas somwhere,i suppose that there are not any diy stores near by,but i would be looking at pipe lagging/insulation,that may be a cheap and effective fix

Eric - around 2000 the ballast tank valve moved forward and the hump was replaced with a companionway ladder.

I had to pust the cushion somewhere. Not really in the way or took up wanted space.

I used a wood rasp and filed a notch about 3/8 " deep in the front edge of the companionway lip where the ladder rods are. This way the ladder folds up vertically with a bungee holding it in place. The head door opens completely and no hassle getting in or out of rear berth.