Has anyone installed a Grab/assist bar for stepping from front deck to the floor?

[joe3buck3]

Thanks for the ideas. I decided to build a Grab Bar and it turned out super. The way it is anchored I could almost pull a skier. The two best features are that it is out of the way yet can be easily reached from either the deck stepping down or the drivers seat to assist getting up. Here are some pictures.

[mha]

Man, that is sweet!!!!! Really nice work!

[oldgoat188]

Very Nice Joe Buck

[richg99]

Wow. Somebody is a very good welder. Looks to me that you could make up some of them and sell a lot of them!!!!!

How much, shipped to 38558?
rich

[joe3buck3]

Wow. Somebody is a very good welder. Looks to me that you could make up some of them and sell a lot of them!!!!!

How much, shipped to 38558?
rich

Glad you like it Rich but I am not a very good welder. I am a SUPER Grinder though. This grab bar came out better than I anticipated but I did put a few brain cells to work prior to finishing the design. I probably won't make another one.

[richg99]

Just happens that I read a post on a Microskiff site just after I sent the message to you.

A guy on that site built a "steady bar" for his Bote Rover. He built it out of schedule 80 PVC. I don't know if I can source schedule 80 around here, but I had occasion to use that stuff some years ago. It is some really strong material.

Since I really think that I could use just a "steady bar" I may copy your design (hope that is OK) and see if I can build one out of the PVC. Thank you very much for the idea!! rich

p.s. I am age 78 but still going strong.
p.p.s. Just found out that my local Lowes stocks schedule 80!

[joe3buck3]

Rich
I sent you a PM.

[richg99]

PM replied to....."Thank you, Joe. I do not have a Tracker, but your dimensions will give me a good starting place. Thanks, rich

[mha]

I've gotta come back one more time and say a day later and I'm still in shock at how nice that turned out. I had been following this with interest and was curious to see where it would end up. You just absolutely knocked that one out of the park!

[joe3buck3]

Thank you mha.
I get to test it tomorrow. I expect it will perform very well.

[Bill Reynolds]

Excellent work!!! I am no welder either but those welds look good to me.
I do wonder if the vertical part of the grab bar should be closer to the deck?

[rocket man]

Nice job Joe.

[joe3buck3]

Excellent work!!! I am no welder either but those welds look good to me.
I do wonder if the vertical part of the grab bar should be closer to the deck?

Good observation Bill.
I located the vertical so that it would be easily accessible for me from either the deck or the drivers seat. It is located where I can comfortably reach it from with deck or seat. I got real scientific when figuring this placement out...I make a wooden model and duct taped it to the console then experimented with positioning and height. I could have made two verticals by simply making the one u-bolted to the deck wall taller but decided against it.

[richg99]

Just a thought....I seem to always appreciate a place to stand my rod up, temporarily, vertically when I move from one place to another. It happens that I recently added a vertical rod holder on one of my tinnys. It is positioned right about where your support is. If you thought you could use such an additional rod holder, you could cut a hole in the top cap. You'd also have to drill a drain hole at the bottom, since rain would get in.

[joe3buck3]

As food for thought here is a picture of my friend's final grab bar project in his Tracker 175. No welding involved. It is lag screwed to the floor and through bolted on the upper deck.

[pepr]

A friend made one of 2.5 or 3" pvc conduit mounted into a black steel flange anchored to the floor. He also anchored the steady pole to the side of the console using a U-bolt.

[v_fourmax]

Check out the Steel Tek Structural pipe fittings at Lowes.
Silver Steel Galvanized pipe and fittings that look much nicer with a more finished appearance than the black threaded steel pipe. Many different types and styles of fittings available so it is easy to fabricate something that fits your needs.


I used it to make some T bar mounts for driftmaster style rod holders for Crappie fishing that came out extremely nice and much heavier duty for much less than what something comparable is costing premade online.

[richg99]

Thanks for the link to Steel Tek

[joe3buck3]

I have been out in the boat twice since installing the Grab bar and it makes getting around in the boat so much easier. It will take me a few trips to learn to use the Grab bar to assist with standing from the drivers seat instead of using the steering wheel but habits form pretty easily.
I have received a lot of positive feedback on this project and some suggestions for changes to improve/enhance the unit. I plan to use it as is for a while but if you have any additional suggestions for improvements please pass them on. Some might get incorporated in the next iteration.

[richg99]

"instead of using the steering wheel "

Ha Ha...have you been watching me?

Great project. Thanks for posting.