Front netting with hinge and ladder?

[Kris]

I have seen on some pictures of a Pahi 52 with a very neat design of the back netting that can be lowered into the water to allow easy access:

Obviously this is not easily done on the back side of a Pahi 42, and in my case it's basically impossible due to a two outbord engine design and a special steering pod there.

But on the front it might be doable and I am wondering if any of you have done so and could share some pictures and design tips.

Lowering the full netting would be nice, but because of the diagonal lines that go through the netting, this seems difficult to achieve without major changes to the rigging.

But maybe something more similar to this would be possible (Pahi 63):

But in somewhat smaller version to fit in the Pahi 42.

Thanks for the help.

[Robert]

Our Pahi 42 has a ramp, similar to the one in your photo, centered in the stern between the engines.

I don’t see how you could do it in the bow. The inner forestay bridle would be in the way.

[Kris]

My Pahi 42 has an extra pod between the engines that houses the steering wheel etc. leaving the original cockpit as passenger seating. Thus the netting in the back is only a meter wide and the beam connecting the rudders runs over it.

Why do you think it couldn't be done between the diagonal lines of the inner forestay bridle? Like on the second picture where the two nettings on each side could still be crossed diagonally? At the height of the netting I would guess I have about 1-1.5 meters width for such a ramp.

[Andy Best-Dunkley]

Yes, this is an issue. But even so, the amount of water coming over the bows/front beam can be huge and so very heavy. It would be difficult to really make this strong enough in my opinion. I do remember on one of the YouTube channels from Australia (the couple with a classic design, maybe Tanenui?) that they did have a ladder dropping from the first main beam that seemed to work quite well.

[Kris]

Indeed I also suspect the front would need a significantly stronger and water transmissible design, but oddly enough the design shown in the second picture from the front of a Pahi 63 looks very much the opposite.

[Kris]

So, I thought about it a bit more: maybe it would be better to install it in reverse, meaning the hinge on the first beam instead of the second.

This is what the front netting my Pahi 42 looks like right now (yeah lots to do...):

Basically it would need two hardwood crossbeams between the first and second beam to connect the net and some sort of hinge at the first beam to connect the ladder.

[Kris]

I took some in person pictures of the Spirit of Gaia ramp design when it was visiting Ponta Delgada last week. The Gaia team also suggested to make reverse on the front.

The Gaia also has an interesting gangway in front of the second beam that I think I will try to duplicate with my design.

What I am still a bit unsure about is how to best attach the hinges and support beams to the front main beam.

Am I correct in assuming that the layererd design of it would make it best to drill top to bottom and not horizontally at a spot between the internal openings? Or is it not as much of an issue to make a horizontal drill hole there?

Due to the hight difference I can't do the support beams like the Gaia and have it rest on top fixed with some ropes:

But I guess as long as I can make it somewhat flexible I shouldn't run the risk of a metal bolt splitting the main beam, right?

Edit: sorry for the rotated pictures, I posted this from mobile and didn't notice before.

[Andy Best-Dunkley]

OK, I've tried to put a few images of our front "netting" (actually webbing straps sewn together) and our central walkway - maybe this is what you are talking about? The first photo is from 2019, the last from 2023. We now have a pod built in the space behind the mast/in front of the cockpit (which is great!)

[Kris]

Nice pictures!

Yes a bit like the first picture except not with a walkway but a ladder on a hinge between two beams that can be lowered easily.