“When I’m looking at boats, what should I be looking at?” That’s a common question when you begin the boat search, particularly if you don’t have a lot of experience owning cruising boats.
On one hand, the answer is “everything.” You already know to look at the layout, the mechanicals and get a survey. And I’ve talked a bit before about galley design considerations.
Now I want to talk about another important safety consideration that is easy to overlook when looking at boats online or even at a dock: handholds.
Simply put, can you walk everywhere on the boat while always holding on to something solid?
At the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, I surprised by the number of boats that didn’t meet this seemingly basic requirement. And while it’s not impossible to retrofit handholds, they are not always easy to create as they need to mounted very strongly.
I took pictures of some of the boats that struck me as “where do I hang on?”
A beautiful wide-open layout, with almost no secure hand grips. You can grab the lip on the counter, but that isn’t too secure. And then it’s over 10 feet to that handhold on the wall. Stumble in the middle and it’s going to hurt when you hit that table!
A very nice recessed handhold in the ceiling of one boat I went on. Just one problem — at 5’3″ I had to stand on my tippy-toes to grab on with even my fingertips. Not going to do much good underway for those of us who are shorter.
It’s a loooong ways from the cockpit to that handhold! The salesman tried to convince me that grabbing the lifeline would be “just fine.” (Uh, no, that’s not what lifelines are for and it would put a lot of stress on the stanchion bases, possibly causing leaks . . . or breaking one.)
Great handhold rail . . . except for it being over the settee, where it’s hard to actually hold! Handholds need to be placed for where you actually walk.
I like the handhold as you’re exiting the cockpit. But again, it’s a stretch to the next handhold, which is mounted in a “groove” in the coachhouse roof. While it makes for really clean lines, it’s harder to grab and doesn’t work as well if you’re just reaching for anything as you’re falling.
I’ve been thrown across a boat more than one because I didn’t have a place to securely hang on. And while monohulls are more notorious for needing handholds due to heeling while sailing, I’ve learned that they’re every bit as necessary on catamarans. While cats don’t heel much, every wave hits first one hull then the other, and thus the motion is jerkier. It’s every bit as easy to be knocked off balance!
So, one more thing to check out as you look at boats.
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Anonymous says
Super important and very overlooked safety item. My new boat has tons of handholds throughout the below deck area… Okay super. Steep walled safe cockpit check. Safety rail around the base of the mast.. check. However, it’s a midship cockpit with a really great big well built dodger and full enclosure. When going forward from the cockpit to the foredeck, there is a few foot section with only a foot of space between the cockpit combing and the lifeline. And it’s sloped a bit toward the water. It’s awkward at anchor, and downright dangerous in any seaway because the dodger did not have handholds installed. I Will be rectifying this obviously, however, I recommend carrying something bulky and somewhat heavy along a full circuit on the outside of your boat, anywhere that’s difficult to traverse, its probably a good candidate for installing handholds.
The Boat Galley says
Great idea!
Anonymous says
Great advice! We have added both wood and bronze handholds to Katie Mack as a result of one of your earlier posts on the subject. I was nervous every time I had to go forward with the boat hook to pick up a mooring — and that was in calm seas. Now the boat hook is already secured forward and I can have a hand on a grab every step of the way forward.
The Boat Galley says
Funny how simple changes can make such a huge difference! Love it.
Cathy Berry says
We have an old ’81 47′ Gulfstar Motor Sailor. Heavy wooden handholds everywhere – cockpit to galley has them right in the ceiling. Same on deck on the raised part. I’ve noticed the newer sailboats don’t always have the deck holds and, looking at pictures, not so much on the inside. I use them frequently. As a new to sailing, I was told, “one hand hanging on, one hand to carry”. Check out some of the older boats for ideas.