Trawler walk around Deck width?

[Kenn]

Hi,

I'm rebuilding a commericial shrimp boat (48ft) into a sedan trawler.
What would be the min. width for the walk around deck either side of the deck house. Assumming the deck hand is 65 and not as agile as he once was !

thanks, Kenn

[Ian McColgin]

It completely depends on, among other things, the height of the deck house and the height of the lifelines.

If the house and lifelines are in the 24" ball park, maybe up to 36", and if the house also has a continuous (not broken up) grab rail on top, then the deck will feel broad at 18" and will work fine at least to 12".

If the house is significantly higher, you'll generally need more room to comfortably pass your shoulders and not feel that you have to lean out over the lifeline. At that point 30" is minimal, 36" a more practical minimum.

On the other hand, if you must lay out a narrow side deck against a tall house, it can be as narrow as 12" - room for feet athwartships between cabin house and toe rail - with a good grab rail on top so you can sidle along with a good grip. This is not good if you ever have to carry lines and fenders or god forgive an anchor forward but if all the gear is up there and it's just a matter of getting a crew member out it works fine. Look at most Maine or Novi style trap boats.

If in doubt, make a model with particle board sides and a strong plank "deck". Set it up on a sawhorse like a see-saw and have a couple of strong friends rock it while you try to walk on in. For versimilatude, arrange for a large fan and someone to spray water from a hose.

[Kenn]

Do I have a little Wild Turkey before I get on the sawhorses ?

The house will be 7 ft. tall, life lines are 36 inch. I've run a caulk line on the deck at 24 inches. It seems ok. Of course I want the deck house as wide as possible (10 ft wide with the 2- 24" walking decks.)

I see on web sites new trawlers with a walkway on one side of the house. That doesn't seem right>

Thanks, Kenn

[Ian McColgin]

I think you'll find for that sort of house once you put a handrail sticking out from the house on the inside at the same height as the rail on the outside, 30" wall to rail or flat deck to toerail, is about as narrow as is comfortable, but you can get it down to two feet.

Does the house stick out to as wide as the gunnel?

Any pics of the boat and your plans?

[Paul Kotzebue]

What would be the min. width for the walk around deck either side of the deck house.

22" to walk around comfortably.

[Thorne]

If in doubt, make a model with particle board sides and a strong plank "deck". Set it up on a sawhorse like a see-saw and have a couple of strong friends rock it while you try to walk on in. For versimilatude, arrange for a large fan and someone to spray water from a hose.

:D:D:D

[Breakaway]

Also consider canting the house sides inboard a bit. That will give you more pass-by room for your shoulders, takes interior space away at a location that's dead air anyway(except for maybe high cabinet shelf depth) and tends to look better, to my eye, than plumb sides. Just thinking out loud.

Kevin

[Kenn]

Thanks for the idea to cant the house sides.
My plan is to extend the roof line out to the gunnel. I am still working on the layout. The over all plan is to have a pilot house and saloon on one level about 10ft x 28 ft, one stateroom and head would be forward and down. The foreward hole is 15ft long x 14 ft wide at it widest to 7ft wide at the chain locker bulkhead.

Kenn