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24V Rear Step

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    #1

    24V Rear Step

    I'm going to be taking delivery of a 24V in a few days. About the only thing that I don't like about it vs. a Ve is the sloping rear end that makes boarding and strapping on wakeboards more difficult than it should be. This has been discussed in various places around the forum. I'm getting ready to make something like the step pictured below for it and would like any suggestions from the group. MasterCraft made a step similar to this but I haven't looked for a detailed pic. Fire away and thanks in advance.
    2xV Rear Step 1.jpg2xV Rear Step 2.jpg
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    #2
    Just as a talking point...I wonder how annoying it really is for those of us that have actually owned that boat?

    I put 300 hours on mine and found it to be a minor inconvenience. I am sure that you saw the thread of the guy who made something very much like what you have designed there. I thought it was cool, but IIRC it costs quite a bit of money, and I just thought it better to buy another surfboard. There is no doubt that it is an irritation, but I think once you own the boat a little while, it is just one of those things you live with and forget about.

    It looks like maybe you have some CAD skills that would make this an easier project to design and complete, that might make the effort to reward ratio much more in your favor.

    My opinion would be to use the boat for a couple of months and see if it really is a problem. Smaller people don't have too much trouble sitting on the grab handle if they need to.
    Be excellent to one another.

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      #3
      You're completely right on the cost. I'm primarily doing this because I have a slab of aluminum in the garage, access to a CNC mill and a desire to get educated on some CAM software that we recently started using at the office.

      I've spent the last 2 summers on a 22v and noticed the inconvenience factor compared to boats I've owned in the past but mostly when making the big lean from deck to sunpad while holding a box of camping equipment. We've always had littles on board as well. They don't complain about it, but don't know any better either.

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        #4
        How do you plan on attaching it to the boat? Are you going to remove the grab handle and replace it with this? Also what is the purpose of the T section, towing?

        As far as machining it, I hope you plan on doing it in two parts and weld or bolt the two together.

        I agree with Tall, try it out for a bit this way you will get a better feeling of what you want the platform to do and be positioned. I think the taller the rider the less of an annoyance it would be. I know when I put a board on I don't even use the swim deck to sit, I stand the whole time. But I can see some people, especially ladies and beginners, wanting to sit while putting a board on. right off the bat I'd recommend getting a strip of seadeck about 4" tall and installing it on the back just above the swim deck. This will help people from smashing their board into your boat.

        If you do plan on moving forward I have a few notions that you may want to consider. Aluminum will get stupidly hot and you will not even want to sit on it after its been baking in the sun for a few hours. I'd recommend some sort of deck pad in that recess, I'm assuming that is what it is for. Also I'd recommend decreasing the offset of that recess along the outer edge to decrease the amount of aluminum for someone to burn the underside of their legs. I'd make that offset 1/2" max. Also how thick is the top plate? What's the added weight? The reason I ask is it looks quite beefy, but again I'm not sure how wide it is. It would also be cool to notch a few circles for holding beverages when hanging out on the swim deck.

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by talltigeguy View Post
          Just as a talking point...I wonder how annoying it really is for those of us that have actually owned that boat?

          I put 300 hours on mine and found it to be a minor inconvenience. I am sure that you saw the thread of the guy who made something very much like what you have designed there. I thought it was cool, but IIRC it costs quite a bit of money, and I just thought it better to buy another surfboard. There is no doubt that it is an irritation, but I think once you own the boat a little while, it is just one of those things you live with and forget about.

          It looks like maybe you have some CAD skills that would make this an easier project to design and complete, that might make the effort to reward ratio much more in your favor.

          My opinion would be to use the boat for a couple of months and see if it really is a problem. Smaller people don't have too much trouble sitting on the grab handle if they need to.
          I have the luxury of using a V and my Ve and the lack of a step on the V is quite annoying. I'm nowhere near as tall as you, Larry, but I am not short either, 5'-10". It is really a noticable difference for the shorter ladies in the group too. Don't get me wrong, in the grand scheme of things this is mouse nuts really, heck we're spending time on a beautiful boat and great water!

          I like the ambition of the OP and will follow this thread closely. Please take pics and keep us in the loop.

          Comment

            #6
            Good luck on keeping cost down, I built the one described in the earlier text. It sounds like your will be much cheaper since you have the aluminum and it sounds like you do not have to pay for CNC time, but if you are asked to build one of these for someone else you can't give the aluminum away for free not can you not charge for the CNC time. It's easy to say something is expensive, try to ebuild it cheaper! Mine does not touch the fiberglass, has a custom Seadek pad, that's $80 by itself, powder coated 60$, stainless steel fasteners, 1" thick aluminum and if you have priced aluminum they don't give it away. CNC time is $65 per hour, mine pivots so you can get it parallel with the boat. You guys kill me, you will spend $2500 on a new piece of plastic to shape your wave but $500 for a custom step to possibly save a broken toe, leg or arm is too high. I do appreciate the CAD work though, I am also a tooling engineer and you must also charge for the CAD time in your final cost. By the way, I do like your design, just did not want mine touching the fiberglass.

            Comment

              #7
              I did sell the one extra step I had to a very nice guy on this forum and part of the deal is he would write a review on it once he has it mounted, so there should be some info of how mine works and the build quality. By the way I also would like the new wake shaping piece for the back of my boat, I was only using it to illustrate my point on cost.

              Comment

                #8
                I'd spend $500 on a nice aluminum step... I was hoping Guy would have got his into production!! =) but I understand that it is hard to put the time in to actually try and make things for a production run, and to do something on the side that isn't going to be a huge money maker. That being said, I'll send you some aluminum!! I've got plenty of it, and just an old mill, and a lathe, no CNC.... =( A few slips on the swim deck from the engine cover, and you'll be ready for a step like that.... especially after a few beers! =)

                Comment

                  #9
                  For me it is a non issue. Everyone is different.

                  I love the look of the V over the VE. Never been an issue putting boards on as we always stand up to do that. So looks of the V are what turns my crank. I did have to reinforce the engine compartment so people could walk on it it. That is a bummer.
                  2016 Tige Z3, 2014 Tige Z3
                  2013 Tige Z3, 2004 Tige 24V (Legen....dary)

                  Comment

                    #10
                    I like the design but why not make it the entire width of the grab bar? Just seems like bigger might be better especially if you ever have more than one person trying to use it. I also agree with the comment about making the brace a separate bolt on piece to reduce material/milling time.

                    The slope doesnt make it unusable but bothers me as well and I am 6'7". I will eventually do something on my boat but I dont have cheap access to CNC machines so I am thinking more along the lines of a boxed in step that goes all the way down to the swim platform.

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                      #11
                      Might not be much of an issue because I have only taken my 24v out a couple times thus far but, we have managed to use the slope as a path for water to get in blower vents when surfing and stopping. So you may want to consider a way to deflect the path when you design it. First time we took it out we took water in the vents, second time not at all so as I said earlier, might be just our learning curve driving.


                      Good luck! Definitely post pics up when you get done.
                      Mods: MLA BIG Ballast System (1800+ Custom sacs, 2 500 W705 sacs under bow), Duffy Surf Flap Mod, Trimmed Swim Deck, Top-Mount Starter

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by talltigeguy View Post
                        Just as a talking point...I wonder how annoying it really is for those of us that have actually owned that boat?
                        I guess it is a problem...I will just be quiet now.
                        Be excellent to one another.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Wow, thanks for the great ideas. I thought I'd add a few more based on the feedback. This is 3/4" thick aluminum and the support will definitely be a separate bolted on part. I found the MC step design and added a version with the tow point on the support like theirs. The indent on top is definitely for sticking in some swim deck rubber or something similar that will be non-skid. I really like the cup holder idea but worry about it hooking toes when stepping off. Maybe its not likely but I need to think about that a bit. The wider version makes me worry about needed 2 supports rather than one. Wider is better until that limit is reached and then it's a little more complicated. Hmm... At any rate, thanks for the comments and any additional ones are welcome. I've got until Memorial Day weekend until we probably put it in the water except for a potential shake-down run. I love these committee design objects. They usually get better and better. I will take note of the real costs of this project and maybe a few extra could be made 2xV Rear Step 4.jpg2xV Rear Step 3.jpg

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                            #14
                            GUY,

                            I've done a little searching without finding anything that you may have posted about your step. Do you have any details you could point me to?

                            Thanks.

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                              #15
                              Here are some picturesimage.jpg

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