12/2/12 - "Stern Staircase Hanging Hardware - Before Sandy"

Stern Staircase Hanging Hardware - Before Sandy

Fine Art Prints and Art Gifts

This is how the staircase I designed and built, which led from our back deck down to our floating dock, was originally constructed. At that time it descended from a landing, which was off to the port side of our house barge, and one step down from the back deck. It was damaged by the "Storm of the Century" nor'easter in March of 2010. I had to relocate and rebuild it then, but it was substantially the same design as it was when I first constructed it in July of 2008 - until Sandy, that is.

The large, galvanized dock pin, threaded through the four, large, galvanized eye bolts, acted like a hinge. This allowed the staircase to pivot, as the dock and deck would independently rise and fall with the motion of passing wakes and waves. 

Stern Staircase Hanging Hardware - After Sandy

Fine Art Prints and Art Gifts

And this is how it looks today. The hardware withstood the storm's fury pretty well, but the staircase itself is no longer there. At first I was mystified as to its fate, as nearly everything else that seemed to be missing - including the two-part front ramp I also designed and built - soon turned up. But on a second or third visit to the marina down the block, where I had stored my little Boston Whaler for safe-keeping, I noticed a very similar staircase - with an identical, rather uniquely constructed hand rail - providing access to a second floor rental apartment. 

For now, it's still there. And I may decide to let it stay there, as we're not even sure about what's going to happen with our house barge, much less the deck and dock this staircase once bridged.

Staircase Finished

Fine Art Prints

And this is how the staircase looked soon after its completion, in July of 2008. Soon after this picture was taken I manufactured and installed two large, pressure-treated wooden wheels on another galvanized dock pin, which allowed the bottom of the staircase to roll to and fro across my dock. The dock was built by a former neighbor out of 4"x12"x20' long redwood beams, which I was unable to salvage after the storm.   

For Stern Staircase Hanging Hardware - Before Sandy:

Camera Data

Make:Canon
Model:Canon PowerShot SD1000
Shutter Speed:1/251 second
Aperture:F/3.5
Focal Length:8 mm
ISO Speed:80
Date Taken:Jul 26, 2008, 11:25:39 AM
Software:Adobe Photoshop CS Windows
Sensor Size:4mm

For Stern Staircase Hanging Hardware - After Sandy:

Camera Data

Make:Canon
Model:Canon EOS 5D
Shutter Speed:1/41 second
Aperture:F/4.0
Focal Length:65 mm
ISO Speed:50
Date Taken:Nov 2, 2012, 8:40:49 AM
Software:Adobe Photoshop CS Windows
Sensor Size:29mm

For Staircase Finished:

Camera Data

Make:Canon
Model:Canon PowerShot SD1000
Shutter Speed:1/125 second
Aperture:F/8.0
Focal Length:6 mm
ISO Speed:80
Date Taken:Jul 23, 2008, 2:27:55 PM