On the P-19 that we used to own, we removed the little step that led down
into the cockpit, and replaced the bolts that had been holding it on with
four, large, eyebolts. (I don`t remember the diameter, but they were quite a
bit bigger than the bolts that held the step on; I had to enlarge the holes
through the bridgedeck a bit.) The eyes are then on the cockpit side of the
bridgedeck, out of the way, but easy to clip in to. I backed them up with a
large piece of mahogany plywood on the cabin side of the bridgedeck, and
large fender washers inside and out, all sealed with silicone. I hacksawed
off the ends of the bolts on the inside, so that they were short enough that
I could tighten them up snugly with acorn nuts---there is nothing sharp
projecting into the cabin this way.
We also use these eyebolts as anchor points for a jackline that runs from
one of these eyes, up over the cabin top, around the feet of the bow pulpit,
back down the other side of the mast and over the cabin, and down to another
one of the eyebolts. This has worked very well.
BTW, we replaced the original step with an ice chest; that seemed to be a
more efficient use of the space, since the step was kind of in the way when
you were inside the cabin.
Rod Graham
Boise, ID
email: williwaw@sprintmail.com