Solid stairs with outstanding customer service.
I spent a long time looking for a set of steps that would work with my boat and trailer. I’m 6'3", 315 lbs., and nearly 60, so stability and ergonomics mattered, and most of the options I found either weren’t rated high enough, didn’t mount cleanly, or didn’t clear the trolling motor on my 2021 Alumacraft Competitor 165 CS. It felt like every solution required a compromise I wasn’t willing to make.
I had already spent weeks comparing designs and trying to understand how each system would interact with my specific trailer geometry. I decided to send Omega a few pictures of my boat along with some measurements (bow height, trailer tongue length, trailer brand trailer). I was very happy when I got a personal call from them. We discussed my configuration, and because they’ve built custom setups for other Alumacraft boats, the engineer already understood the challenges I was facing. My 165 is smaller than many Alumacraft models, so the preconfigured “Alumacraft” steps would have been too big. He recommended the winch‑post build with a custom mount, which would place the top step at the height of the fishing deck instead of the small bow platform used for the trolling motor. That meant stepping from the fishing deck to the first step would feel more natural. We also discussed that a custom bracket could be sent later if I felt any adjustment was needed. This made the whole system feel like it was being designed for my boat instead of a one‑size‑fits‑all solution.
My steps originally came with a 30‑degree rotate bracket, and while it technically worked, it set the steps at a bit too aggressive of an angle for my trailer and trolling motor setup. After another phone call with Omega to discuss what I was seeing, they sent me a 25‑degree rotate bracket, and that 5° change made a far bigger improvement than I expected. The steps went from “acceptable” to dialed‑in, with perfect alignment, proper clearance, and ergonomics that feel custom‑fit to my Alumacraft.
I also installed the angled handle extension, which turned out to be just as important as the bracket. It adds about a foot of height, then drilled and bolted to the existing handle. Being able to rotate the extension before drilling let me tune the grab point to match my natural wrist angle and the side of the boat. Once installed, the handle felt like it was designed specifically for me, no more reaching forward or awkward wrist angle, just a natural, confident grab point.
Individually, the bracket and handle extension each improved the system, but together they transformed it. The steps feel completely natural to use, solid under my weight with no flex, easy to climb up and down, and positioned so I don’t have to shift or work around the trolling motor. I use them every time I’m on the boat and genuinely love them, and my wife thinks they work great too.
