Or: Why I built the stairs. . . .

Yep, our top rail is a foot below the dock.

This would be more like a normal low tide in Fall.

If there's any proof that winter is finally here, it's the return of extreme low tides.  This year, we're ready.  Today on the low tide, with a couple of days of strong north wind, we're sitting with the top of our rail well below the dock (on a normal day between tides, it would be three feet above).  Even with this, with our new steps, it's no hassle to get off.

Occasionally I win one :)

M