screws if he thought it necessary but the load is spread out pretty well in a piano hinge. I know my door is robust enough and he has a pretty high quality boat so I guess it's a matter of actually seeing it. Like you say, it would be better into a nice, strong, bulkhead if one was in the right location but with support blocks backing the step up I would think he could get away with it without much worry. "Any port in a storm".