Hi all.
I don't have a ladder on my Endeavour 26.
Can anyone suggest a reliable cheap ladder that I can use over the side instead of over the transom. If that is possible to do?
I need to give her bum a scrub and have no way of getting back on. Plus good to have something if we want to go swimming with the sharks in Lake Macquarie.
What are your thoughts on one of these?
I was going to mount my solar panel, that is currently mounted on a hatch lid behind my tiller, onto the back rail. Meaning no room to get back on board from the back. But if I mounted the solar panel to one side and this to the other?http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boat-Inboard-3-Step-Swim-Platform-Ladder-Stainless-Steel-Rails-High-Quality-/322393053712
I hate using Ebay. But no one sells them. Not even Whitworths.
Hi BJ
I'm in the same situation - I need to get a ladder for my Spacey22. For now I've just bought one of those fold down aluminium ones that hooks over the gunwhales. At only $69 it will be a decent enough temporary solution whilst I come up with something more permanent.
I like the look of the swim platform, but with it being fixed it will need a bit of careful planning to ensure it is low enough to be useable for swimming by high enough not to drag in the water when sailing. And also, it would need to be out of the way of my transom hung rudder too. The advantage of this would be that it would make a nice boarding platform when stepping up from the dinghy.
I take it you are considering the platform for transom mounting - not going off the side like your original question?
Mike
ive got no ladder either and need one badly. That one you show here looks good but can you get in the transom to mount it properly and reinforce that area?
Im being really picky with weight lately. A ladder neednt weigh much but it is on the transom, its extra weight added onto the transom, where theres an outboard and fuel. Same reasons for not mounting a bimini frame. Small boats...
Ideally i want ladder that i saw on some old cheesy american movie based on a true story about a couple who were about to set off on a lovely timber 40 footer then got roped into fostering 4 wayward teenagers. They housed these kids on their boat! Then one of them who was a pyromaniac burned the boat down.
ANYWAY. the ladder this guy had was a basic stainless steel ladder that just hooked over the gunnells anywhere you wanted. It didnt retract or do anything fancy and looked light and easy to manage. Perfect i thought for a small boat. I would happily store this ladder in the cockpit locker while underway below the waterline, and deploy it when needed. This negates the need for drilling, reinforcing and adding weight where i dont want the weight full time.
Ive looked for something like this and theres nothing at WW, or Ebay. Sigh...Looks like something im gonna have to get made - again!
Really like it jolene. You get a swim platform and an easy to use ladder. Might be a little bulky but its luxurious and worth it! Im tempted to copy that!
Looks hreat jolene.
Too chunky for my little boat though.
I also watched a vid about ladders. They recommended having a permanently mounted one that can be deployed from the water in case you are by yourself and you fall in. Makes sense.
If you just want to get on the boat after a swim, there is nothing wrong with a rope ladder. But there is a technique needed to use it. Dont put your toe into the rung, you will be thrown under the boat. Put your leg around the ladder and put your heel into the rung. Its easy. Make one for the dinghy too.
I've got something that looks pretty much like this: www.islandinflatables.com.au/accessories/boat-boarding-ladder-%E2%9C%AA-3-step-%E2%9C%AA-heavy-duty-quality-aluminium-folding sitting at home if anyone wants one. Pickup from Drummoyne - first in, best dressed.
Personally, when I'm climbing back in from a swim, I just have to use a couple of lines secured through camcleats, with bowlines tied in the end for my feet. Not exactly easy, but it's cheap and saves on fitting another thing if nothing else!
I added the telescopic ladder because it was too hard for the missus to climb back up the wooden one even with a rope ladder attached to the bottom of it.
It is a little awkward but it folds up neatly and stows in a locker nicely. I will probably make a permanent s/steel one that works on the same principle ,,, my boat is not very ladder friendly.
The missus loves it and now can get back on board just like climbing out of a swimming pool and I feel a bit more comfortable about getting the MOB back on board without inflicting injuries with the gaff.
I'm a bit confused. The telescopic SS ladders are 316.
www.whitworths.com.au/telescopic-ladder-3-step-top-of-platform-mounting
Maybe it's the duckboard frame?
I cruised for years with a store bought aluminium ladder with plywood hooks fitted to the top to go over the toe rail and two
legs to hold it off the hull lower down It proved to be more comfortable to bare feet than the stainless one and we stored it
along the rail when not in use It was long enough to extend into the water half a metre or so
When we bought our Santana it was fitted with a Transom ladder, but seeing how we are a couple of old codgers, we needed something easier to get on board. So I made a boarding platform from Merbau timber and hinged it below this ladder. I put a 3 rung collapsible ladder under it that can be pulled out when you are in water. This is a God send if you accidentally fall in the water. I put an "S" hook half way along the chain so we can fold the platform up to stop the aquatic life from camping on it.
Boarding Platform folded up
Boarding Platform & folding ladder
Transom ladder