Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

[saxrulez]

I'm trying to decide on what kind of ladder I want to get for my boat. I'm looking at everything from ones that hook over the side to installing one on the transom. I want the most practical ladder available, I'm not big into looks, more about usability!

I want a ladder that makes getting in/out of the boat a piece of cake! At the moment with no ladder or a rope ladder, its quite a chore for the womens.

I'd love to see pictures of any that you guys have bought and/or installed and how you liked them. Especially on boats with a similar hull/transom design to mine.

This isn't current, but it'll work so you have an idea what I'm working with:



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[SeanT]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

I prefer gunwhale ladders on boats like that. Here's a link to a few threads where we discuss them:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=342137&highlight=ladder

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=339491
(This link is me talking about my old boat)

Here's the ladder I'm talking about.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...essories/PRD~0790028P/Plastic+Boat+Ladder.jsp


I don't like the rear ladder on IO and outboards because people are climbing into the boat right beside the engine. That just gives me an overall "bad feeling", especially with kids.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

This type would work well on the back of your boat. Friend had similar boat/ladder worked well. Can't show you pics as he sold the boat.

http://www.iboats.com/Det-Mar-Self-...26470324--**********.151683916--view_id.38563

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

I prefer gunwhale ladders on boats like that. Here's a link to a few threads where we discuss them:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=342137&highlight=ladder

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=339491
(This link is me talking about my old boat)

Here's the ladder I'm talking about.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...essories/PRD~0790028P/Plastic+Boat+Ladder.jsp


I don't like the rear ladder on IO and outboards because people are climbing into the boat right beside the engine. That just gives me an overall "bad feeling", especially with kids.

Thanks for the advice. Is there any way you can take a picture of it on the gunwhale, it seems like it would still be a difficult climb over the actual gunwhale once you got up to it, but a picture would help me see/figure out what I'm looking at.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

This type would work well on the back of your boat. Friend had similar boat/ladder worked well. Can't show you pics as he sold the boat.

http://www.iboats.com/Det-Mar-Self-...26470324--**********.151683916--view_id.38563

This is currently my top candidate as of now. It looks like it would be perfect if I decide to go with one for the back of the boat.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

Thanks for the advice. Is there any way you can take a picture of it on the gunwhale, it seems like it would still be a difficult climb over the actual gunwhale once you got up to it, but a picture would help me see/figure out what I'm looking at.

Unfortunately no. I sold the ladder along with my old boat mid last season. My new boat has a swim platform that sits right in the water (fairly standard on direct drives), so we just crawl up on that. (unlike the swim platforms on I/O that sit above the water and you still need a ladder to get up on).

But I'm 6'5". No transom ladder was ever good enough for me partly because they just didn't stick far enough into the water (i'm an edge case, I know - not everyone is my size). The gunwhale ladder was the way to go for me AND my wife's chubby friends

 

[SeanT]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

Also, it folds up nearly flat and was stored along the gunwhale with the oars. Took up no space in the boat when put away.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

Also, it folds up nearly flat and was stored along the gunwhale with the oars. Took up no space in the boat when put away.

Hopefully someone can post some pictures of something similiar. I have plenty of room along the gunwhales now so it is an option.

 

[tlzimmerman]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

Thats what we always used...gunwhale ladder I mean. I always liked it better than friends who had the transom ladders. they don't go down in the water far, and it was always a pain to swim around to the back....one friends dad liked to back the boat toward you then cut the engine...talk about unnerving.

Gunwhale is great....pull up next to them and cut the engine, toss it over, they climb up and swing the leg over and are in. For people who struggle all it takes is a person to give them a hand or arm to grab onto when they get to the top of the ladder and they are in. The gunwhale ladders with fold out standoffs so they stick out from the hull a bit make it easier.

Bottom line...no ladder will make it easy for larger out of shape people to get in the boat....its just not a simple thing to do like walking up stairs, but

Sorry I don't have pictures either, I can show you what the ladder looks like on my boat at home out of the water if you want though.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

The gunwhale ladders with fold out standoffs so they stick out from the hull a bit make it easier.

So, if you aren't careful about the positioning of those legs, they can be broken off.

That happened with our old ladder a few seasons ago. What I ended up doing was just wrapping the ladder rung that contacted the boat in several layers of hockey tab and let it rub right on the hull when in use. It was actually a bit more stable that way, but a tad closer to the boat.

Better with legs, just be careful someone doesn't put weight on the ladder while they are sitting _above_ the rub guard on your boat, or they'll break them.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

Sorry I don't have pictures either, I can show you what the ladder looks like on my boat at home out of the water if you want though.

That would help a lot. I'm still 50/50 on a gunwale ladder or a permanent mount on the transom. I was originally opposed to them after using a rope ladder over the side this weekend, but everyone here seems to have good experiences with them.

Pretty much all of my friends/wife are in good shape. I'm in the military so most people here are in good physical shape. However I want it to be cake for my friend's kids to get in/out as well as my sister in law who had a double lung transplant.

My other concern is where the ladder comes over the gunwale. It seems like it would take a heavy toll on the vinyl eventually. I worry about that just b/c I just spent a lot of money on marine vinyl/foam!



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[tlzimmerman]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

That would help a lot. I'm still 50/50 on a gunwale ladder or a permanent mount on the transom. I was originally opposed to them after using a rope ladder over the side this weekend, but everyone here seems to have good experiences with them.

Pretty much all of my friends/wife are in good shape. I'm in the military so most people here are in good physical shape. However I want it to be cake for my friend's kids to get in/out as well as my sister in law who had a double lung transplant.

My other concern is where the ladder comes over the gunwale. It seems like it would take a heavy toll on the vinyl eventually. I worry about that just b/c I just spent a lot of money on marine vinyl/foam!



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Yeah, probably be a good idea to rig something up to protect the vinyl a bit, however mine doesn't bear load there, its more right on the top gelcoat of the gunwale if I remember right. You could probably make a vinyl piece or just canvas piece to lay over where you hung the ladder each time if nothing else.

I will try to take a pic with my cell phone over lunch....Its tarped up right now but I'll undo a corner. Plus the boat is in mid resto here so its not gonna look too fancy LOL.

 

[tlzimmerman]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

So, if you aren't careful about the positioning of those legs, they can be broken off.

That happened with our old ladder a few seasons ago. What I ended up doing was just wrapping the ladder rung that contacted the boat in several layers of hockey tab and let it rub right on the hull when in use. It was actually a bit more stable that way, but a tad closer to the boat.

Better with legs, just be careful someone doesn't put weight on the ladder while they are sitting _above_ the rub guard on your boat, or they'll break them.

Yeah, my boat ladder doesn't have them and it works fine, I think it would be rough on your toes because with the ladder directly against the hull you have to stand on your toes as you climb out instead of being able to bear the weight on your foot.

However, its not a big enough deal for me to consider buying a new one LOL...I'll use the one that came with the boat.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Easy to install/use GOOD ladder

Yeah, probably be a good idea to rig something up to protect the vinyl a bit, however mine doesn't bear load there, its more right on the top gelcoat of the gunwale if I remember right. You could probably make a vinyl piece or just canvas piece to lay over where you hung the ladder each time if nothing else.

I wrapped the hooks in hockey tape as well. I did this mainly because one of the plastic covers on the metal hook started to crack, but also a few layers of tape softened the "connection" as it were over the hull.

Once in a while I had to snap at the kids to make sure that the ladder was positioned correctly because kids being kids, it WOULD be possible to rip the vinyl especially on a hot day when it's soft. But we never had an incident.