Ladder for Bass Boat

[workhorse]

Have any of you guys mounted swiming ladders to your bass boats? I have a 96 Nitro

 

[j_martin]

Re: Ladder for Bass Boat

The new ones come with a boarding ladder right out of the factory. I think it's required.

I sure could have used one when I took an unplanned swim last summer. Others had to board my boat and drag my lard arse back up on it.

I've looked at one on a ranger. It looks like it would have to be a custom bend to fit a bass boat without interfering with the machinery hatch. There isn't enough room for a regular swim platform ladder. Garelick and others make a short transom boarding ladder that extends upward when not in use. Not sure I'd like that, but might be OK.

 

[workhorse]

Re: Ladder for Bass Boat

Wonder how something like this would work? 400lb capacity? If I watch what I eat, this may work. Has anyone used this? http://www.iboats.com/mall/image/vendor/16/bigger/792403.gif

 

[jevery]

Re: Ladder for Bass Boat

The concern would be the unplanned swim. A removable ladder likely won?t be in place and if the water was cold, a person would find himself in serious trouble. An e-ladder mounts to a jackplate or to the engine mounts.

http://www.basscatstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=780

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Ladder for Bass Boat

I use one of those fold up jobs with 4 rungs on my Astro. I open the largest rear hatch and the ladder sits right inside the inner lip and hangs over the side. I spent a lot of time looking at ladder options before choosing this route. None fit right without a lot of modifying and the thought of an unsightly ladder permanently mounted was enough to push me in this direction. The few times I need a ladder, this works best for me. In an emergency, you can just climb up the outboard to get back into the boat.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Ladder for Bass Boat

I use one of those fold up jobs with 4 rungs on my Astro. I open the largest rear hatch and the ladder sits right inside the inner lip and hangs over the side. I spent a lot of time looking at ladder options before choosing this route. None fit right without a lot of modifying and the thought of an unsightly ladder permanently mounted was enough to push me in this direction. The few times I need a ladder, this works best for me. In an emergency, you can just climb up the outboard to get back into the boat.

Theoretically, you should be able to stand on the cav plate, then reach around to the trim switches on the cowl and jack yourself out of the water, then just climb/fall off the motor and yer back in the boat.

Never tried it, but I should to see if it'd work as advertized. Trouble is a test run could be real rough on the cowl.

maybe just dreamin'

How does that thing workhorse linked to store and deploy? Key element is that the re-entry device needs to be deployable from a swimming position.

My 02
John