I need a strong boat ladder

[mars bar]

Hey fellow boaters I need to find a strong boat ladder at a reasonable price. I"m 6' 2' and ( I know didn't think they could pile #%$# that high) 285 lbs. I get real nervous climbing ladders with plastic steps. Last time step broke and I hit the cavitation plate with my shin. Everyone say ooooooh . Any suggestions? thanks

 

[rbh]

Re: I need a strong boat ladder

are you trying to find the welded stainless rungs with the wood steps, you may have to get some fabbed up.
rob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I need a strong boat ladder

there are quiet a few all metal ladders. http://www.iboats.com/Boat_Parts_Ac...9106--submit.Search--submit.x.45--submit.y.14

 

[Mark42]

Re: I need a strong boat ladder

You said that you need a ladder at reasonable price. A rope ladder can be made fairly cheaply, and be very strong. Make a pair of J hooks for hanging on the gunnel out of PVC pipe, or skip the J hooks and hang the ladder directly on a cleat. Use 1/2" rope, and cedar or pressure treated 2x4 for the treads. Cut the treads to the width you like, drill holes for the 1/2 rope, and tie knots in the rope to secure each tread in place. My choice would be to use braided nylon or propaline (sp?) rope rather than twisted, but the choice is yours. A neat and quick project!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: I need a strong boat ladder

What kind of boat?

 

[ziggy]

Re: I need a strong boat ladder

Last time step broke and I hit the cavitation plate with my shin.

yep, that's gotta hurt. hold long were ya bleeding?

over the years, i've found most ladders to be lame. hard to climb at the very least. so i don't use a ladder. i use my drive. put my foot on end of the rams, push up and catch the rail and pull myself up all in one motion. momentum is the key. of course if ya got high freeboard, that may not work. in which case, i've no suggestion... i've been climbing the drive since i was a kid in the 70's. and for me it works the best and i'm still doing it.. so far.. ya didn't say what kinda boat and i reckon that may be critical for doing it my way. the boats i've done this on have all be smaller (16'-19') speedboats with i/o's, with low freeboard. never tried it with an o/b which i'd guess would make my method not so good. a inboard and my method wouldn't work at all..

i do carry a ladder onboard too. one of them portable ones. it hangs off the sides. not the back. so at least when ya fall ya don't hit the drive and bleed. the one i have is old and has wood steps... it works only ok. i've had to get someone back inside my boat with it that wasn't hip to boats or how to get back in boats from deep water. this person was strong but heavy... it was a plane and simple bummer to get him back in.. with that statement i'm just saying there's a trick to getting back up a ladder. i can climb it just fine. i just prefer the climb up the drive method as it works for me and i don't have to go dig the ladder out from under the seats... hope ya can find something that works well for you...