Boat ladders - How far do yours reach?

salinia

salinia

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I thought I would have no problem using my drop down steps (about 6 inches below the water level) when trying to get back on board after a swim during the recent spell of warm weather.
However it came as a surprise that these steps (pictured) are not long enough for me to get a bottom foothold and will have to be adapted for future use. BTW I do consider myself reasonably fit and had to get aboard using the dinghy. I am going to add another 14 inches or so to make things a little easier and safer. I think 20 inches below the water level should be ok how do others fare?
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My boat, like yours , has a transom hung rudder. The previous owner bolted a simple step onto the rudder which is surprisingly good for clambering back on board. It doesn't have a noticeable effect on the rudder.

However, I don't know if you could drop that rudder from the water, if it were in the raised position. Not a problem with mine, the rudder lifts on its pintle.
 
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Mine drop about one and a half steps below the water and I can't get a foot onto the bottom rung either. However I have found that I can get both knees onto the bottom step and I can then lift myself high enough to be able to get a foot on the rung.
 
Similar problem to me!

I solved it, I hope, by adding an extra rung ( stainless steel tube) hanging on two lengths of rope from the bottom rung.

when the ladder is folded it hangs between the two sections

Not yet tested though.

Fitted the ladder after finding out how difficult it was to climb back on board after an unintended swim
 
+1
I have about 18 or 20 inches of rope with tube on the end. Gives enough 'leverage' to get second foot onto the first rung. Impossible to board without it in full oilies, sailing boots and so on. Don't ask how I know this:(
 
Beneteau has a sugar scoop and the ladder is mounted on the flat part. You get three rungs under water and you can get out without any problem.
 
Ladder

I have had for many years a simple loop of 6mm SS rod bent to make an additional step that hangs down from a transom mounted step about 6inches below the surface. I have used this a lot to get on board from the water but I found it getting more difficult. I have this winter added another step in the form of another loop of SS attached by small shackles to the existing folding step. It doesn't look brilliant folded back to the transom but is unobtrusive, light weight and I hope useful. The existing step does swing in under the hull as you try to get your body up so I expect this addition will do the same thing only worse. Time will tell in a few months when we are back in the water.
Only 6 weeks to go. olewill (obviously in the antipodes)
 
William_H said:
I have had for many years a simple loop of 6mm SS rod bent to make an additional step that hangs down from a transom mounted step about 6inches below the surface. I have used this a lot to get on board from the water but I found it getting more difficult. I have this winter added another step in the form of another loop of SS attached by small shackles to the existing folding step. It doesn't look brilliant folded back to the transom but is unobtrusive, light weight and I hope useful. The existing step does swing in under the hull as you try to get your body up so I expect this addition will do the same thing only worse. Time will tell in a few months when we are back in the water.
Only 6 weeks to go. olewill (obviously in the antipodes)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies and suggestions all. I quite like this idea!
I could cover the rod with yellow hose so as to provide some protection when stored away and it would be easy to see under the water. I guess I could bend it to interlink with the bottom section of ladder to prevent its movement under the hull when pressing up on it. Thanks William H. I will post a pic when I have one to show. Now to find some s/s rod.
 
5 year old had a job on mine, not deep enough and certainly not wide enough.

Last boat had a side ladder (S/S) which was great, so going to cut in 1/2 and widen so that to welly clad feet can get on one rung and lenghten the folding bit by one step. but now after reading about some of the methods used here will go down that route instead.
 
Mine has two steps under the water. I don't have any difficulty getting onto it. However, because it's mounted on the beam and tends to follow the overhang curve of the hull, it feels a little precarious climbing up it. I've added a plaited manrope that clips onto the running backstay and hangs down with the ladder - it's helpful having that to cling onto.

Pete
 
Also about 3 feet below water level, maybe a bit more. It's easy to get onto from the water when I've been swimming. I have no intention of trying it in full oillies, but anticipate no problems should someone need to.
 
Whatever you do, please make sure you can undo whatever secures the folding/retacting bit easily from in the water with cold hands and no tools - so no knots to undo - and while wearing full oilies.

I couldn't one day. If the water had been colder or I'd been on my own, it might easily have been the last lesson I learned.
 
Stemar said:
Whatever you do, please make sure you can undo whatever secures the folding/retacting bit easily from in the water with cold hands
Click to expand...

Bit problematic in my case, as the ladder lives in the stern locker. It clips onto the rail just forward of the cockpit, so any suggestion of leaving it rigged under way is a complete non-starter.

Pete
 
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