Extending a stainless boarding ladder

[john]

Reading the recent post about falling in and climbing out led me to think about my own arrangements. I've had the boat nearly 20 years and each season I curse not having extra steps on my boarding ladder. With age and ahem, middle age spread I'm finding it harder to climb up them. I've tried plastic and rope steps attached to the bottom but not found them very easy to use.

Can a stainless fabricator add a couple of extra steps to the ladder I already have? Or a slide down or fold down section perhaps ? Can I buy fittings and do something myself? Any advice would be welcome (apart from to lose weight, thank you!)

John

 

[rogerthebodger]

A hinge like this will allow you to extend your ladder quite easy depending on you skill and equipment you could do it your self but any stainless fabricator should be able to do it for you if you don't have the skill.

http://www.makefast.com/acatalog/TUBE_HINGE_COMPONENTS.html

This is an alternate hinge arrangement

http://www.makefast.com/acatalog/EXTERNAL_TUBE_HINGES.html

Tube joiners also available

http://www.makefast.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Tube_Joints_149.html

 

[Graham_Wright]

You need at least two rungs under the water and the ladder should be at worst vertical and better inclined away from the transom.

 

[jon and michie]

Find a 2nd hand ladder and attach
Jon

 

[neil_s]

My boarding ladder is hinged in the middle, so that it doesn't drag in the water. When folded down, though it only just managed to get one rung into the water. A stainless steel fabricator made me a new fold down section with two extra rungs - the bottom rung is now about 600mm below the waterline. It is now easy to climb out, but the folded section does stick up above the deck somewhat. I still haven't worked out how to secure the ladder from the cockpit while being able to release it from the water!

 

[PCUK]

I'm near Tiverton and could do it for beer vouchers!

 

[colind3782]

I still haven't worked out how to secure the ladder from the cockpit while being able to release it from the water!

I have mine clipped to the pushpit by a snap shackle with the release line extending down to the bottom of the ladder (when in the "up" position) and within easy reach of the water. One tug releases the snap shackle and brings the ladder down.

 

[Graham_Wright]

I have mine clipped to the pushpit by a snap shackle with the release line extending down to the bottom of the ladder (when in the "up" position) and within easy reach of the water. One tug releases the snap shackle and brings the ladder down.

I have the same problem of release. My ladder is heavy (it doubles as a passerelle) and a sudden release is likely to end in a dented head. My solution (yet to be tried) is for the release line also to allow the weight of the ladder to be taken by the person in the water.

Not a simple problem.

 

[colind3782]

I have the same problem of release. My ladder is heavy (it doubles as a passerelle) and a sudden release is likely to end in a dented head. My solution (yet to be tried) is for the release line also to allow the weight of the ladder to be taken by the person in the water.

Not a simple problem.

Could be as simple as another dedicated lowering line passing through a small block on the pushpit.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Could be as simple as another dedicated lowering line passing through a small block on the pushpit.

That is the way I am thinking.

 

[fisherman]

My loft ladder has three sections, goes from 4ft to 12 ft with stops between, release levers on the side all reachable from below. Only ally though.

 

[neil_s]

Thank you, colind3782 - I think your snap shackle idea would work for me!

 

[Daydream believer]

Only the op knows if he can make the ladder himself so no point in asking really
The question suggests that the answer is no
Best just to go to a fabricator & get made.

 

[William_H]

The simple option would be to cut the tubes and extend with 2 pieces of slightly larger tube. This could extend it lower by perhaps 20 or 40 cms. You could go longer with another rung attached to the extension pieces. The problem is that the ladder would extend much higher when in the up position. Which may look bad to you.
In which case you will need to fit additional hinges. The problem being that as you put your weight on the bottom rung and haul with your arms you put a huge forward force on the bottom rung so tending to bend the tube of force the hinges against the stops. If they have stops. Any movement of the bottom rung forward will make climbing more difficult. Like a rope ladder.
So telescopic side tubes might be the answer. You need a cable or similar to stop the tubes coming apart. All a question then of finding the right sized tubes to go inside or outside existing side tubes and with another rung built in.
This would mean 2 sliding joints either side but could mean the ladder is only about 4cms longer when stowed.
good luck olewill

 

[colind3782]

Thank you, colind3782 - I think your snap shackle idea would work for me!

:encouragement: