fender ladder

[lilianroyle]

When buying a fender ladder is it best to get one shorter or longer than the height of the topsides. In other words one that has the bottom rung submerged. I'm want one for boarding from a dinghy but also maybe as a swimming ladder
thanking you all in advance

 

[RivalRedwing]

a swimming ladder need to be much deeper, a minimum 3-4 rungs under the water imho

 

[Refueler]

Isn't the problem then how do you keep the bottom rungs under water - given that fenders are normally air filled ?

 

[Stemar]

Isn't the problem then how do you keep the bottom rungs under water - given that fenders are normally air filled ?

That's going to be the issue with a long one. It'll try to float, and that will make the whole thing unstable.

To my mind, you'd do better to have something like this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boat-Lad...r-5-Steps-Alloy-Removable-LADAL5/282797066323

 

[Refueler]

That's going to be the issue with a long one. It'll try to float, and that will make the whole thing unstable.

To my mind, you'd do better to have something like this.
Boat Ladder Aluminium Hook Over Boarding Ladder 5 Steps Alloy Removable LADAL5 | eBay

Picture / link doesn't work .. but I cut and pasted ...

I have the Lalizas version of it and it is clipped to guard wire ready for use ... mine came with mount plates you hook into but I never fitted them as could never decide best location !! But works a treat hooked over toe-rail or transom.... for boarding from a dinghy ... but for swimmer ? IMHO - needs as many steps as possible .... by time mine has touched water - there are only 1.5 steps in water ... so its still an effort to get foot up to bottom step.

 

[vyv_cox]

Our experience is that fender ladders are pretty poor. They don't do either job very well.

 

[Refueler]

Our experience is that fender ladders are pretty poor. They don't do either job very well.

I have to agree ... but have considered for stepping up from pontoon ...

That was then solved by a cheap folding step box in local supermarket.

 

[Stemar]

I got one of these for an elderly friend whose boat had high freeboard

A lot safer than a ladder when you're getting on a bit, but no good for the dinghy

 

[Refueler]

This is my 'step-up' ...

opens up with one hand :

to :

I'm 105kgs ... takes my weight easily.

 

[lustyd]

But works a treat hooked over toe-rail or transom.

I think you may have got lucky with boat shape, or possibly I got unlucky. I had one like that on the Vivacity and every time I tried to use it the whole thing tipped sideways and folded before crushing my fingers against the hull. I didn't have the proper mounts and previous owner had presumably lost them so I don't blame the ladder necessarily
Thankfully as a UK boat it was a once a year treat to go in the water, and thanks to our delightful water companies it's now completely undesirable to go in or even touch the water!

 

[lustyd]

This is my 'step-up' ...

We have the slightly taller version of this for the new boat and it's perfect for the job from a pontoon. I did make the mistake of getting the red one, so now I have a pink one

 

[Refueler]

We have the slightly taller version of this for the new boat and it's perfect for the job from a pontoon. I did make the mistake of getting the red one, so now I have a pink one

I have a red as well as the white one. Red stays on the boat - boat is red as you know !!

 

[VicS]

When buying a fender ladder is it best to get one shorter or longer than the height of the topsides. In other words one that has the bottom rung submerged. I'm want one for boarding from a dinghy but also maybe as a swimming ladder
thanking you all in advance

For boarding from a dinghy I found not submerged better so that I could flip it inside the dinghy. (Obviosly not an inflatable). I've never used it for swimming but I think it will tend to float and that one long enough to use for boarding from the water will be difficult to submerge.

Mine hangs on a rope loop that drops over a winch and is adjusted to just reach the water.
Big broad feet in boots don't really fit on it especially if over inflated.

 

[dunedin]

Our experience is that fender ladders are pretty poor. They don't do either job very well.

They are good for their intended job - getting on and off a pontoon from a higher sided boat.
But clearly hopeless as a swim ladder, which is not their purpose

 

[thinwater]

ABYC and ISO both say that a boat must have a ladder that ...

• Has two full rungs below the water and extends about 24" below the surface. A ladder that does not extend well into the water is impossible to climb for most people with clothes on.
• Is fixed to the boat.
• Can be pulled down into the water by a swimmer without assistance.

A portable boarding ladder is all well and good for planned use, but if you fall in and either no one is aboard or they don't hear you it won't do you any good. Can you climb back into the dinghy in sodden clothes? Does the marina have a ladder nearby? Can you swim to shore?

It's more of a project, but an installed ladder is the right answer.

 

[dunedin]

ABYC and ISO both say that a boat must have a ladder that ...

• Has two full rungs below the water and extends about 24" below the surface. A ladder that does not extend well into the water is impossible to climb for most people with clothes on.
• Is fixed to the boat.
• Can be pulled down into the water by a swimmer without assistance.

A portable boarding ladder is all well and good for planned use, but if you fall in and either no one is aboard or they don't hear you it won't do you any good. Can you climb back into the dinghy in sodden clothes? Does the marina have a ladder nearby? Can you swim to shore?

It's more of a project, but an installed ladder is the right answer.

As ever, not necessarily - it depends on proposed usage and boat.
Many production boats have inbuilt swimming ladders at the stern, but may not suit the OP if wants to board from side.
And often manufacturers now fit a pull out soft emergency boarding ladder to meet the rules, which would be very ineffective for regular use - eg Osculati Flushmount Emergency Safety Ladder

 

[Daydream believer]

This is my 'step-up' ...

opens up with one hand :

to :

I'm 105kgs ... takes my weight easily.

I have a rigid version of that for getting on at the bow.I use it to step up to the bar on the CQR then through the split pushpit.
However, for alongside the pontoon, I do not like steps that can move about, or tip, such as the 2 step pattern shown in an earlier post. That being said, I appreciate the problem of climbing heights.
My solution was made because I consider it more secure & has a degree of adjustment. It also is less likely to go walkabout when I am not there. Or simply end up blown into the water. If the boat drifts slightly away from the pontoon in certain wind directions, it goes with it.
I originally had it for getting out of the dinghy on a mooring. I could hold the shrouds, step on to the step & the dinghy could bounce about as much as it liked. I was securely fixed to the side of the boat. At this point crew could pass stuff to me, to heave over the guard rail, or I could step up on to the gunwhale & then over the guard rail on to the deck
Cheap & simple to make. A metal bar supports the step between the 2 vertical studs which are sheathed with clear heat shrink. The picture shows the line tied to the eyes but that is because it is a bit long. The 2 snap shackles would be enough if the lines were shortened.

 

[thinwater]

As ever, not necessarily - it depends on proposed usage and boat.
Many production boats have inbuilt swimming ladders at the stern, but may not suit the OP if wants to board from side.
And often manufacturers now fit a pull out soft emergency boarding ladder to meet the rules, which would be very ineffective for regular use - eg Osculati Flushmount Emergency Safety Ladder

This is an ISO requirement for new builds with only two exceptions.

• Racing dinghies with very low freeboard. Lasers and similar.
• Boats that will never be operated without someone on-board, on watch. I seriously doubt any cruising boat can meet this requirement (sleeping, fixing dinner, and going to boat at the dock will all violate this.
• There are pull down ladders that come from the side. And no one said he could not have both.

But it doesn't even matter. It is common sense and there is ALWAYS a way. Sort of like saying you don't need a seat belt and trying to justify your exceptions. You are defending an untenable position.

Yes, this is pet of mine. People have died because they could not reboard easily. I rank this as important as PFDs and lifelines. I've added or upgraded every boat I have owned (4) to an installed ladder that met or exceed the ISO requirement, starting before the requirement existed. Some of the people I sailed with were older ... like we are now. I've said my piece.

Install a ladder.

 

[lustyd]

Which ISO standard are you quoting that applies to new builds in the UK?

 

[vyv_cox]

They are good for their intended job - getting on and off a pontoon from a higher sided boat.
But clearly hopeless as a swim ladder, which is not their purpose

I disagree. We had one like this. It was ridiculously heavy for a fender, so much so that we could not use it easily. The rungs were small and touched the hull, with the result that only a couple of toes could be placed on it. Pretty near useless.

I made this one instead. Two fenders with line that passes through the middle, two lengths of timber with carpet attached, used to keep lifting slings off the toe-rails. Far more effective and with each
component available for other uses. Folds down for minimal stowage.