Looking for a Locking Clip for the boarding/swim ladder

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cpedw

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There's a boarding/swim ladder on the transom of the boat (Nordship 35DS if it helps). It's normally folded up leaving the sugar scoop clear and the ladder lies close up against the vertical transom. Nothing but a bit of friction and its weight keep it there.

It's a hazard when novices are getting aboard from the dinghy as it looks like a handhold. There is a fixed step/handhold too but it's not immediately obvious that the ladder should not be used; grabbing it would lead to it unfolding and the grabber probably getting wet.

I need a device to hold the ladder firmly in the up position but it would be good for a MOB to be able to unclip it and deploy the ladder. I'm sure there's the right snurble grip fibley out there but I can't find it. Any suggestions?

Derek
 
cpedw said:
I need a device to hold the ladder firmly in the up position but it would be good for a MOB to be able to unclip it and deploy the ladder. I'm sure there's the right snurble grip fibley out there but I can't find it. Any suggestions?
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I think you may need to fabricate something for your specific application; I'd be looking to use something like a bracket with a stainless spring-loaded pin latch, so that a piece of line could be attached to it to enable a MOB to release it.
pin latch2.jpg
 
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I have a line from the top of the ladder to the pushpit attached by a snap shackle. The release line from the snap shackle is attached to the bottom of the ladder so it can be released from the water with a tug. I'm 1000 miles from a photograph opportunity but I hop the description makes sense.
 
cpedw said:
There's a boarding/swim ladder on the transom of the boat (Nordship 35DS if it helps). It's normally folded up leaving the sugar scoop clear and the ladder lies close up against the vertical transom. Nothing but a bit of friction and its weight keep it there.

It's a hazard when novices are getting aboard from the dinghy as it looks like a handhold. There is a fixed step/handhold too but it's not immediately obvious that the ladder should not be used; grabbing it would lead to it unfolding and the grabber probably getting wet.

I need a device to hold the ladder firmly in the up position but it would be good for a MOB to be able to unclip it and deploy the ladder. I'm sure there's the right snurble grip fibley out there but I can't find it. Any suggestions?

Derek
Click to expand...

I use a piece of 6mm line with a soft eye in one end and a plastic 25mm ball on the other so the eye can be passed over the ball. The line arrangement will depend on the ladder configuration. I have my ball and eye down low so i can flip the loop off the ball with one hand while in the water. With this system the ladder is very secure in the up position and cannot be inadvertently pulled down if someone yanks on the ladder. You could have two sets of soft eyes and balls arranged on the same line so one could be released from in the water or the other from in the cockpit.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I have thought about a very similar boarding ladder setup on my own boat - not yet come up with a retro-fix solution that is both neat, foolproof and reliable.
 
Thanks for the observations so far. I fear that using string will be unsatisfactory; the angles and distance to the pushpit would probably prevent the ladder from completely deploying, but wouldn't save a hamfisted sort from slipping in I fear.

I envisaged something like a pair of jaws wide enough apart to accommodate the tubing of the ladder, with 2 holes in the outer ends of the jaws to hold a sturdy retaining pin - a simplified version of pvb's spring latch, which I will look into further.

I know that if I tried to fabricate this fitting myself, it would be unsightly and probably dangerous. I thought a manufactured version, just needing bolted to the transom, would be a straightforward answer, if only it existed.

Derek
 
We use a short line tied on at the top to the backstay fixing point, over the ladder and tied on to the ladder lower fixing point. It's easy to untie at the bottom from the water and the ladder can then be swung down. Two points - it's 12mm rope so can be easily untied without snarling up and the line is attached to the transom, not the ladder. Has always worked well!
 
A rudder pintle like this could be fixed onto the transom so the ladder tubes fitted into it/them and either a R pin to hold it in place and a line to where the swimmer can reach

6790984-origpic-a77ecd.jpg
 
Why not just fold the ladder down when you reach the boat in your tender as I always do? Seems like responders are finding solutions to a non-problem!
 
Jaguar 25 said:
Why not just fold the ladder down when you reach the boat in your tender as I always do? Seems like responders are finding solutions to a non-problem!
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Because we don't want to sail with nearly three feet of ladder rungs underwater.......

We're talking about typical AWB swim ladders that stow against the transom and hinge down to go below water. In the case of my Jeanneau the factory fit holder-upper is a small plastic hook and shockcord onto a very small eye-pad. Too strong for an accidental swimmer to break free (no leverage at bottom end) but not strong enough (lots of leverage) for someone climbing aboard from a tender to use as a steady handhold. And it's just the right place for a handhold. For neither situation is the original fitment much good. You could lash it firmly up, but then it would need someone on deck to untie it - no chance a swimmer could reach it. A really flimsy tie would hold it in place for normal sailing and a swimmer could break it and lower the ladder, but the first person to try to use it as a handhold would fall back into the water as the ladder hinged down.
 
Yes jwilson has identified my problem exactly.

I am thinking of using one of these https://premierfittings.co.uk/stainless-steel-boat-hook-clip/ Terry stle clips, with holes drilled near the outside edge to accept an R clip. Is that going to do it would you think?

Derek

PS I have a basic 3D printer; but I don't think ABS (the only material for my printer) would be the best material for this job.
 
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