Telescopic ladders

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I am thinking of getting one of these for hull work, and onshore access.

http://www.midlandladders.com/products/3_8m_12ft6_Xtend_Climb_PRO_Telescopic_Ladder-156-76.html

Our toerail is 3.3m from the ground so it needs to be at least that long.

Any experience of these or alternative recommendations?

Thanks

 

[Rigger Mortice]

They seem to be very popular with building surveyors who need something which is compact and easy to use.

But, I would be cautious about using one if it was likely to be used near salt water. Get it wet, put it in a locker, bring it out again some months later and find that it is corroded up and won't open?

 

[grahama]

They seem to be very popular with building surveyors who need something which is compact and easy to use.

But, I would be cautious about using one if it was likely to be used near salt water. Get it wet, put it in a locker, bring it out again some months later and find that it is corroded up and won't open?

And how would you get off the boat if it's on the hard and the ladder is in the locker; as presumably you wouldn't want it with you when the boats launched?

A surveyor recently used one, I gave it a good inspection and it appeared very well made and robust, if I didn't have a bent aluminium ladder chained to the cradle I would purchase one as it will fit easily in the car boot .

 

[capsco]

I am thinking of getting one of these for hull work, and onshore access.

http://www.midlandladders.com/products/3_8m_12ft6_Xtend_Climb_PRO_Telescopic_Ladder-156-76.html

Our toerail is 3.3m from the ground so it needs to be at least that long.

Any experience of these or alternative recommendations?

Thanks

I purchased one that looks exactly the same but it is 3.8m, off EBay it was £70 pp .

 

[Rigger Mortice]

And how would you get off the boat if it's on the hard and the ladder is in the locker; as presumably you wouldn't want it with you when the boats launched?.

?????

Ladder in locker, me on boat wanting to get off?
Wouldn't I take it out of the locker, open it up, lower it to the ground and climb down?
Or am I missing something?

 

[Modulation]

?????

Ladder in locker, me on boat wanting to get off?
Wouldn't I take it out of the locker, open it up, lower it to the ground and climb down?
Or am I missing something?

Of course you're missing something!!!! The uncanny ability of some people to conjure up problems when none exist.
Don't we just love them for their pedantry!!

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I purchased one that looks exactly the same but it is 3.8m, off EBay it was £70 pp .

Yes, they appear to e almost identical. On eBay for £80 including postage and bag. Out with the credit card it is then.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

?????

Ladder in locker, me on boat wanting to get off?
Wouldn't I take it out of the locker, open it up, lower it to the ground and climb down?
Or am I missing something?

And how would you get off the boat if it's on the hard and the ladder is in the locker; as presumably you wouldn't want it with you when the boats launched?

It will stay on the boat. We have cavernous lazarette lockers. In one side I have the barbecue, 2 bikes, the cleaning equipment, the engine oil change box, a 13 litre vacuum pump and the liferaft (and yes, I can get to it.) There's still room in there for the ladder, and me as well. And we have the other side which is the same capacity!

 

[ditchcrawler]

I bought mine from Amazon with a bag for £80.They have quite a few to choose from.

 

[Chrissie]

Ive been using one for my surveying for three years now, its great, fits in the back of my smart car, I can carry it with one hand and when its in its bag carry it over my shoulder.
Very strong, but I make sure I give the legs a spray with WD40 at least once a year to stop them sticking when not in use.

 

[Madhatter]

I am thinking of getting one of these for hull work, and onshore access.

http://www.midlandladders.com/products/3_8m_12ft6_Xtend_Climb_PRO_Telescopic_Ladder-156-76.html

Our toerail is 3.3m from the ground so it needs to be at least that long.

Any experience of these or alternative recommendations?

Thanks

C R A P - C R A P and more C R A P you have to be lucky to get one that does not break the moment it gets a bit of work then you end up with a broken bone, believe me I have had 3 different brands and prices.

 

[Coaster]

I've used Telesteps telescopic ladders for work for about 10 years now. The first one wore out after 6 years. For 20 years I've bought ladders from Austin White, a ladder specialist in Northampton. Take a look about half way down this page.

Telescopic ladders are damaged by grit so you'd need to keep sand off. I spray WD40 on about once every 3 months, to keep the mechanism working properly.

I have seen cheaper ladders but would not want one of them. Some have the requirement to lock each rung individually, which would be a real chore. The Telesteps ladders simply need opening to the necessary length, then pulling two lugs to allow instant telescoping back to minimum size. I also have misgivings about the durability of the cheaper ladders.

 

[prv]

I appreciate that a folding one can go in your enviously large lockers, but with a boat that tall I assume you don't routinely park it on the beach. So why would you need the ladder with you when sailing?

If you're only using it in the yard, and hence not storing it in the locker (else you have a crowbar-inside-the-box problem ), why do you need a folding ladder? Why not do what everyone else does and chain a basic, cheap (ideally ancient) ladder to the cradle? (Or round the keel / through the prop aperture if not on a cradle.) This can also have a block of wood or similar permanently attached to bear against the hull side at the top end, and avoid marring the toe-rail / rubbing strake with the ladder rails. You can't do that with the folding one as it would prevent the fold.

Pete

 

[LittleShip]

Been using a set for the past 7-8 years with no problems, they were however the most expensive at approx £200 then (prices have fallen). I keep mine in the back of the car and spray them with WD40 about twice a year. They have been out in rain, ice and snow when working on the boat without any problems.

When I have finished my witer maintenance I take them home spray them and then they are ready for the next year.

They also conform to the H&S regarding weight loading which some of the others (cheaper ones) "MAY" not.

Tom

 

[savageseadog]

I had a set which telescoped while I was on it, I was uninjured and extremely lucky. It turned out that the top rung had to be extended a few inches to allow the next one down to lock. Moral...........don't use second hand ladders from a car boot sale with no instructions.

 

[FistralG]

Maplin were selling a 3.8m one for £79.99 sadly no longer available.
worth shopping around tho.

 

[PCUK]

Got mine on Ebay. £60 new. Well made and works fine.