Boarding Ladders (from water)?

[Tin Man]

From a safety perspective, I always found it imperative to have a safe, sturdy, and capable boarding ladder on all of my boats. Not necessarily for pleasure swimming, but for emergency boarding, in the event someone falls overboard.

For example, on a 16' tinny like mine, what are you using? IMO, it should be easily deployable from the water (Ex. If solo, or in my case, I have a son with Autism who may not be able to deploy a ladder).

Thanks!

 

[LDUBS]

Hiya Tin Man. Check out the rescue step under the Tin Boat Sponsors list. I don't have one but it looks like it might fit your needs.

 

[DaleH]

Larry:

See these posts:

https://forum.tinboats.net/viewtopic.php?p=475955&hilit=Ladder#p475955

https://forum.tinboats.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=45670&p=458327

https://forum.tinboats.net/viewtopic.php?p=417344&hilit=Ladder#p417344

FYI, the biggest problem with ladder with only a couple steps is that people need to put their foot up too high, and that bottom step is barely in the water or is slanted under the hull and they also don’t have enough upper body strength to pull themselves up out of the water.

 

[Tin Man]

This one looks similar to the one in first link under Dale's post. I've used this one before, but wasn't too sure how it would be on my tinny, seeing as the alum is thin and boarding of heavier persons would put some some real flex to the transom. 3/16" or 1/4" alum backing plates would be in order. It is angled away from boat and is 4 steps.

34" deployed length....If mounted just above water line (where it should be mounted to maximize length) it should put 2 steps into water. There's already a handle on my transom.... one near each upper corner of transom.

NOTE: I paid $135 for this same ladder back in 2020. Approx. 40% increase in two years!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Garelick-19684-Ladder-Telescoping-Step/dp/B01CZ2YBMI#customerReviews

I reached out to Rescue Step to see what the deployed dimensions are, as I was unable to fine them on their website.

 

[Tin Man]

Hiya Tin Man. Check out the rescue step under the Tin Boat Sponsors list. I don't have one but it looks like it might fit your needs.

Thanks! I've reached out to them for more details

 

[airshot]

Was watching a fishing show the other day, and they showed a portable ladder that attched to the transom in a small pouch that you could roll out to get back in, in an emergency. Been looking for something like that but cant find anything....anyone have any leads??

 

[maintenanceguy]

I tried one of the webbing ladders with PVC pipee ladder rungs. Very difficult to use. If it was up against a wall it would probably work. Dangling in the water, the ladder moves away from you and under the boat. Any rescue ladder I bought would have to be rigid.

But my plan is to step on the outboard's ventilation plate and climb in over the transom. I've never actually tried it so it might not work the way I expect - but in my imagination it works just fine. I hope I never have to find out.

 

[Kismet]

From a TINBOATS search:

https://tinboats.net/forum/search.php?keywords=boarding+ladder

The first seven or so posts are from this thread, but back in 2020 there was additional discussions...and then...back for seven pages of posts for you to review.

Best wishes.

 

[airshot]

I have done that many times with few issues, but...was a lot younger then !! My grandkids have done it, motor off of course !! At 72 not sure how easy it would be now...my thought of having one of these folded up ladders in a pouch on the transom, next to the outboard....between the two I should be able to climb back in....hopefully !!

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I’ll echo this.

For someone my size off center boarding is not an option.

The wife really wants to swim from the boat but I keep telling her it’s not going to happen with a 14’ boat.

 

[MrGiggles]

I've always ran a hydrofoil, which doubles as a pretty good step into the boat. I guess if I was really in bad shape and couldn't make the step up, I could stand on the motor and hit the trim button, which would dump me over the cowl and onto the back deck.

 

[Tin Man]

I really like these two ladders....

Garelick is retractable/telescoping, is deployable from the water, and the 4 steps should put two steps in water. (400# weight capacity, 34.5" deployed length). High quality as I have owned two. Will this one point mounting location (2 mounts) put too much stress and torque on the transom when boarding? I would think a 1/4" backing plate approx. 6"x6" for each mount, or one backing plate across the two mounts.

White Water is folding, two piece, and also has 4 steps, has a second point to distribute weight load (at two mounting brackets and at the two 4-5/8" stand offs), has a 300# weight capacity, and is 33.5" deployed. Not sure of quality. Same backing plates as described above.

Are these overkill for my 16' Alumacraft V16 utility boat?
There about 10# in weight

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZ2YBMI/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=tinb0ab-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=&creativeASIN=B01CZ2YBMI


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FJI2542/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00FJI2542&pd_rd_w=dfx6r&content-id=amzn1.sym.bff6e147-54ad-4be3-b4ea-ec19ea6167f7&pf_rd_p=bff6e147-54ad-4be3-b4ea-ec19ea6167f7&pf_rd_r=VM24C0A25982BNB3FHZS&pd_rd_wg=NtY96&pd_rd_r=4838d328-d51d-49fd-8958-9d5926691b16&s=sporting-goods&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMkJXNjBESVNJTTZHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTU5MTMzMUxYMzFFWkRYVjRFSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODI4OTE3OFJXOUlLWjJOTjdXJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsMiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[LDUBS]

I really like these two ladders....

Garelick is retractable/telescoping, is deployable from the water, and the 4 steps should put two steps in water. (400# weight capacity, 34.5" deployed length). High quality as I have owned two. Will this one point mounting location (2 mounts) put too much stress and torque on the transom when boarding? I would think a 1/4" backing plate approx. 6"x6" for each mount, or one backing plate across the two mounts.

White Water is folding, two piece, and also has 4 steps, has a second point to distribute weight load (at two mounting brackets and at the two 4-5/8" stand offs), has a 300# weight capacity, and is 33.5" deployed. Not sure of quality. Same backing plates as described above.

Are these overkill for my 16' Alumacraft V16 utility boat?
There about 10# in weight

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZ2YBMI/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=tinb0ab-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=&creativeASIN=B01CZ2YBMI


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FJI2542/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00FJI2542&pd_rd_w=dfx6r&content-id=amzn1.sym.bff6e147-54ad-4be3-b4ea-ec19ea6167f7&pf_rd_p=bff6e147-54ad-4be3-b4ea-ec19ea6167f7&pf_rd_r=VM24C0A25982BNB3FHZS&pd_rd_wg=NtY96&pd_rd_r=4838d328-d51d-49fd-8958-9d5926691b16&s=sporting-goods&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwy&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMkJXNjBESVNJTTZHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTU5MTMzMUxYMzFFWkRYVjRFSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODI4OTE3OFJXOUlLWjJOTjdXJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsMiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Hiya Tinman. They might be thought of as overkill until we need to use one -- then they become the best thing we ever did.

 

[DaleH]

BOYCOTT Amazon!!!!!! For many reasons … plus I find the SAME ITEMS to be available cheaper on eBay and most with FREE shipping!

Lookie here I bought that SAME ‘White Water’ folding ladder and it is perfect for a 14’ skiff!

Only $47 bucks shipped … how can you beat that????

FYI, the eBay Seller was ‘freebirdtrading’ …

…

 

[TriBull]

I use a single pole aluminum sport dive ladder with a transom mount on my 1974 12ft StarCraft. I use a jack plate, so I have room on the inside of my transom to store the ladder and a boat hook.

 

[airshot]

If you fall in the water, how do you deploy the ladder from outside the boat ??? Perhaps I am missing something here ??

 

[DaleH]

... appears it isn't setup for emergency use ... That's why I prefer this type of install for those who want that option!

 

[Tin Man]

BOYCOTT Amazon!!!!!! For many reasons … plus I find the SAME ITEMS to be available cheaper on eBay and most with FREE shipping!

Lookie here I bought that SAME ‘White Water’ folding ladder and it is perfect for a 14’ skiff!

Only $47 bucks shipped … how can you beat that????

FYI, the eBay Seller was ‘freebirdtrading’ …

…
View attachment 112094

Great find Dale! I didn't think to look at ebay. The 4 step is a little more $, but not much. MUCH less than Amazon! Thanks for the tip!

BTW....the folding type appear to be designed to be mounted to a horizontal surface....did you install on the vertical transom? If so, how did it turn out?

 

[DaleH]

Great find Dale! I didn't think to look at ebay. The 4 step is a little more $, but not much. MUCH less than Amazon! Thanks for the tip!

BTW....the folding type appear to be designed to be mounted to a horizontal surface....did you install on the vertical transom? If so, how did it turn out?

Youse asks … youse gets …

Lookie here for more info, plus the pictues below. Link = https://www.tinboats.net/threads/boarding-ladder.41207/#post-417344

 

[Tin Man]

Nice ladder set up. Is that a Sylvan? It has a deep transom....looks to be 25".

Looks like this one.....https://www.crappie.com/crappie/sold-forum/418490-slabs-loss-1997-sylvan-16-troller-select-deep-tiller-40hp-evinrude-sale/

BTW....if it was yours, did you ever get a windshield model boat?