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Looking for Ladder options

paragon

Alan & Cheryl Shedd
As part of boat yard fun, we are grinding, filling, painting transom to address cracks that others have written about. More superficial repair and re-gel coat didn’t hold up. We are considering ladder replacement options - factory ladder OK but easier to board from midships, small aft deck and Bimini, and may add wind vane steering. Anyone have or seen a good ladder that works on side? I don’t want a removable type that fits in brackets - something else to store. Sailed a Freedom 40 with good side ladder but don’t know source. Searched archives but didn’t see much on topic.

Thanks.
-Alan
Paragon M382 #265
 
As part of boat yard fun, we are grinding, filling, painting transom to address cracks that others have written about. More superficial repair and re-gel coat didn’t hold up. We are considering ladder replacement options - factory ladder OK but easier to board from midships, small aft deck and Bimini, and may add wind vane steering. Anyone have or seen a good ladder that works on side? I don’t want a removable type that fits in brackets - something else to store. Sailed a Freedom 40 with good side ladder but don’t know source. Searched archives but didn’t see much on topic.

Thanks.
-Alan
Paragon M382 #265
I have the Scanmar ladder. It is expensive, but great quality and worth it.
 
you will have to have new bases made to fit the high glass gunwale on the Morgan. And you will have to access inside the gunwale ( not easy) to install. My Morgan ladder was moved by previous owner to the side of my stern so a Monitor could be installed. Of course the aft deck is small, but my arrangement is easier than what you contemplate I believe.
 
you will have to have new bases made to fit the high glass gunwale on the Morgan. And you will have to access inside the gunwale ( not easy) to install. My Morgan ladder was moved by previous owner to the side of my stern so a Monitor could be installed. Of course the aft deck is small, but my arrangement is easier than what you contemplate I believe.
Hi Terry: Do you have any photos of your ladder installation? Looked thru media but didn't see it. Thanks. -Alan
 
Alan
We have the regular stern ladder on the boat. When the davits for the dinghy were added, the use of the ladder was restricted when the dinghy was up in position. Bonnie was concerned that we had no access to a ladder with the dink up so we bought a ladder for the port side. It's a 5 step ladder from Mystic Stainless which is a very nicely made piece of kit. It is up out of the way, folded against the lifelines, when not in use. The 5 steps extend well enough into the water to make getting up the ladder easy. I added Starboard steps to the rungs. I will take photos when I get back out this week.

Jim
 
Alan
We have the regular stern ladder on the boat. When the davits for the dinghy were added, the use of the ladder was restricted when the dinghy was up in position. Bonnie was concerned that we had no access to a ladder with the dink up so we bought a ladder for the port side. It's a 5 step ladder from Mystic Stainless which is a very nicely made piece of kit. It is up out of the way, folded against the lifelines, when not in use. The 5 steps extend well enough into the water to make getting up the ladder easy. I added Starboard steps to the rungs. I will take photos when I get back out this week.

Jim
Thanks Jim; yes, the Mystic ladder looks great. Thanks in advance for photos. I assume you used their fittings for mounting it on the sail track. If so, can it be relocated side to side reasonably easily? We usually dock port side to but don't always have a choice. Will it stay in the stowed position if the lifeline gate is open? Also would like your thoughts / experience - I have some concern about interference with Genoa sheet. In light air we run a 150 sheeted to the rail-mounted track.
 
Alan
To address your questions, we do use the Mystic supplied fittings that go on the outside track. So the ladder can be located anywhere there is track, port or stbd. If my memory serves me, and often it doesn't, Mystic also has mounting brackets that don't use the track. Our boat lives on a mooring and we seldom use the lifeline gates. Our ladder is located in the port side gate. If we need to use that gate, as in rafting-up with other boats, we unship the folded up ladder and stow in on the cabin top. We sail with a 130% genoa with a high clew that is sheeted to the inside track, then to the outside track further aft. When sheeted in tight for sailing close hauled, it doesn't interfere with the lifelines or the ladder strapped to them.

Jim
 
Jim, an embarrassing question. I have not sailed the Adavida for over a year, during her refit. I sheet my genoa as you do.. But I don't now remember how far back I put the outside track blocks. Please remind me. Also, I always move the sheets to the outside tracks for reaching or running. Better sail shape and then the sheet does not grind on the leeward life lines. But that is a pain. I am contemplating trying to come up with a barber hauler system. How do you deal with the same issues when reaching or running? Thanks.
 
Terry
To lead the jib sheet fair to the winch on the cockpit coaming, I keep the car on the outboard track about a foot or so from the aft end of the track. At the very end of the outboard track, I keep a car with an eye where the spinnaker block is snapped on. That also leads fair to the winch. When we are sailing locally around the sound, the genoa is mostly kept lead to the inner track for all points of sail. If we are off shore or are going to be on a long downwind tack for a considerable amount of time, we will shift the lead from the inner to outer track. Because our 130% genoa is cut with a high clew, we do not have an issue with the sheets rubbing on the lifelines. Since we first went to the 130% genoa, years ago, we have been sheeting to the inner track. There has never been a problem with the integrity of the inner track. The bolts haven't loosened and the deck around the track is solid and dry. I hope this answers your question. If not, I'll try again.

Jim
 
Perfect, thanks. I have a 135% genoa and on a reach, the sheets rub on the upper lifeline. I think I don't need to go back as far as you do, but that is the problem, I forget where I used to place the blocks. If I go as far aft as you, the sheet block would be aft of the primary winches. That must be true for you, as well. I have secondaries father back, about a foot or 14" from coaming end, which I use for the spinnaker.
 
Terry
I don't think my outer tracks come so far back. Thirty-five seasons on the boat and I don't remember????? This weekend I'll take more photos, promise!

Jim
 
Terry

Images 531-533 are of Dana's outer track position. The aft end of the track does not come back as far as the sheet winch. It is about 1 foot aft of the break in the deck. The sheet car is about 18" up from the end of the track and is just aft of the lifeline stanchion. That car always stays there. The car shown near the end of the inner track moves to accommodate sail shape. The car with the eye at the end of the outer track is for the asymmetrical spinnaker sheeting.

Images 0534-0538 are of the Mystic Stainless ladder that lives on the port side using mounting fittings on the outer track. The chair feet on the support arms protect the hull. There are wood dowels placed inside those arms so the chair feet are not cut by the metal pipe. The Starboard steps that are bolted on are my own design and make for easy climbing the ladder. We are very pleased with the quality of the workmanship of the Mystic ladder.

Jim
 

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