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Replacing/upgrading Swim Ladder

Capt Dave

New Member
I read with interest some postings about how hard it is to get onto the production swim ladder. While we were waiting for Lucinda to be hauled out in the fall, another boat destroyed our swim ladder, so I'm hoping to use the opportunity to find one that will go farther into the water when deployed, especially if there were an emergency. Been looking at an Oceansouth USA: Transom Ladder 45.3” Retail approx. $103 or Overton’s Top-Mounted 4-Step Stainless Steel Swim Platform Ladder (47” below deck.) Retail approx. $140. The yard cautions that because of the shape of the transom, neither of these might be a good option. They suggest maybe adding a few rope steps. Does anybody have a suggestion on how best to proceed?
 
I am afraid your Yard might be right. The ladders you mentions will not work. I had to bite the bullet and have one custom made out of 1"aluminum tubing. In order for the ladder to be easy to get on, it must extend at least 3 ft below the waterline when deployed. You cost estimates are off by an order of magnitude. I am talking about a ladder that you can use to get back on board with a scuba tank on your back.
Best of luck!
 
Consider a ladder at midship instead of the stern. I *had* to go this route because of my windvane. But it is MUCH nicer. With a bit of chop the stern bounces and down, and you have to step over the gate, into the cockpit behind the wheel.
Boarding on the side deck is 100x nicer.
 
Warren is absolutely correct. A midships ladder is better and easier. On our 382 we have both. Check out Mystic Metals in Mystic CT for their midship ladder that secures to the genoa track.

Jim
 
Yeah, Warren & Jim are right. Midship would be better and easier to use.

I can almost never be accused of "cheaping out", but I have so far in this case. I got Plastimo web/strap ladder that we strap onto the bottom of the existing ladder when we are going swimming.

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We also found that with bare feet, the existing ladder is quite painful on the foot. So we got these little mini ladder tread things that we put on alternating left and right sides, every other step. Much easier on the foot. They are called Sole-Mate ladder treads.

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Neither of these things is actually "cheap", but they are less expensive than making a custom ladder, I think.
 
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I understand your ladder is broken. But the "cheap" way is what I did. I removed it from the back, cut off the mounting plates, and put white "feet" on the ends of the pipes. The feet like would be on the end of a pair of crutches. It hangs over the side perfectly, just be sure to tether it so you don't lose it. Total cost $5.

The ones that connect to the track look very good. I have also seen some (maybe by the same company?) that a more permanent and would integrate into the stanchion gate.
 
Warren - I didn’t realize you used your existing ladder. Very cost effective. I’d love to figure out a way to attach it to the genoa track (like Jim mentioned) so it doesn’t flop around if we are bouncing on waves.
 
It shouldn't be very hard for a fabricator to make some track slides and attach them to the ladder. Of course, SS fabrication work is expensive.
 
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