WM gunnel mount ladder question

I tried one, but it was loose at the bottom and would not stay against the boat...what it needed was some weight in the lower tubes...

If you look at the pictures in my album you will see what I did... I had a mount made that will fit my Scotty pole holder bracket...and sit against the side and it kinda locked itself in position...then I attached a strong diving ladder to it....that works well and easily will carry the weight of a person wearing a scuba tank...the other was too light weight.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Thanks Joel, but what I'm looking for is if the ladder is stored in the cockpit, hanging from the gunnel keyhole mounts, can it be used as a step to get out of, and into, the cockpit from a dock or the side decks.

bruce
 
The ones I have owned (thru the years) have been too long to be used for cockpit steps, but I see that this one folds up between the two steps. You have to have something for the "standoffs" to rest against. --unless these are fairly long, many times, you have a ladder with is angled inward at the bottom--and more difficult to climb, than one which si angled outward at the bottom...Add in the tendency of the boat to heel toward that side (unless someone stands opposite in the cockpit) compounds this tendency. This may not bother some folks--but I found it to be an issue for me. But I did use these type of steps for many years in all sorts of small boats.
 
My 2cw: To solve Thataway's problem, I just extended the aluminum tube standoffs with wood dowels cut to a length that made the ladder lean away from the boat. Used rubber chair leg caps on dowel end against the boat. I'm a little confused by the mounting brackets you posted as they don't reference the ladder you posted. Regardless of that entry or exit from the boat cockpit would require facing the dock; while entering the boat most people want to face the boat. I built a two step stairway that hooks over the side gunwale pocket; admittedly it's always in the way unless I put it in the motor well. For swimmer's entry I have a garlick ladder that loops over the whole gunwale (no brackets on the gunwale), telescopes (4 steps - tried 3 steps and no good, need to get knee above your nose to get foot on first rung), and stores against hull side under dinette table whether up or down (the table).

Jay
 
I bought one of these ladders and found it next to useless as the standoffs are cheap aluminum tubing and bent the first time I tried to use it. I substituted wooden dowels but it was still not very functional and it is about to go to the metal recycling bin. A stainless ladder with robust stainless tube standoffs might be better but I could not find one. Like Bob I found the heeling of the boat to the side the ladder was on, also made the ladder hard to use. It is also not long enough to allow a swimmer to get a foot onto it easily. SEA3PO has a much better solution.
 
My album showes what I did. I still don't know how to include photos. It worked well. I elongated the stand-off tubes ( for better outside angle against the hull ) and used the tube material left over from cutting off the bottom step so it could be used inside as a step down. I made the stand-off sturdy by using an inner telescoping tube about 2 inches long and then pop rivited the splice in. Can be used on either side with extra gunnel sockets. Everything was available at WM back then. Good luck![/img]
 
We used this Garelick item. Easily moved from side to side. They also have a 3 step model I think.
June_2007_012.sized.jpg
 
Fairbro":jv0g8ogj said:
My album showes what I did. I still don't know how to include photos. It worked well. I elongated the stand-off tubes ( for better outside angle against the hull ) and used the tube material left over from cutting off the bottom step so it could be used inside as a step down. I made the stand-off sturdy by using an inner telescoping tube about 2 inches long and then pop rivited the splice in. Can be used on either side with extra gunnel sockets. Everything was available at WM back then. Good luck![/img]
Click to expand...

Here's that photo: (Caption below.)

DSC_0084.jpg
"I took off last rung and used the cut off tubing to make extensions for the standoffs so that it works equally well on the inside and outside of the cockpit."
 
Fairbro. Funny, I was just looking at your photo from a different ladder thread. What you did is what I have in mind.

I thinking the telescoping Garelick version http://www.garelick.com/productsearch.php?pnumber=12340&subid=AB06# might be a good fit. (Also much greater weight capacity.) The WM unit I linked to has a folding extension that I think might be problematic when used in the cockpit unless I cut it short like you did. On the telescoping unit, the extra steps would just drop to the cockpit sole.

I'd also like to find gunnel top keyhole mounts that will retain the ladder in either inside or outside position. Mounts would have a slot with the "keyhole" in the center of the slot.

Drilling big holes in the gunnel for rod holder type mounts is something I don't want to do right now.
 
I don't understand stowable ladders at all. If you boat solo, and become a MOB, how do you get back into the boat from the water?
 
Karl":ggcotz1f said:
I don't understand stowable ladders at all. If you boat solo, and become a MOB, how do you get back into the boat from the water?
Click to expand...
It's a matter of utility. We have a swim platform with a water deployable ladder. If I go MOB, damn straight I'll get back on the boat using that conveyance. However, do I want to use that for everyday swimming? NFW. Too strenuous, difficult, and treacherous.

That's why I also have a storable ladder. Much easier for this fat old man to get back onboard on a regular basis from a daily swim. Turned around, it's also used as a step to get back into the cockpit from the dock.
 
Back
Top