Swim Ladder

[icdoubl]

IS the DS1 easy to board from the water? Do most sailors have a swim ladder? Any advice on size/type/placement of swim ladders so it doesn't affect sailing and rigging?

Thanks

Dan

Thanks to Chris from Ga. for the photos. I will try to add them

[bkafer]

Having never tried to get back into my ds2 from the water
I would say probably one of the ladders you hang over the side would work.
When done just throw it forwarded and its out of the way

[Roger]

sometimes getting up on a 'level with the water' platform can be difficult, so climbing 18" over the side or transom may be too much in rough conditions or when you are tired. Both of these conditions facilitte a COB situation, and if the ladder is non exstant or stowed, and no one else is aboard, you may be bot COB and SOL!

I have opted to mount a transom ladder on my boat that can be deployed from the water. Even this can be trying on a pitching boat.

I did see an interesting partial solution on a boat at our marina a few years ago. The owner had mounted one of those folding steps that you may see at the corner of a school bus or truck so that the driver can put their toe on to clean the windshield. The owner had placed on of these just above the waterline on the transom. Cheap, effective, and non intrusive is what I thought at the time.

[jpclowes]

I just tied a rope between the two rings I use to hoist the boat into and out of the water. These rings are on the transom, just below the "corners" of the boat. They are backed with wood, and strong enough to lift the boat, so they will lift me too. The line hangs down just above the waterline and between the rudder and the transom. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure it will work just fine.

[algonquin]

A ladder that is fixed to the hull and when unfolded has stand offs that deploy against the hull may be best. It is difficult to find one that works well on the DS because the free board is so shallow.

Rope ladders, hard ladders that hang over the side without stand offs, ladders rigged from on board sailing rope, etc, are all pretty useless to use to climb back aboard. When you step into them you force the in water section to go beneath and under your hull. May be good to give your self something to hang on to and stay with the boat but for climbing back aboard they provide quite a challenge. You can do better by climbing aboard under arm power alone.

I have seen a method that works ok and doesn’t use an actual ladder. A foot hold low on the rudder housing (not the blade) and a hand grip or two on the transom and rear deck. It allows you to have something to grab on to securely and as you pull yourself up your foot will have a spot to step against.

Something I highly recommend is to use you emergency "ladder" several times before you have an actual emergency. That way you will have an idea of just how to use it successfully. Otherwise we will just find you clinging to your wreck adrift in the wind and current. Brad.

[Chris Brown]

I had to install a ladder on Dulcinea so my aging parents (almost 80) can get on board from the water. They still love to sail but no longer have the strength to pull themselves up on board. It became a real safety concern.

I saw a good set-up on a Flying Scot and purchased the ladder from the Flying Scot website.

However, all it is is an over platform telescoping two step ladder (Windline or West Marine). It is mounted to the transom differently than the manufacturer expects it to be used but it works beautifully.

If anyone is interested, I can photograph the mounting. I will be at the boat in late June and can take the photo then.

Anyone interested in a few photos?

[Roger]

The comment about a step on the rudder reminded me of an early setup I had on my DS II before I mounted a ladder. I had a long shaft outboard and attached a ped on the horizontal fin (cavitation plate) at the base of the leg of the motor. This provided an underwater place for me to put my foot so that I could get a leg up and over the transom. It worked okay but the ladder was better.

[Chris Brown]

I have added two photos of the swim ladder on Dulcinea to the photo portion of the website. Here are the links:





This ladder works very well. It does not swing under the boat while in use due to the additional transom below the attachment point. You can adjust the torque of the pivot bolts to allow for easy deployment yet keep the ladder stowed upright while not in use.

A word of caution if you chose to install a ladder similar to the one in the photos: do not use the waterline stripe as a reference for level, use the top and bottom gudgeon as a reference for level. My installation is not quite plumb because of my mistake.

[metrounit9]

Chris,

Thanks for posting the pics. It looks like a great solution. Always accessible when needed, but out of the way when sailing.

Thanks,

Dan

[hriehl1]

Chris Brown...

Looks good. If you had to do it again, would you stay with 2-step or go to 3-step? Would you say the 2-step would be adequate for an overweight man in his mid-late fifties (not that I know of one, mind you)?

Has anybody used the C-Level web-style ladder that was well-reviewed in BoatUS?
http://www.clevel.com/images/Large%20Images/Sea%20Step.JPG What were your impressions?

[Chris Brown]

I am very pleased with the 2-step configuration. I think the 3-step would only add weight and the depth of the 2nd step is more than adequate.

Be careful with the idea of any rope or webbing ladder since it can swing under the boat and not work well. West Marine has a good description of how this is a problem in their catalog. See the link below:

http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/full.asp?page=273

[hriehl1]

I am about to embark on the telescoping 2-step ladder installation. I have a few questions.

1. My ladder has flanges that prevent the mounting brackets from lying flat against the transom. Did your's have them too? Did you just grind them flat?

2. Is the transom of a 1968-vintage DS I cored with plywood? If so, did you overdrill the mounting holes and fill with epoxy paste then re-drill smaller for the ladder's thru-bolts?

3. What did you use for backing plates?

4. Did you rig up some sort of latch to keep the ladder up when not in-use?

5. Did you do anything to keep the latched up-position ladder from banging against the transom (rubber pad or something)?

6. Is any sort of hand-hold needed? If so, what did you use and how does it work?

7.Does the extended ladder mar the lower transom where they meet when the ladder is in-use?

Many Thanks