DIY ladder ideas? (EDIT: now with pics of my homebuilt ladder)

[Joe_the_boatman]

I don't like the thought of spending $80 on a ladder that may or may not work with the sun deck I'm thinking of building.

I saw ezmobee's "modified" extension ladder, and like the idea, I just don't have a spare ladder to cut up.

I'm thinking 3/4" conduit, with fittings, or pressure treated 2X4's with galvanized pipe for the rungs. Anyone fabricate their own ladders out there?

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I'm not sure you'll have room for ladder with the triple outboard setup you've got going!

Just kidding, do you have a picture of the desired location?

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I'm not sure you'll have room for ladder with the triple outboard setup you've got going!

Just kidding, do you have a picture of the desired location?

That's *ahem* 5 outboards! Popular Mechanics did a test on outboard fuel consumption. That was their test rig.

Here's about the best picture I have of the aft section.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Wow that SS is one nice-looking rig. Here's a link to a little ladder you could buy for $43 bucks and mount.


http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Aluminum-2-foot-300-pound-Rating-Step-Ladder/2886139/product.html

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Are you thinking about a sun deck above the splashwell? I agree with what you said about prices for swim ladders. Pretty high for brand new if you ask me.

Buying it from a salvage boat yard may be a better way to go but as nice as your boat looks I'm sure you want something that shines a little right?

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Are you thinking about a sun deck above the splashwell?

Yep, that's what I eventually want back there. Might be a good winter project.

Buying it from a salvage boat yard may be a better way to go but as nice as your boat looks I'm sure you want something that shines a little right?

Shine is optional. I'll look around for a salvage boat yard - didn't think of that.....

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Joey your going to have to start paying more attention to the side of the road while you are driving especially on the interstate . I see mangled aluminum ladders all the time on the side of the road that flew off of service trucks and got run over . That by the way is why I have a Gorilla ladder it fits in the service van and takes the place of 28 ladders .


Rick

 

[erikgreen]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I'm working on welding up a dive ladder for my boat from some 1 inch pieces of schedule 40 stainless pipe I got given as scrap.

I don't think conduit will work for this... it's too thin walled, and this is something you'll be climbing on so if it fails, you fall.

The pipe will work ok, if you have a welder you can put your own together pretty easily. I wouldn't recommend using wood unless you like big and clunky. Honestly, I'd buy a ladder myself if I didn't want a dive ladder, usable with fins.. the cheaper ladders look good and hold your weight safely, and you can find a low end model for about $100, or convert a dock ladder, which can be even cheaper.

If you build a ladder don't forget to build in a good safety margin for weight... the ladder has to handle dynamic loads as well as static ones, and it might have to take as much as 500-1000 lbs very briefly while someone is on it and the boat bounces.

Erik

 

[chrishayes]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I hope this thread takes off with ideas as I too am considering a diy.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I'm a BOB (Big Ole Boy) and I hate the way the ladder and boat shift when trying to reboard. I'm curious as to what others come up with, too. Been thinking about a 3-foot chunk of aluminum extension ladder somehow hooked over the gunwhale.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Right now I'm leaning toward using standard PT 2X4's, with 2 hinges so it'll fold up, and a spacer to keep it off the transom so your foot can get a hold of the rung correctly. The rungs will get the same cheap anti-slip treatment my deck did when we painted it (i.e. sprinkle coarse sand on wet paint, brush off, and topcoat). May be hard to visualize right now, but you'll see soon enough when I build it, and will have pics of course.

I hope that it'll be more user-friendly than manufactured ladders, if not heavier and bulkier. The easier it is to re-board, the more likely everyone is to jump out and get in the water.

Best of all, if it doesn't work out right, it'll cost me less than $10.

 

[outkast7222]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

My neighbor made one out of thick wall PVC. There is no way in heck my 300 pound frame is going to climb up that thing!!! He is a little guy maybe 150 or so and it works great for him.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I saw ezmobee's "modified" extension ladder, and like the idea, I just don't have a spare ladder to cut up.

Just so everyone knows what joey is talking about here's my redneck swim ladder. My boat actually came with this so I can't claim credit for it. It's not the prettiest thing but it works REALLY well and it's been used by some big guys.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Great idea...whoever made it. Can you post a pic showing it from the side? I can see where/how it's bolted to the transom, but can't tell where it drops down and locks or folds down. It's been a long, tiring day.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Best I have right now

The orange things in the second pic are the things you can buy for an extension ladder to keep it from marring up your house or to provide traction for the foot of it. I put them on the ladder when it's being used because the top of it looks ripe for slicing someone open should they fall.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Thanks...after a night's sleep and coffee I see how it works, anchored to transom and folds down with a hinge. Top covers are a good idea, those aluminum ladders can bite.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

This ladder is very unobtrusive, something similar could be made quite easily.

http://www.basscatstore.com/e-ladder.aspx

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

This ladder is very unobtrusive, something similar could be made quite easily.

http://www.basscatstore.com/e-ladder.aspx

That would be fine for me (in fact, I just use the anti-vent plate on the outboard as a step and don't really need a ladder), but not everyone who rides with me is as limber. This ladder's going to have to be pretty wide, and go deep in the water.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Well, here's what I came up with. It's not mounted on the boat yet (that'll hopefully happen tomorrow), but you'll get the idea.

Materials:
2 pressure treated 2X4X8's ($6)
2 2" hinges ($6)
1lb box of "lifetime guaranteed" torx head 2.5" screws ($9)
1 tube of generic waterproof Liquid Nails ($???)
Total: $21

Total time (so far): about 5 hours

I didn't feel like digging out the table saw, so I decided to test my skills with the circular saw. Therefore, some cuts aren't as good as they could've been.


Rough layout:

Assembled:

Note how the top is tapered off. The back of my transom isn't nearly vertical. If I ran the ladder parallel w/ the transom, you'd be leaning back as you climbed up. Again, OK for me, but maybe not my guests. I put a level on the gunwales and lowered the trailer jack down until it read level. Then I used a plumb line on the transom to get this angle. The right side will stick up above the transom and will be used as a handle when climbing up. Hopefully that'll keep everyone from grabbing on the outboard's cover for stability. I couldn't do it on both sides because the side of the transom got in the way. You'll see when it's mounted.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

Re: DIY ladder ideas?

I finished the rough edges with a belt sander and 50 grit (it's what was on there, otherwise maybe use 100).


Top of ladder (handle):

Bottom rung:

Now you get to help me choose a stain! Which will it be - "Early American", "Special Walnut", or "Red Oak"? I like the "Red Oak" personally, and it shows. That can's almost empty from all my other projects around the house. The other 2 haven't even been used yet. It'll get a topcoat of some type of waterproofer or polyurethane.

Will post pictures when it gets mounted on the back, as I said earlier, hopefully that'll happen tomorrow.