Gunwale Hook Ladder Opinions

[JZammetti]

Hello,
Time once again to get the mobs help. I have a 3 rung ladder attached to my swim platform. The width of the ladder is only about 7" and I am a big boy and that width is hard for me to climb. Has anyone used a gunwale hook ladder before? If so, how are they structure wise, I am 350 pounds, how wide is yours? Does it take a great deal of strength to climb up and down and finally does it leave marks or mess up the outside/inside of your boat. Also, (besides the obvious of losing weight) is there anything I can do to my swim platform ladder?

 

[njrextreme]

Re: Gunwale Hook Ladder Opinions

Ive seen my parents friends use one on a old starcraft. It had little legs that foled w/ rubber ends on it so it wouldnt scratch the boat. It is kinda big and in the way when your out boating. The woman is heavy set and she climbs it fine. It would be better if the top was anchored down cause it does move around a bit. Id say over all, its better then the little mini ladders.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Gunwale Hook Ladder Opinions

Has anyone used a gunwale hook ladder before?

Yes

Does it take a great deal of strength to climb up and down

Not a great deal, but strength and coordination[/QUOTE]

finally does it leave marks or mess up the outside/inside of your boat.

Yes...it can. Usually the white cups on the feet help, but it's not foolproof.

Also, (besides the obvious of losing weight) is there anything I can do to my swim platform ladder?

Switch it out for a more stable ladder. It's easier and safer.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Gunwale Hook Ladder Opinions

i got a hang over the gunnel type ladder. only ladder i carry on board. stored under my back to back ft. seats out of the way. it's tedious to deploy for where it's stored.
it don't mark up the boat due to plastic caps over the end of the alum. tubes. the plastic caps i just got at the hardware store since the ladder came with my used '75 boat and didn't have the caps.
i'm about 170ish and i find it somewhat hard to climb. mines pretty wide too.
best way for me to get back in the boat and easiest is to crawl up the drive and in.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Gunwale Hook Ladder Opinions

I would look at these before I went with the over the gunwale type; http://www.iboats.com/Over-Platform...2861972--**********.323055232--view_id.341818
It mounts on your swim platform, is 23" wide, and collapses and folds up when not in use. And they're pretty inexpensive.

When I was a kid, we had the gunwale type ladder. I never liked it. It moved around, was a pita to store, and I always (even as a kid) thought it was made like cheap garbage. Don't remember if it marked up the boat, but I would think with all the moving around, a scratch or two was inevitable.

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Gunwale Hook Ladder Opinions

I would look at these before I went with the over the gunwale type; http://www.iboats.com/Over-Platform...2861972--**********.323055232--view_id.341818
It mounts on your swim platform, is 23" wide, and collapses and folds up when not in use. And they're pretty inexpensive.

Awesome, my initial reaction is my current ladder fits in a groove dug in the swim platform, I guess I can remove it and mount this one.