Looking For Advice On Adding Ladder To Bass Boat

[hawkboat]

I have a 21' bass boat with a 225 hp motor that we use for skiing, tubing, etc. We're constantly in and out of the thing in the water and currently have to pull ourselves back in the thing using upper body strength and leg kicks. Not the best situation.

I'd like to add a ladder, but haven't found any I really like. I worry that bolting one on the back of the transom will add increased stress back there as we climb back in the boat. I don't like the option of the hang on ladders, but could be persuaded. I've thought about a rope ladder, but I don't know a soul that has one of these on a bass boat.

What are your thoughts???

 

[Ariesgod53]

Re: Looking For Advice On Adding Ladder To Bass Boat

Just used a friends bass boat last weekend and it had a hook ladder attach to the back portside (left). There was enough room on the deck of the boat to have a no slip rubber pad and it looked as if the ladder was bolted to the back of the transom and the top of the deck. It folded up for storage and was held up by velcro. It was very durable. I would look for something like that. This ladder was only a 2 step, but it was enough to get us outta the water. I have seen these on Amazon for around $70, but do some price shopping and may'be you could get it cheaper.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Looking For Advice On Adding Ladder To Bass Boat

A fold-up swim ladder shouldn't cause any problems if it's properly installed. Strength-wise it's a non issue. Just make sure to do a real good job of sealing any holes you drill in the transom (best method I've seen was in an online booklet put out by West Systems epoxy where you drill out an oversized hole, hog it out with a bent nail on a drill, fill that with an epoxy/filler mix, coat the screws with 3M 5200 and install them into the cured epoxy).

 

[ridefst]

Re: Looking For Advice On Adding Ladder To Bass Boat

I've got a rather low boat (not bass boat, but similar size and freeboard), and I made a rope ladder to help boarding.
http://www.marinews.com/Rope-Ladder-782.php

It's not the easiest thing to use, as it can slip underneath the boat when you're getting started, but it met my needs.

A foldup ladder would be much nicer to use, but would also look completely out of place on my boat, not gonna ruin the clean lines just for a ladder

Price is right too, just used an old length of rope I had sitting around.

I just hook it over the rear cleat when needed, and pull it in before taking off.

So far, the only problem is that it doesn't float, and it's been dropped once already. It was in calm clear water, but about 40' deep; dived in as soon as I saw it go and caught it about 10' down or so. Free or not, I didn't feel like making another