Boarding ladder for Typhoon?

[springerfever]

I had the distinct pleasure of sailing yesterday with Bill 'Skeep' McCoy on his Typhoon 'Baggy Wrinkles'.Not much wind but a wonderful time and lots of information about the Cape Dorys, and his boat in particular. Thanks, Bill....Had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the visit !! One of our conversations involved getting back onboard after swimming, or an accidental fall.

I like this style of ladder. Portable and requires no mounting hardware. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Cape Dory, I don't believe it would work. Nothing really for the inverted U to hook on.....

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... &from=grid

Other option is to mount a ladder on the transom. I have seen pictures of this arrangement but I don't particularly like that idea because it involves drilling holes in the transom. Also, having a ladder AND the kicker hanging off the transom pretty much clutters up the beautiful lines of the Typhoon aft.

Wondering if any owners have come up with an easy solution. Suggestions welcomed !!

[Markst95]

Unfortunately there is really no good solution to a ladder on a Ty. My solution was to use a rope emergency ladder tied to the main halyard cleat. It worked but was tough to climb. Having it amidship gives you the least angle on the hull. An added benefit is I leave it folded up in the cockpit on one of the seats. If I were to fall off I can reach in and grab it and deploy it.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=1343784

[Skeep]

I think that style is probably the best due to the lack of room for storage on the Ty. Securing to the mast is a keen idea because then you'd also be able to grab a shroud to help get onto the deck! I like that!

[Neil Gordon]

A rope ladder is easy to make ...

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Rope-Ladder

Tie it to the same shroud you'd use to help pull yourself on board.

Cost should be zero.

[svreleaseme]

Guys,
I have found this to work very well for me. http://www.up-n-out.com/boat-ladders/#p ... el-hook-on

The hook on version fits over the toe rail, then tie off to a cleat or what ever.

Randy

[wsfanning]

I made a rope ladder w/ PVC rungs that nests nicely and stores away small. It hangs from the aft cleat. It's not an ease to climb but sure beats hauling yourself up and over the side...if you can even do that. When I get back up to the boat I'll see if I can remember to get a pic.

[Markst95]

I made a rope ladder w/ PVC rungs that nests nicely and stores away small. It hangs from the aft cleat.

Can you explain how you use the ladder on the back cleat? Don't your feet just go under the stern?

[wsfanning]

@Markst95, yes, they do but with a little dexterity it's really not that hard to climb in and sure beats the alternatives.

[Markst95]

I don't know, being a big guy I could never get up that way. Having it amidship lets me stand up and grab either the combing or cleat, rope, ect. You have to put your foot on the rung sideways so you don't pinch your toes against the hull but at least I can use my legs to lift myself up. It sounds like your method uses more upper body strength.

[sharkbait]

Generally speaking if you wrap one of your legs around a rope ladder and use your heel on one side and your toe on the other the ladder will hang straight.

[Markst95]

Thats an interesting idea, I'll have to try it.

[wsfanning]

Yes, interesting. We're likely to be able to try it out this weekend! Thanks

[grluecke]

We are trying to get to the "perfect" ladder. Rope and webbing ladders do indeed fall inward, but we are still thinking about something like that.

I was searching around for stainless steel ladders and found this on AliBaba.com (I do not get any royalties for this endorsement...and, since I own a sailboat, I clearly could not afford to get in on the IPO!!)

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-STEP-O ... 51568.html

It is not a turn-key solution. I was thinking I would have to design my own. Here are my design criteria:

1) Some old guy (like me) has to be able to climb up easily. Not hang upside down like a monkey...(OK: busted!!...I have no hope of getting my wife in the water if it is hard to get out...)

ClimbLadder.jpg

This one is 4 feet long when extended. It is also re-reassuringly sturdy. Says it is made of stainless. We'll see how Chinese Stainless stands up against New England salt water!!

Ladder1.jpg

2) It has to be compact. Like, I really have a lot of room in my lockers for a 4-foot ladder...NOT!

Ladder2.jpg

This one is about a foot long when folded...

So, this one still needs some tweaking: I'll need to put some kind of hooks on to go over the toe rail. And I probably will need some stand-offs.

But for $80, I have a good place to start!!

Say, I need a Cape Dory 30 to make a cardboard template for my ladder (mine is in Maine), i looked a little, but if anyone has or knows of a CD30 withing 100 miles of Ames IA, please let me know. "No Cape Dorys will be harmed in the filming of this movie...!"

I will post my progress, good or bad....

[grluecke]

Argh! There is a 3 picture limit!

Here is a picture of the latter deployed.

AliBabaLadder.jpg

And here is the "Artist's Rendition" of how it should fit. Admittedly, my loft lines are dubious, and I just scaled the ladder "by eye", but I'll bet I'm pretty close...

AliBabaLadder2.jpg

[Sea Hunt Video]

Jennifer and Greg:

I respectfully urge you to stay away from products made in China - especially items like boarding ladders that are such a potentially important safety item. You simply cannot trust Chinese-made metal products.

If you want a quality boarding ladder check out Mystic Stainless, Inc. in Conn.

http://www.mysticstainless.com/

They are a quality American company producing a quality product. Will you pay more for it Yes, but you will get what you pay for and it will last a very, very long time. I will wager a Guinness (Guinness is sacred to me) that a Chinese-made metal boarding ladder will not last one season.

http://www.mysticstainless.com/foldaway.html