Emergency Boarding Ladder

[Bongi]

Folks, we have a GB42C and looking for insights on how others have set up what I assume is a factory-installed boarding ladder from the water when in a folded up position.

Ours has a small rubber latch at the top of it to secure it in place, and a stainless ring welded on the port side of the ladder for attaching a rope. See below.

My question is how folks may have set up one or two deployment ropes to allow deployment from someone in the water who would need to release the ‘latch’ and then pull the ladder down into position.

Photos may help explain how you have done it. I will see if I can get a photo of the rubber latch. It appears a rope coming up from below, around the nearby stanchion and then attached to the latch allows a pull from below to release the latch.

 

[Xlantic]

In my 1979 GB 42 Classic there was no latch.

When up, the ladder stayed up, leaning forward towards the transom.

I would occasionally tie in place in the upright position with a cord or elastic but it was not really necessary.

 

[Circumnavigator]

First thought -- if it's a small rubber latch (SRL) and you're in the water, really needing to get back on the boat, you probably can pull hard enough on the rope to break the latch.


Second thought - figure out a way to attach a line to the SRL , maybe through an eye to get the angle right, that will operate it from below.


Third thought -- do without the SRL. Make a little L bracket and put a Fastpin through it and the ladder, and run the line from the Fastpin, again maybe through an eye to get the pulling angle right.


Jim

 

[Comodave]

On our last boat there was no way to pull the ladder down from in the water, way too heavy and no leverage. I spliced a line around what was the top in the stowed position and then sewed a strap around the end of the line. Put a snap into the strap and attached the sanp at the edge of the platform.

 

[PM]

Mine stays in place pretty well without ropes or clamps, plus my dinghy blocks it from falling into the water while underway. However, I like the idea of having a rope available to a person in the water.

You could probably secure the ladder with a big rubber band which will be easily broken with a =tug on the rope.

pete

 

[Bongi]

Here’s the rubber latch I mentioned. Can GB owners confirm if their ladders usually stay in place without needing to latch it?… if that is the case, this greatly simplifies the ability to deploy from the water.