Ideas for swimplatform ladder needed

[GB42SandraK]

I am rebuilding my swim platform on my 42 Grand Banks and would like to add a permanent ladder that is easy to use as my wife an I age. Something with handholds. Similar to spool ladder that folds up and doesn't hang off the end of the swim platform.
Thanks in advance

 

[Camden Jack]

So would I.

 

[rslifkin]

Do you have a picture of the existing platform and transom ladder arrangement?

On my boat (trunk cabin design like a GB, but a little higher freeboard) I've got the arrangement pictured below. The swim ladder is hinged and flips up against the transom ladder for storage (it's up in the picture). I do wish the swim ladder had a 4th step though, as that would make usage easier.

For hand holds when climbing up, I generally grab the platform slots at first, then once I've got myself up a bit onto the ladder, I use the upper ladder as a hand hold while climbing the lower ladder. Once on the upper ladder, the side rails of the ladder (and stern rail) provide hand holds.

For perspective on sizing in the picture, with full tanks the platform is about 6 inches off the water. Height from platform to aft deck is about 3.5 feet. So the ladder only extends into the water about 2.5 feet, which is a little short. A telescoping extra step would fix that without affecting the ability to use the upper ladder with the lower one flipped up.

 

[koliver]

Mine attaches at the middle (fore and aft) of the swimgrid, so rests against the transom when up, hangs 3 steps in the water when deployed. A rope (yes, that kind of string) attached to the transom a couple of feet above the swimgrid and hanging to the surface of the water, over the edge, with knots every foot, aids climbing up.

 

[Bacchus]

Here is a typical Mainship ladder.
See Ladder Mods for improvements. I added steps to the rungs to provide a wider support under bare feet. These are available in different # of tung configurations. MS buried an alum plate in the platform to attach by drilling. & tapping holes for SS bolts. What is nice is it leaves the platform clean and uncluttered. Slots in platform provide hand holds.
https://dkloeber.wixsite.com/bacchus/projects

 

[thedeltaskipper]

Assuming we are talking about the ladder from the water to the swim platform, I put a stainless steel pontoon boat style swim ladder on the swim platform of my last boat. While the hand rails did present a potential trip hazard on the swim platform, in the two years I had it installed I never tripped over it, possibly because the stick up far enough that they are easy to see. The ladder was so much easier to use than the 4 rung undermount telescopic ladder that it replaced. I was happy enough with this pontoon boat style that I'm planning on installing one on my latest boat. These are available from a variety of places online, including Amazon. The one pic attached shows a photo I found with a quick google search, the other shows my ladder installed on my last boat. Note my swim platform to aft deck ladder was missing in that photo as I had removed it to compound and polish the transom.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

Mine is like the extending part of the one above minus the swimming pool style hand hold loops. It stows collapsed flat on the top of the swim platform but is always in the way. We do far more walking on our platform than swimming off it. Wish mine was a version that stows beneath the platform.

 

[Comodave]

Mine is like the extending part of the one above minus the swimming pool style hand hold loops. It stows collapsed flat on the top of the swim platform but is always in the way. We do far more walking on our platform than swimming off it. Wish mine was a version that stows beneath the platform.

One more project to get done…

 

[HeadedToTexas]

One more project to get done…

The list is growing much faster than items are completed!

 

[Comodave]

I know how that goes. This winter we have a huge list since our boat is new to us, next winter I hope it is much shorter.