HELP - Boarding Ladder Required To Calm Down Excited Whaling Fleet

taitharris · 18 May 2004, 17:06

Last year whilst on holiday I used the boat as a swimming platform. Diving into the azure waters off Croatia was fabulous. Climbing back in was not. My transom is not sufficiently wide to allow for a boarding ladder so I was left with the option of clambering back aboard. As I am not altogether nimble, and, as I was covered in sun tan oil, the scene must have resembled a Beluga whale - recently sprayed with WD40 - trying to mount a large German sausage. The Japanese whaling fleet moored off the port of Split no doubt watched with glee as I whet their appetite for the kill ahead.

I need a boarding ladder that I can hook over the tubes and that will fold away for easy carriage. Please help me with your suggestions before someone lets fly with a harpoon.

Mark Halliday · 18 May 2004, 17:28

Do you mean something like this? Top left of........
http://www.western-marine.com/page69.htm
An internet search will throw up lots more.

I do see a slight problem. As a RIB has no top sides the ladder will tend to swing under the boat as you climb up. Setting up and probably lengthening the legs so the press on the hull would be good.
Alternativly a rope ladder would do, or just a couple of rope loops over the side or transom.
I have heard of people using the cavitation plate on the outboard as a step. Just make sure the kill cord is not attached.

Suzuki416 · 18 May 2004, 17:32

do you have an A Frame as I have seen ladders attached to these before ( & nearly look whale proof

)

Pete

tim griffin · 18 May 2004, 17:45

weighted line with a couple of loops tied in, fixed to a strong point any good
to you , have seen a ladder that fits over the sponsons on a picture of Manos's rib (is he still banned)
ps have just seen Mark Halliday's post sorry for repeating the answer
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

swginn · 18 May 2004, 17:50

Pete,

Was this the kind of thing you were talking about. Looks pretty sturdy to me. No messing about with tying ropes, etc.

geoff · 18 May 2004, 17:53

We use the cavitation plate as a step up and the A frame as a grab handle. Isn't that what they are for?
I always take the key and kill cord out and there is a further safety aspect that most modern engines can only be started in neutral.

Suzuki416 · 18 May 2004, 18:10

Swginn,

Thats the type, you then also have a decent handhold to grab near the top of the ladder too.

Pete

Daniel TD5 · 18 May 2004, 19:22

vailant do a ladder that fits a 4m rib to the 5m rib i dont know what size your rib is but it could be ok the pics is the 5m plus one the 4m has no wood

chrisallse · 18 May 2004, 20:13

something like this?

Red Fox · 18 May 2004, 20:59

chrisallse
that looks interesting...what sort is it and can you show the fixing on the inside if poss.

chrisallse · 18 May 2004, 22:40

Not the best of picks...I will take a close up at the W/E if you want me to.

It came with the boat, try Rib-X they import Falcons as Rib-X's they should be able to get you one.

Daniel Vanesse · 20 May 2004, 18:17

Have you thought about a net ? That is commonly used for rescue ( see picture below )

Daniel TD5 · 20 May 2004, 18:21

daniel that not a rib its a plane

they just got the spelling wrong ficht should have been flight

top class rib i would love to see that on the water

Daniel Vanesse · 20 May 2004, 18:57

Daniel,

I could have used another picture as a net is also commonly used by divers. By the way, what you call a plane is a hoverrib that is used for rescue people living along frozen lakes in nothern countries (if you are interested, I posted about it in January after the Dusseldorf boat show)

Daniel TD5 · 20 May 2004, 19:38

daniel only joking about the plane

is the hull flat to ride on the ice or v shape it seem very much like the swamp boats in the states