Gear test
Osculati Emergency Ladder
PRICE: £34.95
Contact: http://www.force4.co.uk
This is designed to be fastened directly to the pushpit by the line that
supports the ladder steps. A red strap attached to the protective
covering, secured by Velcro, releases the ladder and allows it to unroll.
The strap hangs down one metre from the bottom of the pouch, but
could be shortened to a convenient length. The steps are very broad
and semi-circular, which made them comfortable on test.
The ladder rungs are supported by three-strand polypropylene line:
the two ends have to be threaded through the top of the pouch and then
attached to the boat. We felt the line would have benefited from being
longer, and tied the ends to the toerail for the test. Two testers were able
to climb out of the water, and found the steps easy to use.
Manufacturer Kim Lalizas Osculati Markus Osculati Plastimo Waveline
Model Safety Ladder Safe Up Flushmount Emergency Ladder Emergency Ladder Safety Ladder Help Ladder
Weight (gm) 800 785 316 760 700 800 1,210
Length (m) 2.4 2.15 1.1 1.7 1.34 1.32 1.34
Number of treads 10 5 3 + handhold 7 4 4 5
Max load 175kg 230kg Not specified 500kg Not specified Not specified Not specified
Pouch size (mm) 415 x 150 x 50 365 x 120 x 50 L 230 x dia 55 435 x 180 x 45 300 x 220 x 65 280 x 190 x 50 300 x 180 x 80
MRP inc VAT £42.95 £39.95 £34.95 £104 £34.95 £66.18 £31.75
Supplier Ocean Safety Force 4 Force 4 Energy Marine Force 4 Bainbridge Int Marathon Leisure
Website Oceansafety.com Force4.co.uk Force4.co.uk Engmar.com Force4.co.uk Bainbridgeint.co.uk Marathonleisure.co.ukPBO emergency boarding ladders team test at-a-glance
Kim Safety Ladder
PRICE: £42.95
Contact: http://www.oceansafety.com
This is designed as a pull-down ladder which can be reached from the
water. Three straps with plastic snap buckles enable the pouch to be
attached to a handrail. The ladder is made from polyester webbing and
packed into a compact white PVC bag. A further strap with a red plastic
handhold, the bottom rung, extends down from the pouch to facilitate
deployment from the water. The webbing rungs are covered in red
plastic and arranged as a 2 x 9 mesh. A strong aluminium bar links the
ladder to the attachment straps, and the pouch has a Velcro closure.
On test, the pouch was quick and easy to attach to the pushpit rail, but
the buckles were too big for the toerail. Climbing a mesh ladder is a bit of
an acquired art, but two of the three testers were able to climb back on
board. The plastic-coated rungs were easy to see under water and the
weighted bottom rung kept the ladder in position.
Lalizas Safe Up
PRICE: £39.95
Contact: http://www.force4.co.uk
Designed to be stored on a handrail, the Safe Up has a bottom step
which acts as a pull-handle to be grabbed and pulled by the person in
the water. When the handle is pulled, the Velcro closure releases the
ladder. The pouch opening is well finished with stitched tape. Three
webbing straps with stainless steel buckles are used to attach the pouch
to the rail: these allow some variation in height. The ladder has webbing
straps which are reinforced for the rungs and arranged as a 2 x 5 matrix:
a last broad rung hangs approximately 700mm from the attachment rail.
On test, the pouch was straightforward to attach to the guardrail and
the handle was reachable from the water. Two testers were able to climb
up the ladder, but it wasn’t easy. The rungs, made of stiff webbing,
weren’t as easy to engage as the Kim or Markus ladders.MOB ladders on test
ABOVE The Safe Up has a
bottom step which acts as
a pull-handle. RIGHT The
ladder’s webbing straps
are reinforced for the rungsABOVE A red strap releases the
ladder and allows it to unroll.
RIGHT The ladder rungs are
supported by three-strand
polypropylene line
ABOVE Three straps with snap
buckles enable the pouch to be
attached to a handrail. RIGHT A
weighted bottom rung kept the
ladder in position