Boating – May 2018

42 | BOATINGMAG.COM | MAY 2018

PROP-PROTECTED The
American Boat and Yacht
Council guidelines state that
stern ladders should be mount-
ed as far away from the propel-
ler as possible. Many builders
who place it on the transom
or extended swim platform

mount the ladder so that it’s
angled away from the engine.

GET A GRIP The steps
or rungs of boarding ladders
should be slip-resistant. Look
for ladder rungs that are
grooved or have a strip of non-
skid tape. Some have grooved
or slotted plastic inserts that
serve as a nonslip surface
while boarding. This is espe-
cially helpful when trying to
board in rougher seas.

IN DEPTH ABYC guide-
lines state that the top surface
of the lowermost rung or step

of a boarding ladder must be

at least 22 inches below the

waterline while the boat is at

rest. The farther down the lad-

der goes, the easier it is to use

while in the water. Look for at

least a three-step telescoping

ladder on the swim platform

and bow platform of any boat

you’re considering.

DEPLOYABLE Boarding

ladders should be able to be

accessed and deployed by

someone swimming in the

water next to the boat. A lot

of installations are designed

to be hidden under hatches,

which helps with dockside

appeal due to cleaner lines.

But have you ever tried to lift

up one of the heavier hatches

from the water while bob-

bing? Look for recessed in-

stallations that slide out from

underneath the transom or

extended swim platform,

or from a molded-in recess,

where it is still easy to grab

and pull into the water.

HANDLE THIS Another

important element of reboard-

ing is to have a handhold with-

in reach of the ladder, which

will help you pull yourself out

of the water.

DIY Don’t have a ladder?

Companies such as Garelick

and West Marine make stow-

able swim ladders that hang of

the gunwale. Or you can install

one. To follow our instructions

on how to install one, go to

boatingmag.com/installing-

boarding-ladder.

BOARDING

LADDER

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) COURTESY BAYLINER (2), COURTESY REGAL BOATS, COURTESY BAYLINER

ABYC Standard H41 lays out the requirement for boats to have boarding access. H41.4.5 states

that boats should have a “rigid or flexible fitting or part of the hull [that] allows a person to

reboard from the water without assistance.” Every ABYC-approved boat should have a means

to reboard from the water built into it. Note that it may not always be a ladder, so look it up in

your owner’s manual before you head out for a day on the water.

RULES OF THE RUNG

When buying a boat, most boaters probably view the boarding

ladder as an afterthought, if they notice it at all. Most probably

don’t pay attention to it until the fi rst time they’re trying to get

back into the boat from the water. Maybe it’s not such a big deal

if you struggle to climb back in after a swim, but if someone’s

fallen overboard — particularly when operating the boat solo

— and can’t get back into the boat, it could be life and death.

There are a few dif erent styles to choose from, and not every

style is ideal for every boat. Here are a few general rules about

ladders. —Pete McDonald

Look for boarding ladders that

angle away from the prop, have

a grab handle nearby, and are

accessible from the water.

STEP ON UP

The more steps a

ladder has going

below the water-

line, the better it is.

QUICK TIP

When buying a new boat, from the showroom fl oor check whether

the boarding ladder could be easily deployed from the water.