I currently have a small and painful transom-mounted swim ladder on my CP23. I've got swimmers of all ages, shapes and sizes, and we swim a lot, so I'd like to replace the existing one with something that makes boarding from the water as easy as possible. Some models have a platform at the top which would be great but there's not a lot of room between the rudder and the side of the hull and I think it will drag on a port tack. Any creative solutions?
A few good ideas here:
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=5388.0
I especially like Greene's modifications and would love to do that sometime. Add a piece of ply to the top ladder frame and voila, a mini-platform.
Greene's addition looks great. I have also seen one where someone modified some plastic steps to fit on the ladder.
The ladders do hurt your feet. I am use to them but I really like the idea of having steps on them.
Make some ladder treads of wood or plastic. Sailcare also sells some bolt on ones.
My CP23 had teak steps added, there were U slots cut in the ends for the vertical stainless to pass up through, the step set across the horizontal bar, and then secured with a U strap below. Because if the U shaped slot they could not twist on the step.
You could modify something from this
http://smile.amazon.com/Whitecap-Teak-Boat-Ladder-Step/dp/B00GOMM1EG/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1419999097&sr=8-21&keywords=teak+step (http://smile.amazon.com/Whitecap-Teak-Boat-Ladder-Step/dp/B00GOMM1EG/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1419999097&sr=8-21&keywords=teak+step)
or this
http://smile.amazon.com/SeaTeak-60502-Deck-Step-Large/dp/B0042A75UM/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1419999080&sr=8-11&keywords=teak+step (http://smile.amazon.com/SeaTeak-60502-Deck-Step-Large/dp/B0042A75UM/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1419999080&sr=8-11&keywords=teak+step)
Mine were made from something more like the second link, cut down some.
I don't have a local source of teak, but I have bought some from Amazon and it's as good as what West Marine sells, and cheaper.
Here's a review of some rod holders I made for the CP27.
http://smile.amazon.com/SeaTeak-60612-Fishing-Storage-Four-Rod/dp/B0042A160M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419999608&sr=8-2&keywords=teak+rod+holder#customerReviews (http://smile.amazon.com/SeaTeak-60612-Fishing-Storage-Four-Rod/dp/B0042A160M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419999608&sr=8-2&keywords=teak+rod+holder#customerReviews)
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for the links. All this time on Amazon and I never found these!
The first link seems a little too good to be true. The item says 6 feet of teak but the weight and price aren't adding up. A raw, unfinished, unmilled piece of 6 ft teak would be way more than the price shown. More like $20-$35 depending on grade-perhaps a bit less with a discounted seller. Let alone it being milled and routed. I asked the seller to clarify the width of the groove and the length of the entire piece. It says 7/8" width, but we need 7/8" of groove width.
If this turns out to be really 6 feet of length and a 7/8" groove then it's like stealing candy from a baby.
There are no marine grade wood sources near me, but I am making a trip this Friday to Port Clinton, OH area (Lake Erie) to hit up the marine hardwood store for Meranti ply and as much raw teak as my wallet will allow. Have some neat projects in mind for the winter and spring! Including this swim step project. I was going to put rungs on the steps just like Greene and a small platform on the top vertical portion of the ladder frame.
Macgyver--you did this project with HDPE plastic, right? How do you like it?
I went to my local industrial plastic shop and purchased some white UHMW and used standard woodworking tools to make these rungs and then bolted them to the steps. I have been nothing but pleased with them.
(http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n543/easter4u2/LADDER.jpg) (http://s1139.photobucket.com/user/easter4u2/media/LADDER.jpg.html)
Yes I did make a set from HDPE. I am very happy with them, and it machines with regular wood tools nicely.
If you go under CP19 section and look for Adventures of Together Time or something like that, in there I think you should see pictures of them or atleast some pictures with the ladder in it.
The pain that ladder gave us prior to installation was enough, but then the added pain of my wifes voice as she expressed her concern over the pain it gave her feet was almost unbearable, it caused my ears to bleed. Now she just makes noise about the inability to get her foot up high enough to get to the first rung.... I havent figured this issue out yet. I hate bringing my leg up that high also...... so it is on the list for this winter as I really want to enjoy the water, but want to e able to get back into the boat nicely as well.
Bruce above me seems to have done the same thing using possibly a different plastic, and I will certainly throw a eye on them at CLR :)
I like the plastics, no more care after installed unlike wood, although wood is nice, and adds character. I have never heard anyone say around my boat "It all looks good except those plasticy ladder rungs" so I am not too worried about that.
Mac
Think I'm going to do that (plastic treads). Like to order the material now to get a head start, but boat is 35 miles away. Anyone know the approximate dimension between the vertical posts for the ladder rungs?
I wonder....If a group of us suggested this modification to Compac if they would design some plastic ladder treads. If there were enough interested they may design them and add them to future models.
I talked to Gerry at Com-pac yesterday.
They do make and sell poly ladder treads for these boats. They can also make a new ladder lower portion with three steps instead of two. Prices are very reasonable considering how much the raw materials cost.
Went ahead and ordered them both.
I just had an idea.....
Wouldn't it be cool to add a small swim platform back there? My father had a center console power boat that had a very small swim platform on the back. It would make getting in and out of the dingy much nicer.
I wonder if anyone has ever done this or if anyone else has thought of this.
Something similar to this: http://www.jmsonline.net/swim-platform-ladder-outboard.htm?gclid=CNjunrOagMMCFUVk7Aod3XoAaA
If it was sized right and backed properly it would probably work.
When we had our Com-Pac 16 it had this wonderful little ladder/platform on it. It was really nice to stand on it while drip drying after a dip.
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt211/greene2108/CP16%20NACA-0014%20Foil%20Rudder/pl1.jpg)
Mike
Salty19, what was the price on the treads and extended lower section? I may order treads if I decide not to make my own. Thanks
-Chris
Does anyone know if Com pac has these treads and extensions for the Eclipse too?
Any photos?
I think this is a necessary addition before swimming season.
thanks Don
waterwheels...Contact Compac via email. They are quick to get back to you and great to deal with. I am very impressed with this company.
Heave Too...I had that exact same idea and have been working on the design. As I said, we do a lot of swimming and I think a small platform will really make the boat more accessible for that. Sort of a halfway spot between the boat and the water. I considered just installing the Garelick platform you linked as is (and as shown in Greene's picture below) but decided it was going to drag when heeling on a port tack. Greene, I'd be interested in your experience with that.
Instead, unless you guys either talk me out of it or suggest an improvement to the design, my intention is to remove the lower half of the current ladder and put the platform on the hinges where it used to be, so it will fold up. My plan is to have the weight supported by coated cables/lifelines. I will probably add a fold down step or two to the platform itself and maybe some grab handles if needed.
If anyone can tell me how to post an image I'll post a mock up I did.
A fold up platform is a good idea.
The idea of having a platform on the stern would be nice for boarding a dingy. I tow a dingy with me on my trips as I spend 95% of my time on the hook. It is nice place to step from the boat to the dink. I usually step off of the ladder now and it is okay.
I am not sure if the platform would drag or not on a heel. I would have it up a little to keep that from happening. It would be nice to see a mock-up.
Well, guys, I hope to see how this might work also. I have no installed ladder, just one of those ones that you put over the gunnel. It came with the boat, and I haven't used it. I saw a swim platform ladder at Overton's and was thinking about it until I saw this thread. If Greene has some feedback on his, I might still do it.
Totally agree with you on access to the dinghy. That's the kind of thing I was alluding to when I said "a halfway spot between the boat the water." I need a tutorial on posting a picture. Can I upload directly from my hard drive or does it need to be a link to an external web site?
Quote from: HeaveToo on January 28, 2015, 06:38:35 AM
A fold up platform is a good idea.
The idea of having a platform on the stern would be nice for boarding a dingy. I tow a dingy with me on my trips as I spend 95% of my time on the hook. It is nice place to step from the boat to the dink. I usually step off of the ladder now and it is okay.
I am not sure if the platform would drag or not on a heel. I would have it up a little to keep that from happening. It would be nice to see a mock-up.