Fabricating a boat ladder, need help

A

Andrew Holley

Well-known member
I need a better way to get into and out of the boat when hunting in about waist high water. Right now I "walrus" up on the pods, usually using the lower unit of the motor as my first step.

I saw in Overton's catalog this dock ladder and really like it. But I want the ladder to slide up the pod when not in use. My first thought was garage door track and rollers, but I can’t buy just a piece of track from Menards or Home Depot and worried about the rollers popping out (will have to have some type of locking mechanism to hold it down, during transport).

Here is picture of what I am thinking of.

The ladder would in the down position, I could walk down the pod, holding the ladder handle, turn and go down the steps.

Now here it would be in the up position, for when we are motoring to our spot or when on trailer.

A friend suggested linear bearings, but with the price and being outside and exposed to the weather, I didn't think they would last long.

Anybody got any ideas on building a sliding rack?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Andrew,

In my experience, it is likely that you may only really need one or two steps below the sponson. Just enough to get yourself up high enough to step or kneel on the sponson. How about a two step ladder that is mounted with a hinge near the bottom of the sponson that can just be folded up and held with a bungee? At a Bass Pros recently I saw a ladder that is mounted similar to that description and is extendable - it was mounted on one of their display boats so I don't know the manufacturer.
 
I sure like that single post ladder, Jeff. It would have been real handy when we were using my boat as a dive platform. I can see that it would work great with waders too.
 
Pete, I looked a long time at the first in your first link. My problem is I don't have access to the rear of the pod, filled with foam and sealed. So the only way to mount it would be with lags into the ply, nothing structural on the other side.

Thanks for looking, got to do some thinking.
 
Do you have a jack plate? If so, this is a nifty product from T&H

http://www.thmarine.com/products/Outboard-Jack-Plates/Jack-Plate-Ladders/TWIST-STEP-Emergency-Jack-Plate-Ladder
 
Pete, I think you hit it, stainless steel toggle bolts and fill the holes with 5200, should work. Now I just have to decide on the ladder type.

Thanks
 
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