Replacing swim platform ladder

B

BillWilliams

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Jan 1, 2000
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2904
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Our '89 Sea Ray has the original platform and ladder on it. The ladder is the style that is mounted on top of the platform and folds over against the transom. One of the biggest issues with the ladder is it only has 2 rungs so it does not go very deep in the water so some of our guests have problems climbing it. The platform and ladder are in excellent condition.

I have been thinking about replacing it with a telescopic ladder with 3 or 4 rungs. Since that's the case, I would like to get the ladder off the top of the platform all together so the entire surface is clear of obstacles. I was thinking about something along the line of http://www.boatfix.com/shop5/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=21831. My concern is how to mount it to the platform. I would want the bolts to be flush with the surface of the platform so people don't stub toes and I am concerned with them trying to pull through the platform over time. I'm not certain of the construction of the platform but it does seem to have a core that is probably around 1" thick, maybe a little more.

Any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks
 
google "walk over bolts" these are typically 1/4" s/s with a 1" wide head with philips slot in the middle. they are commonly used to attach storm shutters here in the SE. you wont stub your toe on them. if the platform is cored, you will want to seal the new hole compeltely with resin before you mount bolts thru it or you will soak the core with water.
 
We had a similar problem on our Baja.
Finally decided to add a four step mounted under the swim platform.
Works great, much easier to use.
My only concern was if it would drag in the water and get ripped off.
Found out that getting on plane there was such a big hole it was never in the water and once running it was about 8 inch above water.
Might be something to consider as each boat is different.
 
My boat also has a two step ladderand the swimplatform is intergrated into the boat. The manufacture choose that ladder because if they used a longer ladder the prop would have been able to hit it when the drive was trimmed all the way up.
 
Thanks all. Vic, I tried to google "walk over bolts" with no luck so I'll keep looking. I understand what you are talking about, it's just a matter of finding them.
 
Mine is attatched with pan head SS bolts and fender washers. Yes they do stick up a bit but it hasn't been a problem.

If the swim platform is cored, you will have to do more than seal the holes, you will have to dig out the coring around the holes and fill the void with epoxy, then drill again. An allen wrench chucked in a drill motor is one way to do this.
 
On our newly re-cored and extended platform, I installed a new 4 step, undermount ladder. I did not want any top surface penetrations. We also have a lip at the bottom edge of the platform I needed to clear when deploying the ladder. I found a nice, perfect-sized piece of scrap teak platform from an old bowrider, mounted it properly into the underside of platform using 4200 and screws, then screwed the ladder into that. It sounds ugly, but it's not, and is completely unseen. Ladder clears bottom lip of platform perfectly, and works well. I really appreciate the 4 rungs getting out of the water, I'm 6'5".
 
I've been looking around at some 3 step ladders and it appears that when the ladder is closed, it sticks out past the slide by 4 or 5 inches. Wouldn't the slides be mounted so they come to the edge of the platform so when the ladder is down, it's lined up with the edge of the platform? If that's the case, when it's folded up, it would stick out past the end of the platform by the 4 or 5 inches I was talking about earlier. Does this sound right or am I missing something? Does anyone have any pictures of an installed ladder because I can't seem to find an installed picture?

Thanks
 
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