J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Swim Ladders

Afternoon All,
Still kitting out the boat, and was wondering how people prefer to get back into the boat from swimming. I have a collapsible ladder that I'm considering mounting on the stern, however it's rather cumbersome getting over the stern rail. Thoughts, suggestions?

keep in mind that you really don't want the ladder on the exhaust side of the transom. But the transom fold down is the standard approach. If someone is in good enough shape to dive off, should be in good enough shape to climb back on.

I am struggling with this as well. All I have now is an emergency rope ladder from the rear cleat. It is kind of scratching at the waterline.

I think I am going to go telescoping ladder on the port transom

I have a telescoping ladder that I picked up from Amazon. It's a 5 step-er that West Marine has (It was cheaper on Amazon). I haven't hard fastened it yet as I was waiting for everyone's opinion, plus would rather do it on the hard (Why do sailing terms sound so dirty sometimes??? :> ) which will be after the October America's Cup races here.

Ok, with all of the other projects on the go, sanding and painting the topside, a recore on a soft spot fore of the mainsheet track and general maintenance, I still haven't mounted my ladder on the stern.

Has anyone else done a stern mounted ladder setup? Did they bolster the transom with a mounting plate on the inside, or just screws and large washers? If a mounting plate, what was used?

My ladder provides for 6 mounting screws through the transom, three on each side.

Thanks.

On Rhapsody when I recored the transom I glassed in a solid area that the ladder mounting screws went through. See this link on my recore blog.



At a minimum you should over drill and epoxy isolate the mounting screw holes. I would use stainless shoulder washers on the inside under the hex nuts.

Thanks Bill. Some good ideas there.

I installed a folding ladder on Ananda's transom (more for the MOB case than the swimming case - one does not generally go swimming in SF Bay willingly). It's on the exhaust side, but small enough to avoid any issues there.



While sailing, a short tie keeps it elevated above the waterline for the most part.