May have finally found a ladder

[nofearengineer]

After my warm weather dunking a couple years ago, I've been searching far and wide for a good emergency ladder. Climbing back in a boat with wet clothes on can be tough even for skinny guys. For me, it's not happening. LOL, Cmorg ended up dragging me with the trolling motor to the shallows to climb back in.

Triton and Ranger were offering a cool ladder that actually pops out of the transom when you need it, but they only sold them as part of an OEM boat...no aftermarket units.

Well, it looks like they finally made one for the aftermarket.


(click picture for details)

This thing is slick, even though it looks like more major surgery for the boat. It looks like you just cut a round hole through the transom, and all the way forward through any flotation foam you might have.

I've already figured out how to put backing plates behind it. I figure I'll have to match the exterior plate, cut it in half, and put each plate through the hole separately, and "glue" it in place with marine caulk. I'll have to make two of these backing plates (4 pieces), and make the "splits" in opposite directions; i.e. one vertical, and one horizontal, so as to overlap. All of the bolts should be tied into all of the others that way.

This should make me feel much safer in colder water. I hate hearing horror stories of drowned winter anglers.