boarding ladder

[Bernadette]

I am searching for a plan/pattern for an all timber boarding ladder of the type that sits neat against the hull and hinges in half for stowage on deck. I have seen this someplace but cannot loacte it at the moment! Can anyone please help? Bernadette.

[landlocked sailor]

WB 84, page 91. How to build article with drawings by Sam Manning. Rick

[Figment]

I've also seen a version of this that has hinges (facing opposite directions) on each side of the steps. The whole thing folds flat. Brilliant.

[JimConlin]

These are made by the Concordia Company if you ask nicely.
See THIS (http://www.concordiaboats.com/concoparts.htm) , at the bottom of the page.

As described, the treads are connected to the uprights with small butt hinges, so applied that the whole works folds very compactly.
I'd think that it would need to be assebled very carefully, as any misalignment would cause the hinges to rack as the ladder was folded and as, on the side where the hinges are above the tread, the fastenings would be under great pull-out stress when the tread was stood upon.

[formerlyknownasprince]

There is one on the US ebay site -

http://cgi.ebay.com/old-fold-antique-chris-craft-wood-mohogany-boat-ladder_W0QQitemZ7368195383QQcategoryZ66638QQssPage Na meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem]folding ladder

http://i24.ebayimg.com/03/i/05/18/bc/2d_12.JPG

Ian

[JimJ]

On page 186 of "The Finely Fitted Yacht" Ferenc Mate has details of a wooden boarding ladder .

http://www.wwnorton.com/orders/wwn/025628.htm

Jim

[JimConlin]

The one on Ebay looks to be well made. The hardware alone will cost the current bid price.
Going soon.

[ 11-27-2005, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: JimConlin ]

[Walcheren]

Look under "Poulsbo Boat Accessories" and there is a picture of one. I took some ideas from the W.B. article, then adapted it to my hull. Works fine.

[paladin]

I made mine so that the bottom two steps wuz below the water, and added a small diving weight to the last tread....makes it easier to get back on board with a full load of SCUBA gear.....

[Concordia..41]

Jim beat me to my suggestion, but I have some other pictures if you're interested.

- M

[Gallus102]

I built a folding ladder last August to Sam Manning's design in Woodenboat 84. It was made for our 1955 Century Resorter so we could board over the side rather than the transom. The ladder can be used either port or starboard and had a flipping "compensating bar" to accomodate the rapid tapering in the hull.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid195/pa5529177a15ff61f99c5ff96a38435e1/f136de80.jpg.thumb.jpg

The stainless hardware comes from ABL and I ordered it through Sailor Sam's.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid198/p525bd64e9231e7bd27e0a788045231b3/f0c123c9.jpg.thumb.jpg

You will need the hardware before building the pattern.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid198/p01f25660414e8b11b57af52dd7013ecf/f0c12e17.jpg.thumb.jpg

Here is the ladder during assembly:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid198/p3eb20ca31b2b6f124ce28f49dc9b0867/f0c12f0a.jpg.thumb.jpg

This is the ladder extended in position on the boat. The mahogany is stained to match the hull on the Resorter 16.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid195/p45aff6c11e51db2ad1c47b9cc9e9a48c/f136dd68.jpg.thumb.jpg

White rubber treads with scripted "Century" are added:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid195/pd95e7c72135ed974a7542e1212a568b4/f136de09.jpg.thumb.jpg

There is a significant taper on the hull (about an inch and one half over the 15 inch width on the ladder) so it had to be made with "reversible assymetry". The flipping compensator bar lets us use the ladder on either side of the boat.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid195/p5ebe3a6feb4970cb4d264bd64fc3347e/f136dd69.jpg.thumb.jpg

I admired Manning's design for years, but didn't have a reason to make it until now. Take your time, think it through for your boat, and it will be worth the effort.