Dive ladder build

[XR616]

I've been thinking of doing this for some time, retirement and more time planned to do Charters in the next few years got me motivated. This will be a side mounted ladder, 5 rung. I have a pretty low shear boat and I didn’t want to cut out the transom is the reason for the side mount. Secondly I have a second steering station near where I plan on mounting the ladder.

The rungs, 1.25 X .25 X .75 18” long

Main, 1.5 X 4 X .125 about 5.5 feet long

Base plate will be 316SS .375 X 4

1.25 solid aluminum square for mounting arm.

Pictures, piece of main down tube with test rungs welded in, main tube drilled out for rungs, mock up of main tube with rungs.

I haven’t welded up the mounting plate.

So far all materials have cost 305$

 

[TrimixToo]

It seems too late to suggest this, but a very useful feature of one dive ladder I've used (can't recall on which boat) is that the rungs get closer together as you climb. So when your weight is supported by the water, you take bigger steps, but as you get out of the water the steps are shorter, and the effort to climb the ladder is, if not constant, not increasing at the rate it would were the rungs to be evenly spaced.

The next time I make a dive ladder (I have made exactly one) I will make it that way.

 

[fullytek]

We have found the perfect angle for a ladder with an average diver 1/2 way up is 69 degrees

 

[michael-fisch]

Don't forget that the railings should go up much higher than tne ladder, climbing up with nothing to hold on to for the last 4 steps is not fun!

Michael

 

[XR616]

This is the culmination of lots of builds I’ve used and seen. There will be a grab bar in the gunnel.

10 degree pitch, rungs 12” apart. I put a knurl on the rungs. Any useful information will be helpful for people in the future building there own ladder

 

[happy-diver]

Correct, rectangular rungs

 

[progrower]

Looking great so far. I'm building a prototype out of materials I have available to me. I want it easily removable and able to fold. I just started and will post a few pics when I make some significant progress. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Akimbo]

I find that some low profile caps on Tee rung ladders are helpful to prevent feet from sliding off, especially when mounting the bottom rung. It also helps reduce injuries when the diver is slammed against a rung by a swell.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I really love my Armstrong ladder with a customized swim bracket. It's the perfect angle and the flat steps are more comfortable on my feet than round rungs.