it's time to purchase a boarding ladder. anyone have any experience with the mystic stainless foldaway? pro or cons would be appreciated.

jo anne ross
s/v little pearl
falmouth cutter 26-7

I have the mystic stainless foldaway and love it. Works great and looks good also.

Gary
s/v Rogue
BCC 123

Gary R. Simmons

SV Rogue

Hi Gary
Do you have 48" or 70" ladder?

Mehmet

are you able to remove it completely for below deck storage?

jo anne ross
s/v little pearl
falmouth cutter 26-7

are you able to remove it completely for below deck storage?

jo anne ross
s/v little pearl
falmouth cutter 26-7

Hello jo anne,
I have used a 4-step folding ladder from http:www.cruisingconcepts.com. It connects to the genoa track and is easily stored. (well sort of, considering it is a ladder!)

Tom
"Terrier"

thanks tom.

does your fourth step extend below the waterline?

jo anne ross
s/v little pearl
falmouth cutter 26-7

I believe it does. Mostly I just use it folded to enter from the dinghy or dock.

Tom
"Terrier"

Ahoy JoAnn , I asked my SS Fabricator to copy this Mystic design with some changes.

I liked the sales pitch, that you could deploy this ladder from in the water, by pulling on a line dangling at waterline level.

There are a few problems to deploy the ladder this way, but maybe Mystic has worked them out.

Yes, you do need underwater step or perferably steps, plural .

My 5 steps are about 11" apart, and hopefully the attached photo shows how I mounted it on a bronze "T" track screwed to the bulwarks.

My ladder is way too heavy and I would like to have another one fabricated in aluminum.

Yes, you can easily detach it to stow below, but I have way too much stuff below already, so I leave it in it's folded up position. Under sail I have to slide it forward on it's track, because my jib sheet turning block needs that boarding gate area for the strop attachment.

There are things that don't show in the attached pic, like the deployed position stand off legs,,, only one touches down just below on the boot stripe.

I consider my swim ladder a v important piece of my boat gear, as I use it not only for scuba diving, but entering my sea kayak and dinghy.

I do climb it up and down with fins on , but would also like to try those "T" Bar step ladders designed for divers, my time for that is coming soon.

Do your research well or you might have to live with a poor decision for a long time .

Cheers

BTW , On a BCC , I was taught a way to climb back onboard up through the vee opening of the boomkin.





Edited 1 times. Last edit at 03/29/12 11:58PM by dwkayaks.

thanks for sending along the pic. here's what i know so far. four rungs is way too short for me to board after a swim. the first rung just touches the waterline. i made myself an etrier out of webbing. it works but yuk! i'd like to have two rungs at least underwater. the ability to deploy the ladder from the water is intriguing. i do have a wichard webbed ladder that hangs on the stern pulpit for just that kind of emergency, but it would be nice to have a much more substantial (stainless) ladder
that had that same deployment feature.
unfortunately, the boomkin on my boat is much shorter that the bcc. there is no humanly way possible to pass thru that eye. so that's out for me.

where would you mount your dive ladder?

you are right about living with it for a long time. my mistake i mean.

jo anne ross
s/v little pearl
falmouth cutter 26-7

Gosh , Jo anne , sooo much to say , about swim ladders ,,, even my ladder seems short a step ,,,, I put my nee on the first underwater step , then while hoisting myself up with my arms , get a flipper next to it , to stand up on .

I would like to mount a dive "Tee" shaped ladder at the same , boarding gate location , port and stb , interchangeable, but how to test this idea ?

Roger , has his own ideas and solutions , so don't over-look his suggestions , they have merit as well , just be particular in your choice , as it applies to you and your needs .

Since you have a FC , always be considerate of weight , especially at midships , as I say even my SS ladder is "Way To Heavy " , so this one , is only stowed below , in port ,,, when I fear theft !