Looking for a Boarding Ladder for a Yacht or Boat?
This page lists boarding ladders for sale that you can buy from Nautical marketplace topRik.com
Our catalog contains a wide range of boarding ladders for luxury yachts and cruise boats of various classes. Wood, metal, plastic or rope - you can buy any kind of ladder from us.
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Purpose of Boarding Ladders
It is difficult even for a well-trained person to pull himself out of the water and get over the side of an inflatable boat. Moreover, it is impossible to climb straight out of the water on the high side of a yacht or boat no matter the level of physical shape.
To go down into the water, you can, of course, dive from the side of a catamaran like some kind of main character of an action movie. But if you just want to gently get off the transom platform and swim a little without attracting the attention of any movie cameras, it will be difficult to do this, since often these platforms are located high above the water. And then how do you get back?
To avoid such problems, boarding ladders of various modification are used on yachts, catamarans, launches and inflatable boats.
With existing variety of ladders, you can always choose the right option to provide additional comfort and safety for passengers and crew.
Nautical marketplace topRik.com offers boarding ladders for sale that will allow you to:
- safely go overboard and board from the water;
- board safely from the pier;
- conveniently and safely to come down to the berth from the side;
- promptly, without injury and effort, lift a person who has fallen overboard onto the boat, even when they are drowning or feeling unwell in the water;
- dive from a platform with a special ladder, and then climb up directly from the water;
- descend into the water with fins and full equipment of a scuba diver, and then comfortably climb aboard.
The main thing before choosing any boat equipment is to clearly define your wishes, which must correspond to the characteristics of the yacht, boat, catamaran. And only then get acquainted with all the available ladders for sale. Even before buying, you must accurately define what type and for what purposes you need a ladder and where it will be attached.
Types of Boarding Ladders
Boarding ladders for yachts are divided into different categories and types depending on the material used, purpose, location, method of attachment, design and other parameters.
- According to the type of construction, they can be folding, retractable, telescopic, combined, inflatable.
- Depending on the method of attachment - stationary and removable. Stationary ones are either immediately installed on the boat or are attached during the operation of the vessel without the possibility of removing them. Removable options are stored on the ship in a locker or a suitable compartment and are hung on the gunwale or other places as needed. This category is divided into several types according to the place of attachment.
- Depending on the material they are made of - rope, wood, metal (usually polished stainless steel), soft PVC. Materials used are resistant to corrosion and deformation from ultraviolet radiation and sea salt. In the case of rope models, strong artificial fibers are used. To manufacture the wooden ladders, ship plywood is used. The special processing of this multilayered material includes the impregnation of plywood sheets, going in different directions, with Bakelite resin.
- Three main types of ladders are used on yachts and small boats: for launching into and out of the water, for launching and lifting it from the shore, for moving from the pier to the vessel and back. All three types of ladders can be both stationary and removable. In turn, these types of ladders are divided into several varieties according to their purpose.
Ladder for Climbing Into and Out of the Water
This category of boarding ladders for sale is represented by two main types:
- ladders for diving with steps fixed on one central bearing axis, which allows you to enter and exit the water in fins;
- bathing ladders with steps fixed between two bearing axles.
Such ladders are installed, as a rule, at the stern. If the vessel is equipped with an additional side platform from the owner's cabin (like the Lagoon 77 catamaran), such a ladder is installed on the platform itself.
There are also special ladders for lifting the victim from the water to the deck - rescue vessels, commercial yachts and catamarans are equipped with such equipment. On an ordinary ship, any light, removable ladder can serve this purpose.
Ladder for Going Ashore (Onto the Pier) And Getting Back Up
Let us immediately determine that a ladder for descending directly to the shore which is not equipped with a pier or berth, is used in inland waters where there are no strong and tidal waves.
In the conditions of more regular sea navigation, ladders are used to descend from the side to the berth or pier.
This category includes the following types of ladders:
- side - installed on the board closer to the bow of the deck. Such a gangway is often chosen in cases where a roller with an anchor is installed on the bow.
- bow - installed in the bow of the deck in its center.
Both types can be folding, retractable and combined.
Ladder for Getting Aboard the Boat From the Pier
On small boats, this ladder is rarely used. Most often, this is a folding ladder or one-piece gangway with or without handrails and rollers at one end. There are other options for removable and stationary ladders with fastening on one side to the pier (berth).
This category is used both in coastal sea waters and in inland waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs).
Some Design Variations
You cannot buy the first ladder you like simply because the design might not allow you to install it on your yacht. In this regard, let's consider how the design features affect the use on different types of ships.
- Rope-ladder. A design that does not need special descriptions. It consists of two ropes (or strips) made of elastic material and steps (made of wood or plastic) fixed between them. The main advantages are price, lightness and compactness (when folded, it practically does not take up space). But not everyone can easily climb it onto a high board. This option is also not suitable for an inflatable boat - the weight of a person will drag him under the boat when rising from the water.
- Single stage ladders. They have one step, act as an aid when lifting out of the water. Most often removable. Often used on low swimming platforms. We have a selection of inflatable single step ladders that are strong and lightweight. They work great not only when climbing out of the water, but also when getting onboard from the pier through the bow platform, for example.
- Multi-stage ladders. These are full board ladders. They are fixed both permanently and by way of a canopy on the gunwale or other reliable base of the sides, bow or transom.
- Steps. More familiar to the eye classic steps. They are used on medium and large boats for moving between levels (for example, for getting from the bathing platform to the cockpit, and from there to the flybridge).
- Folding models - convenient for storage, take up little space on the ship when folded. They can be both mounted and stationary on the stern, sides or in the bow.
- Telescopic - even if stationary, they do not take up much space when folded. Works great as transom or platform ladders.
We have already said that the main materials used in the ladders’ manufacturing process are plastic, wood and metal. All of them are selected taking into account the constant exposure to moisture, salt, adverse weather conditions. Therefore, refrain from the desire to install a "household" step on the boat. This is especially true for wood - all ladders made of this material have a special impregnation and, most often, a laminated surface.
For maximum safety, ladder steps and places where access to the deck takes place are best covered with special anti-slip materials. After all, a wet surface always carries the risk of slipping on it and, as a result, injury.
Location of Boarding Ladders
Before discussing where to mount boarding ladders, we suggest remembering the basic rule for mounting this equipment.
ATTENTION! All types of ladders for climbing out of the water must be mounted so that 2-3 steps are below the surface of the water.
This greatly facilitates climbing even for people who are not trained. And let's not forget that on the water (and under water) no one is immune from trouble. A properly installed ladder makes it easier for an injured person to climb or to be lifted aboard.
According to the method of fastening, ladders are divided into two large groups: stationary and removable, or portable.
Stationary are held by permanent attachments to the sides or other panels of the ship. The main advantage is that they cannot be “lost”, as is often the case with removable equipment. In addition, they do not take up space in the cockpit until they are in use. They are mainly used on medium and large vessels (boats, sailing and motor yachts and catamarans).
Removable (portable) models are usually simply hung from the board (there are special rounded designs for inflatable boats). The advantage of such ladders is mobility - they can be hidden when not needed, moved to another place or even to another boat. They are often used on small boats where there is not enough space for permanent fastening.
Removable ladders are also used on boats or yachts with high sides. In this case, they are more often made in a folding or telescopic design so as not to take up much space when not in use.
Stationary models are installed by those who often go sailing and are engaged in active types of underwater activities: scuba diving, hunting, exploring the depths of the sea, searching for sunken objects.
If going to sea is a rare form of recreation, it is better to use removable equipment.
These two main groups of ladders can be divided into types depending on the place of their attachment:
- onboard - these are models for getting from the side to the pier or into the water, as well as for climbing on board from the pier or from the water;
- stern, or transom - usually are mounted or attached to the transom plate or swimming platform, if it’s present;
- bow - for boarding and descending to the pier;
- mast - for maintenance of sailing equipment;
- platform - for mounting on the side, transom or diving platforms.
There are no trifles in the ship's equipment. We hope the information will help you take such an important part of boat equipment as ladders seriously. They will not only provide additional sailing comfort, but also enhance the safety of passengers and the ship's crew.
If you have any questions about how to choose a boarding ladder for a yacht or boat, ask our experts. All of them have extensive experience in the use of all types of equipment for boats, sailing and motor catamarans and yachts.