Swim ladder

[Fou Du Large]

Hello
1986 owners....  What did you do with your 3 step swim ladder (to short) ?

[Stu Jackson]

From the Projects section of the website:  http://www.c34.org/projects/kindred-spirit/ladder_rungs.html

Also see recent thread about sole savers.

We bought a white Johnson extend a step that hooks onto the bottom rung of the ladder and puts two steps below the waterline.  Works great for us, although our feet still are sore from the regular swim ladder round rungs.  I tried to install Johnson's ladder treads, the brown plastic ones, but the clearances on the threads was horrible:  the indented holes for the nuts to go on the screws was not enough to get a grip on the threads from the too short screws - a really poor design.

[Tom Glennon]

We tried a couple of portable steps tied/clipped to the bottom run of our swim ladder, but found it still hard to climb. This year I bought a 3-step stainless telescoping ladder, and secured it to the bottom step with stainless U-clamps.
As the original intent of this is to mount (bolt) to a swim platform, and swing overboard and extend, I think after this "test season" I will remove the original ladder, and bring it to a welder to have the telescoping ladder hardware welded to the bottom rund somehow, for a permanent fix.

When the swim ladder is retrieved from being deployed, the telescoping apendage is collapesed, swung around, and tucks nicely.  I will take a couple of pictures of the temporary arrangement, as well as the permanent fix when that occurs.  It is stable, and seems to be a good solution to the problem.

[Fou Du Large]

Very good idea.
I have think to do the same thing, but worry about the look.
Happy that the look is good and waiting for your pics.

[Susan Ray]

I am also  waiting for your photos.............
Susan

[Phil Spicer]

Fou,
  Try this. Did it back in 94, still working today.........Simple ladder extension. Took off my teak treads & replacer with  "Plastic Lumber" for NO maintenance. Welded brackets on the lower part of the ladder & pin the extension in place & flip the ladder down. Pue a safety line on it......The boys put the first ladder in about 15' of Lake Erie water . Can't see a thing where it went down, so this is ladder #2.

[Phil Spicer]

Fou,
  This picture shows the small brackets that the Ladder extension is pinned into. All the teak treads were replaced on the ladder, same as on the extension. I welded little platforms on the ladder & extension so the treads have a 2" flat surface to sit on.  Treads are screwed on with 10-32 stainless screws. Fast pins (from West or Defender) are used to pin the extension to the ladder.