Boarding ladders

[Greybeard]

I've been considering fitting one of these to Falcon with a view to using it to climb into the boat for rigging out etc whilst she's on the trailer. Are they strong enough to take the weight of a dry, but substantial skipper?
I'm just looking at ways of carting less stuff around in the T5 - a set of step ladders takes up a fair bit of van space.
I also notice that there is a huge variation in cost between the ones that Bob at HM supplies at a whopping £450 and others available at a fraction of that price.
Any observations/recommendations as to brands?

Thanks. Steve

[Dennis]

I've been considering fitting one of these to Falcon with a view to using it to climb into the boat for rigging out etc whilst she's on the trailer.

Hello Steve

I have one but never use it for that purpose.

I usually climb on the boat via the spare wheel.

[Chris Wicks]

I retro fitted a boarding ladder from HM and was very pleased with the result. They seem to have increased in price considerably. I would not want to use it for boarding on the trailer. I carry an old step ladder tied to the trailer underneath the hull aft of the trailer axle. I use that when rigging etc. It sits very securely and therefore would not take up space in your van...

Chris

[ianrmaciver]

Hi Steve ,
I cut an old wooden ladder down to about 7 ft.
It slots onto the trailer between the mudguard and the rollers , and is held in place by a strap and a bungee .
The fitted stern ladder looks too flimsy for heavy duty clambering work.....ok to roll a man overboard back into the cockpit .
Ian

[Greybeard]

Thanks, chaps. You've pretty much confirmed what I thought really. I don't leave the spare wheel on the trailer when the boat's at the sailing club so that option is ruled out.
I've been checking out lightweight steps/ladder alternatives already.

Steve

[erbster]

I would echo the comment re. not using the boarding ladder to climb into the boat whilst on trailer. I don't use the spare wheel to climb on either, because I can see it shift when I apply my (not inconsiderable) weight. I tend to grip the forestay and climb up from there (foot on tow hitch, next on trailer by winch and then a foot into the bow of the boat).

I use a roof box on my T5 camper van, so I carry a telescopic ladder. I got mine from Maplin and they are on offer at the moment:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/telescopic-ladder-29-m-n18kj

[Greybeard]

Thanks, Charles. That looks like a very sensible option - with ample reserve capacity too
I have a roof tent on my T5 that does have a lightweight (ie comparatively flimsy) 2-part ladder stored inside, but without opening the thing up the ladder isn't easy to get to.

Steve