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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Swim ladder recomendations

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Jan Briede
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/16/2012 : 11:38:40

I am finally enjoying some good sailing on the southern Chesapeake Bay, after a two year restoration project (new keel bolts, smile repair, rewiring of the mast, new halyards, etc). I am not at all done, but I am trying to combine sailing and work on the boat as I go.

The one thing the boat misses is a swim ladder. This is a bit of a sore point with the "boss" (her question is "how can she get me back in the boat when I go overboard"). Of course I would not mind a dip in the water at times. CD lists a ladder but they are no longer available. West Marine has these things you hang off the side and stow below. Does anyone have a recommendation for a swim ladder?

Thanks.

Jan

Jan Briede
Beagle
1979 TR #1242 FK
L-Dinette
Yorktown, VA
Blog -- http://vanomad.blogspot.com/

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 11:55:05

Jan,
I have the one displayed in the link below. You install the retainers on top of the coaming and it latches on to the retainer. Allows you to board from the side instead of over the pushpit. Good quality stainless steel. You do need to cut the horizontal braces to accommodate the curve of the hull.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=18730& catalogId=10001& langId=-1& storeId=11151& storeNum=50304& subdeptNum=50353& classNum=50354

P.S. Looked at this again and this is not the one I have. Looks similar but mine is S/S and this one is aluminum. Same concept. I could not find the S/S one on the WM website.

Edited by - Sloop Smitten on 07/16/2012 13:47:56

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 13:12:13

I have the same one and recommended it over the ones that just hang over the side. Tthe hang on type worked OK on my last boat, but the clip on is much more stable. The stock, stern mounted ladder can be pain when you are tired.

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 17:51:52

Wow, pops very nicely.. I asked my daughter do I do royal blue for my hull or red, you make a compelling argument for red. Very nice!

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MrKawfey
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2012 : 18:51:17

Jan, i built a custom folding swim platform with drop down ladder. This was probably tbe single best modification I made to our boat. I will be at the boat on Thursday and will take some pics and post them. Depending on how handy you are you could make one for your boat or i could make parts for you for a fee.
I used stainless steel for certain parts which required a serious metal cutting band saw running coolant and a milling machine, but now that I have built and used it it could easily have been done with all aluminum. It could be built with a basic home band saw and drill press.

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Lynn
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2012 : 00:12:18

I don't know why Catalina Direct has stopped selling the ladders. Catalina Yachts in Florida sells the Garlick Ladders. Also check with San Diego "Minnies" Marine Sales. I was a the Sailboat Shop at Lake Pleasant, AZ and Tom had s/s boarding ladders hanging on the wall.

Good Luck

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2012 : 08:18:30

Minney's Yacht Surplus is actually in Costa Mesa, not San Diego. About 100 miles north but a good place to check.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2012 : 08:35:23

A ladder that is stowed away seems nice for keeping the boat looking cleaner, but not very safe. The high freeboard of the C-25 means that a ladder should be accessible from the water should someone go overboard. Thanks to dgelliot's suggestion I keep a little bit of line attached to my ladder so that it can be swung down from the water.

Garelick doesn't seem to sell a boarding ladder that matches the original C-25 one. Does Catalina Yachts still sell the original C-25 model? I haven't seen anything in the Garelick catalog that seems like a good match. I may just end up making my own.

Edited by - on

MrKawfey
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2012 : 09:24:39

The ladder I used was a 4 step undermount that I bought from Go2Marine. At the time a few years ago it was $140 for the ladder. They dont have the sku listed as a valid part number anymore but I think it was made by Dive-n-dog. Here is a picture of what it looked like (except one more step than this one has):

It is about four feet long when extended and reaches almost to the bottom of the rudder. It is easy to pull out even when you are in the water and you can put your foot on the bottom rung without having to lift yourself up.

Like I said I will snap some pics on thursday

Edited by - on

iwillnotsubmit
1st Mate

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64 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2012 : 04:18:14

I tried to order a new swim ladder from CD a couple of months ago. I placed the order and they said it would be 4-5 weeks for delivery. After about 6 weeks I called to get an eta for delivery and was told the ladder was not available anymore. Yesterday I got a call from CD telling me they got a shipment of ladders and wanted to know if I wanted to order one. I will be placing my order today as soon as they open. Their website still states the ladder is not available, but apparently it is. Just wanted to let everyone know.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2012 : 06:07:13

Thanks, I'll give them a call today.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2012 : 10:47:02

I ordered one. It was about $215 shipped to Seattle (just under $200). To keep the price the same they no longer include the velcro strap, but in my case that is fine because I want the ladder to be deploy-able from the water and wouldn't use the velcro strap anyway.

Thanks for the heads up!

Edited by - on

Jan Briede
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2012 : 11:52:25

Thanks guys I appreciate all the advice. Chris, love to see those photos

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MrKawfey
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 12:05:28

I took a bunch of pics on Thursday then promptly deleted them by accident. Doh! Got some new ones this weekend and I will be posting them tonight or tomorrow.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2012 : 18:16:45

My ladder arrived today. It looks great and included replacement mounting brackets.

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MrKawfey
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2012 : 19:04:34

Ok I posted the pics of my swim platform here
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25454

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.