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I am looking for the best solution for a swim ladder to install on our 1989 Whaler 27 WD. I assume the ladder should be foldable but attached to the Whaler Drive. I will need hand holds for ease of climbing over the splashwell into the boat.

It occurs to me that I should have an easy access point back into the boat for safety sake in case of a man overboard situation. Both my wife and I are getting older, and my kids and grandkids, as well as my wife, would enjoy taking a swim occasionally.

Any recommendations on best products and best installations?

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Boston Whaler Marketing Director wrote as background information, the 4 benefits of Whaler Drive:

1. Use of a Whaler Drive effectively adds 2 feet to the overall length of the boat. This increases the running surface and will make a Boston Whaler with the Whaler Drive peform like a larger boat.

2. The Whaler Drive unit effectively moves the outboard engines 2 feet aft, reducing engine noise in the cockpit area.

3. The Whaler Drive is made of the same foam core construction that the Boston Whaler hull is made of, adding buoyancy aft. In this configuration, the weight of the engines are better counterbalanced than in other engine configurations (such as Gil Brackets) making the boats attitude better while running or at rest.

4. The Whaler Drive serves as an actual platform where work on the engines can be done. In Addition, the Whaler Drive serves as a swim platform.

My recommendation is to add a telescoping ladder like what Garelick manufactures.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q1...00atSP.jpg

Here is a photograph of another brand of ladder installed on a Whaler Drive.

http://s813.photobucket.com/user/mart...4413186364

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I have looked at those ladders, I want to insure that there is something to grab on to while climbing in. I have a flat stainless plate mounted securely on the top of my whaler drive with a powder-coated aluminum 12"x12" (approximately) block mounted to it at a 90 degree angle. This mount was used to support a 50 HP trolling motor in the boats original configuration as a Great Lakes boat. I have removed the trolling motor from this mount, and I think it could work to make a great ladder mount, but I need to have some kind of grab rail or handle that will not interfere with fishing/trolling and also allow use of the ladder in 4-6' sea conditions in an emergency situation.

I have a few pics of the mount with the trolling motor still attached here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99787852...4909375698

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99787852...4909375698

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99787852...4909375698

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99787852...4909375698

Any ideas on what that stainless steel plate was used for originally? My boat tech has suggested it was originally a spare anchor hold down, but I can't see how it would have worked myself.

Additionally, I would prefer a flat folding ladder that would stow completely out of the way on top of the whaler drive but still be accessible from the water in case of emergency. The Armstrong style ladder in the pic above is completely unacceptable for my use, as it is stowed full up while underway, and would cause insurmountable difficulties while fishing/trolling in my opinion.

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Just found a pic of what I have to work with now that the trolling motor has been removed from the bracket.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99787852...355454256/

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Hey Pard, give me a call. If you look at my photo bucket I sent out a while back, I modified slightly my whaler drive to take on a swim platform. Have a look, and give me a call, just happen to have an original teak swim platform. Its your for the asking!

Duf

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actually, couple of photo's on my personal page as well.

duf

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Silentpardner,
I was checking out stainless rod holders in the San Francisco Bay area's craigslist and stumbled on a picture of a railed step on the rear motor platform (similar to Whaler Drive). You may want to check out the picture for ideas. It is in the boat category "1988 Chaparral fishing/dive boat". An interesting installation.
gchuba

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The only one I can find after doing a search for 1988 Chaparral fishing/dive boat on the SF site of CL is this one, and I see handrails! I really need to set up something with hopefully a bit less profile than this installation, but hand holds are mandatory in my opinion. I want to be able to get back on the boat even in rough sea conditions, as this would be the conditions that would be most likely when anyone would go overboard by my way of thinking.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/boa/4...20976.html

Thanks for the input! Please keep it coming :)

Thanks Duf! I will certainly keep that platform in mind if I need one :) I am thinking about adapting my current trolling motor mount for the ladder though, as it is already there....might be able to use the teak to cover the SS plate on the top of the whaler drive...hmmmm :)

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I see the cleat you use for a hold in your pics here now Duf. I don't have any cleats on the exterior of the boat though. The Whaler 27 cleats are all located inside and under the gunnels, with rope access through the gunnel caps. I bet you have a couple like this on each side of your boat as well, I know my Outrage 18 has them.

There also seems to be a large difference in the size of our whaler drives as well. It may be the pictures, I am not certain, but I don't think it would be possible for me to reach a cleat located in the same position as yours is if it was on my boat from the same type of ladder. I really need to get that Whaler 27 down there for you to see up close, it's HUGE :)

I will get some measurements of the whaler drive and the plate I have already attached, I am still interested in that teak platform for sure, I think it would look really nice over the SS and also give a more comfortable step surface. Many Thanks!

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yup, mime is easy. Great hand hold to access the boat. Have a look, and if you decide that's what you want, will have it on its way to you shortly.

Duf

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Silentpardner from what i understand in this thread is that you no longer will use the trolling motor and therefore want to use that SB plate for mounting a ladder?
Leave the plate for mounding a motor again maybe in the future and go to Port for a swim ladder.
There are many fold-able (even slide under the WD) ladders on the market, pick one at least 3 steps (2 is never enough). Then for handles I would recommend Seadog Model 322620-1 steps. Use two. One half way on the horizontal surface of the WD and one on the vertical surface of the transom.
These fold flat and look nice and are inexpensive.
https://www.google.com/search?q=seado...p;ie=UTF-8
I've installed this with a friend on his swim platform that was a little high out of the water and then the transom of that old boat didn't have a door and was a good 37" from platform to gunnel so we used 2 on the transom besides the one to hoist yourself on the swim-platform. Worked great.
The last and least expensive solution is a large diameter line with knots in it :-)