Dive Ladder

[junior]

I need to replace the dive ladder on my boat and was considering the three or four rung Armstrong swing ladder. Anybody out there have anything bad to say about this ladder? It's the one that pivots in the mounting bracket, not the one you can leave down so you are shooting a rooster tail before you realize you've just ruined another bracket:D

[WreckDiver]

I think Steve has that one on his GB, work good. It would be helpful if you posted a picture of the bracket.

I know I like the open style ladder but for my boat I am having a custom ladder built so that my wife can climb it. Single post is not going to work for her.

Is this it? If it is that is the one Steve has. Seems to have held up very well.

[junior]

That's the one Roland.

[WreckDiver]

You will need to permanently tie a rope to it and a hand rail or something, because when you forget to pull it up it can bounce around and come out of the slots. Otherwise its a great ladder.

[JimW]

I love mine.... works great. 3 step is all you need IMO, but my transom sits pretty low. As a safety precaution I tie a small rope to it... just in case it comes off. It doesn't bounce around at all when running... I paid $170 delivered. I also store it in the center console. I installed it myself.

http://www.mindspring.com/~jimwilliams3/misc/119_1910.jpg

http://www.mindspring.com/~jimwilliams3/misc/119_1908.jpg

[junior]

Thanks. Where did you get it from Jim? West Marine does not carry the Armstrong ladders from what I've seen online.

[JimW]

I think here. Steel prices have gone up.... I got a deal. I paid $169. IMO this is still a good price, free shipping, but gotta pay tax.... search google some more.

At the time I called Armstrong, they said $250 +tax and shipping! :eek:

Jammarine in Miami (http://www.jammarine.com/product_info.php?products_id=2787)

[junior]

Thanks Jim. Jammarine has it listed for $213 now, but I found it here for a little less.

http://www.tackletogo.com/ar3stdila40.html

[Mobile Diver]

It is a great ladder. I have the 4 rung & recommend it for divers. I have to bungee it because I took the flotation out so you don't have to push it down unless there is current. It will twist out of the bracket if you rotate it while hanging on it. Great for drift diving; you can just let it drag at slow speeds. Also you can climb it with your fins on so you don't have to remove them in the water.

[JimW]

Thanks Jim. Jammarine has it listed for $213 now, but I found it here for a little less.

http://www.tackletogo.com/ar3stdila40.html


LOL! That is where I got mine :) Glad you searched some more. Good luck.

[Spearchucker]

Doug,

Give me a call, I have a knockoff that is built better than Armstrong in my garage that I will sell ya. It was mounted on the Mako before I enclosed the transom. It is very solid, and swings up so you don't tear it apart when you forget.

[Surface Tension]

You definitely want one that will swing up. They inevitably get left down sooner or later.

[Blind Squirrel]

I have one of the "stainless marine" ladders, http://www.stainlessmarine.com/access1.html , that sticks out sideways. I only have to beat it back in to shape after EVERY dive. :D If it stuck out rearwards, probably wouldn't be a problem.

[BLACKFIN]

Armstrong & Garelick make the best dive ladders and mounting brackets. You can get a 3-step Garelick at WestMarine for $175. (I think - think, Arrmstrong now uses a Garlick and re-markets it).

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h180/blackfin28/ladder.jpg

But it's a fixed mount - you have to remember each time to pull it moving moving to another spot. With the swinging type, depending on how it's mounted, be very careful of pinched fingers.

[Capt Keith]

Or you could have a custom ladder made. The ladder in this picture cost me $180.00. Anyone who can weld aluminum can make one. This ladder is attached to my Stainless Marine outboard motor bracket. Its strong enough to exit the water with full gear AND fins on.
BTW the boat is a 23' Parker CC deep V.

[NWFLcat]

Capt Keith uses the same style/design that all my dive buddies use on their Cats.

I'm in the process of looking to figure out my design trying to use one of those lock on ladders (I have 2) but bastardize it with hinges to become a swing-up ladder.

Simple cost-based decision for me. The price of metal has gone up and unless you can weld the labor for a quality ladder isn't cheap.....but climbing out of the water on one like Capt Keith's is extremely hard to beat! The lock-on's just are not in the same category.

NWFLCAT