example take and select the text "MYSTIC STAINLESS FOLDAWAY ladder" after selecting the text you will notice the little icon above the text box that looks like a piece of chain. If you hover over it, it will say "insert/edit link". click on that and then past your link into the link box. this will allow you to post links that work till I can get the issue fixed. I have twice sat down to do the upgrade but it is so extensive that I have not done it both times. I have to upgrade the website software and then the forum software that runs as a plugin on the website. Also there are about 8 other plugins that will need to be upgraded at the same time because the website software is upgraded. 🙂 no good deed goes unpunished. Wordpress and the various plugins makes daily maintenance and usage a breeze.. you pay for it in the backend when doing the major upgrades.. Still not terrible just takes a few hours.

I looked around to some other similar boat forums, Baba and Tayana. They have some opinions on ladders too, with similar hull shape so the concerns are similar.

Several Tayana 42' and Baba 37' (37' I think?) photo collections are at these sites

http://www.ftp.tognews.com/Pro…..ng_ladder/
http://ftp.babaowners.org/Boar…..der_Bella/

A few select pics from that group:

http://www.ftp.tognews.com/Pro…..lcor05.JPG

http://www.ftp.tognews.com/Pro…..Parked.JPG

http://www.ftp.tognews.com/Pro…..folded.jpg

A couple people like the MYSTIC STAINLESS FOLDAWAY ladder

http://www.mysticstainless.com…..daway.html

A couple people mention these fixed boarding steps, Perko Chrome Fixed Boarding Steps

http://www.jamestowndistributo…..?pid=13459

This rope ladder that stowes in a PVC tube is interesting – Plastimo Flushmount Safety Ladder

OK, finally here is a review page with a detailed comparison of the many types of ladders and dinghy ladders

http://www.myboatsgear.com/boa…..ng-ladders

For emergency get-back-aboard situations there is nothing better than a davit with a hook on a high ratio pulley.  So maybe a ladder is not the right approach to that problem.

Found these while perusing boarding ladders.  They were custom made for a Nauticat.  My dream ladder!  Love how it folds against the hull.  

7 steps ABOVE the waterline?! What's the freeboard on this monster? Sheesh!

I agree, this thing looks awesome. How cool it would be to pull up to a dock somewhere, drop that thing down and head straight for the bar like Captain Ron? "Hey, can I get uh margarita?!"

My practical sense tells me it would be a dog at anchor though. If you had a dinghy, sure...but trying to pull myself up and out of the drink after a snorkel seems like it would be a struggle. Moreover, a boarding ladder should function easily in both times of business and pleasure. In an MOB "business" scenario, you want the ability to quickly deploy that thing while aboard or IN THE WATER and get the crew member our yourself back in the boat. Heck, if you were heeled over enough while coming about - that bottom platform might crack the poor MOB in the skull! [Image Can Not Be Found]

The simple test is to jump in the water and try to get back on your boat. Unless you have SS ladder rungs thru-bolted to your hull - something like the Mystic Foldaway is the only practical way to go. Tug on a rope, releasing a retaining pin and the ladder drops down into the water. Even a nice set of folding teak steps or a rope ladder is worthless if they're not perpetually deployed. [Image Can Not Be Found]

Sorry to be a killjoy...just offering some food for thought.[Image Can Not Be Found]

and sending this slightly overweight sailor into the drink[Image Can Not Be Found].  

Also a  clamp underneath to secure the rope to the board, is what I am thinking could do the trick.

Like to keep it looking very simple and nautical, also to stow away easily.    

Helmuth 

Nice and simple

I agree with you Scott. Looks also a lot more "nautical" then this plastic contraptions and easy to make and cheap.