No swim ladder, OK to step up on K-planes?
 

My new (to me) boat does not have a swim ladder. I'm wondering if there is any harm in stepping up on the tabs to board from the water.

I have 380 K-planes. I know they can handle a lot up upward force but what about downward?

No problem, the may give a little but spring right back up.

That's how I get in my boat. They won't give, they're hydraulic.

I do it all the time when on the trailer.

Have you seen the removeable swim/dive ladders that some folks put on when they don't have a lot of transom real estate?

Example:
http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=99989F

I step on mine all the time in/out of water. have the 24" billets and they made my ladder useless. Cant believe I havent removed the ladder yet:lolhit:

I might be able to make one of those work. I have an integrated platform but I don't think I can access the inside to through-bolt a ladder.

The platform is pretty low. I'm sure the kids and I won't have any issues as the boat sits now. The wife on the other hand......:angry-smiley-038:

That is the same one I used on the Pantera when I added the bracket, works great, but he would probably have to make a custom bracket to swing it off of the top or bottm of his platform, as he has no vertical real estate. Here is a bracket that may work, and the best price anywhere I could find on that ladder.

http://www.hopkins-carter.com/gareli...ket-99187.html

http://www.hopkins-carter.com/gareli...der-19803.html

We rigged a Hallett with a rocker switch so the swimmer could step on the plate,push the rocker up being lifted that much higher to the swim step.
Mac

You could add those little wingtips that Sunsation puts on their tabs get get a toe hold. :D

we step on ours to get in.

The thing that i would caution (and this goes without saying) is make sure your guests understand they don't want to slip off and hit that prop.

We sent one of my brothers friends to the ER a couple years ago when one of the props caught his knee (about 20 stiches if I remember including a handful internal).

And I cut my side all the way into my hip bone trying to moon a buddy driving by....