many thanks that decided one bit i was stuck on with the 3 or 4 question

that looks pretty clever to me thanks

in my case derek its a 78 so i have 36 years of nightmare solutions, terminal block, PVC tape, non insulated ferrules and the record so far was a point to point wire that changed colour a total of 4 times in a 15 foot length. i took one look and decided it all had to come out. i have most sussed out thanks and i have bought some ground point blocks to create my own earth points and will two wire the lot.

This is what I used. Just a small plastic and steel block mounted high on the transom. Nothing gets in the way. A little pricey but worth it to me.

http://www.iboats.com/mall/image/view/7/1/19853_2_2.jpg

never a fan of having them anywhere near the prop end of things to get a skier out the water Shawna. maybe just me. not sure why but would prefer something to board on the side.
how do you remove that one ?

With the stern ladders you pretty much need a platform to attach-stow the ladder. I had a side ladder that hooked to the top of the gunwhale. (Gunnell?) But i forgot to remove it one day and the river did it for me.

those are the issues i am deciding over. what i have sort of got in my head is something that folds, so i win on the space, something that is detachable so i can stow, something that mounts from the side so i am nowhere near the prop, something that clips or plugs into place so if i am a total doofus and leave it in, i might stand half a chance of not losing it before i notice. problem i can see is that i dont have much "meat" on the side to mount plugs or whatever and that if i did i am thinking the ladder would then be stuck out at sea a foot off the boat.

There is a pin that you just pull and the whole ladder lifts out of a dovetail. the ladder folds in on itself and stores easy under the rear seat. I never use it with the motor running.

people who use boarding ladders with the engine running, even on the side of the hull, should be chopped up by the prop and used for chum. oh right. they probably will be!!

must be a regional thing as over here they often just engage neutral with skiers and never shut them off. might be fear they wont start again. always gives me the proper willies. hate it. hence why not wanting to be near it if possible.