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Author Topic:   Dive Ladders for Montauk

Salty Tricks posted 05-24-2011 11:31 AM ET (US)
I am not a diver but was wondering has anyone bolted one of these dive ladders (Garelick, Windline) to a Montauk transom and is it workable?
contender posted 05-24-2011 12:47 PM ET (US)
I'm not saying not to get one, but I think it is better to have a removable one. No holes in the transom, no leaks...
jharrell posted 05-24-2011 03:56 PM ET (US)
I bought my Montauk from a diver, he had one of these teak boarding ladders installed: http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=89937& pdesc=SeaForce_Teak_Outboard_Boat_Swim_Platform_with_Ladder&aID=601K3& merchID=4006
It seems to have been secured well with some sort of sealant used on all screws.
I admit I don't dive but I like having the ladder, although I use more often for getting in and out of the boat on the trailer than in the water.
It's getting old and some of the teak pieces are gone. I plan on replacing it with a new one at some point, probably teak again, it looks good on the Montauk.
Here is a pic of it I got while doing my jackplate: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ 28hhwpn46qFzkwZ32Y-M8JNyNflSr_BDos3tKmqm-pg?feat=directlink

Salty Tricks posted 05-24-2011 09:32 PM ET (US)
I was thinking more inline with this type:

https://windline.com/index.php?act=viewdetails&mod=63
Chuck Tribolet posted 05-25-2011 12:39 AM ET (US)
https://windline.com/index.php?act=viewdetails&mod=63
I'm not a fan of the removable dive ladders, mostly because
you have to stow them somewhere when under way. I helped
a friend install one on his Montauk. He eventually took it
off.
Here's what I did (about a page or two down):
http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/whaler/
It's the factory swim step with a three-step ladder which
self-stows on top of the swim step.

Chuck
ATLfins posted 05-26-2011 02:13 PM ET (US)
I have to agree with everyone else. I had a garelick and ended up taking it off and installing a more traditional swim platform with a 3 step folding ladder. The storage while underway was a big issue, but I also found a problem if it is used in shallower water. When it is deployed, it is rigid, and if you are in 5 ft of water and some 3-4 ft waves roll in, the bottom of the garelick jams into the sea floor. If you are over a hard bottom (rock or even hard sand), this can damage the ladder and/or the transom. In my case, this happened, and it bent and jammed the bracket. It took me 30 minutes and some makeshift tools to unbend the parts to remove the ladder before I could be on my way. For diving with a standard swim platoform, just take off your fins and BC before boarding and you'll be fine.
Erik 88Montauk posted 05-26-2011 09:48 PM ET (US)
I have a 3 step Windline on my Montauk and I love it.
I do agree on the storage issue. It is enough of an issue that I only bring it when I plan on getting out of the boat in deep water. When fishing it stays at home (I have a fold up in the console just in case).
I store it by putting it upside down in the bracket and tying it down (just in case the latch opens up on its own).
I really like how solid and secure it feels when using it to exit the water.
You do need to be aware of the depth and wave height as ATLfins points out but I have not run into that issue myself.
Salty Tricks posted 05-27-2011 08:35 AM ET (US)
Thanks
I guess I'll look at platform ladders instead.
Sourpuss1 posted 05-27-2011 12:24 PM ET (US)
I've seen many 17' Whalers with the "platform" style ladder permenently attached to the transom, and while I'm sure they work great, I couldnt bring myself to drill holes in the transom of my boat near or below the water line. I am not a small guy, and any ladder I install on any transom would have to be through-bolted. My vote goes with the single post ladder (with the "breakaway" hinge assembly). I believe they come in a few lengths, buy a short one?

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Author	Topic: Dive Ladders for Montauk
Salty Tricks	posted 05-24-2011 11:31 AM ET (US) I am not a diver but was wondering has anyone bolted one of these dive ladders (Garelick, Windline) to a Montauk transom and is it workable?
contender	posted 05-24-2011 12:47 PM ET (US) I'm not saying not to get one, but I think it is better to have a removable one. No holes in the transom, no leaks...
jharrell	posted 05-24-2011 03:56 PM ET (US) I bought my Montauk from a diver, he had one of these teak boarding ladders installed: http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=89937& pdesc=SeaForce_Teak_Outboard_Boat_Swim_Platform_with_Ladder&aID=601K3& merchID=4006 It seems to have been secured well with some sort of sealant used on all screws. I admit I don't dive but I like having the ladder, although I use more often for getting in and out of the boat on the trailer than in the water. It's getting old and some of the teak pieces are gone. I plan on replacing it with a new one at some point, probably teak again, it looks good on the Montauk. Here is a pic of it I got while doing my jackplate: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ 28hhwpn46qFzkwZ32Y-M8JNyNflSr_BDos3tKmqm-pg?feat=directlink
Salty Tricks	posted 05-24-2011 09:32 PM ET (US) I was thinking more inline with this type: https://windline.com/index.php?act=viewdetails&mod=63
Chuck Tribolet	posted 05-25-2011 12:39 AM ET (US) https://windline.com/index.php?act=viewdetails&mod=63 I'm not a fan of the removable dive ladders, mostly because you have to stow them somewhere when under way. I helped a friend install one on his Montauk. He eventually took it off. Here's what I did (about a page or two down): http://www.garlic.com/~triblet/whaler/ It's the factory swim step with a three-step ladder which self-stows on top of the swim step. Chuck
ATLfins	posted 05-26-2011 02:13 PM ET (US) I have to agree with everyone else. I had a garelick and ended up taking it off and installing a more traditional swim platform with a 3 step folding ladder. The storage while underway was a big issue, but I also found a problem if it is used in shallower water. When it is deployed, it is rigid, and if you are in 5 ft of water and some 3-4 ft waves roll in, the bottom of the garelick jams into the sea floor. If you are over a hard bottom (rock or even hard sand), this can damage the ladder and/or the transom. In my case, this happened, and it bent and jammed the bracket. It took me 30 minutes and some makeshift tools to unbend the parts to remove the ladder before I could be on my way. For diving with a standard swim platoform, just take off your fins and BC before boarding and you'll be fine.
Erik 88Montauk	posted 05-26-2011 09:48 PM ET (US) I have a 3 step Windline on my Montauk and I love it. I do agree on the storage issue. It is enough of an issue that I only bring it when I plan on getting out of the boat in deep water. When fishing it stays at home (I have a fold up in the console just in case). I store it by putting it upside down in the bracket and tying it down (just in case the latch opens up on its own). I really like how solid and secure it feels when using it to exit the water. You do need to be aware of the depth and wave height as ATLfins points out but I have not run into that issue myself.
Salty Tricks	posted 05-27-2011 08:35 AM ET (US) Thanks I guess I'll look at platform ladders instead.
Sourpuss1	posted 05-27-2011 12:24 PM ET (US) I've seen many 17' Whalers with the "platform" style ladder permenently attached to the transom, and while I'm sure they work great, I couldnt bring myself to drill holes in the transom of my boat near or below the water line. I am not a small guy, and any ladder I install on any transom would have to be through-bolted. My vote goes with the single post ladder (with the "breakaway" hinge assembly). I believe they come in a few lengths, buy a short one?