Question for the folks that fish alone.

[justinp61]

Instead of sidetracking 10point's thread I'll start a new one.

Do you have a ladder on your boat? have you ever tried to use it? This is mainly for the aluminum boat crowd but also pertains to the glass guys too.

After talking to Rickie while working on my turret project I decided to add a ladder to my 1860 Triton aluminum boat. I'd been considering it for a couple years, just hadn't done it. Rickie had already added one to his boat and sent me a link to Amazon. I ordered one, if it's not like his it's very close. When it arrived I figured out where to mount it and started drilling holes.

After it was installed I decided to try it out in the shop. I mess with my boat a lot and have a 3' step ladder to get in and out. I unstrapped the ladder and let it extend to the floor, then I grabbed the transom and stepped up on the ladder, it immediately moved against the transom, this left my feet out in front of me, if I didn't have a good grip on the transom I would have fallen backwards. I got in the boat but it was very awkward.

This made me realize that it's not going to be as easy as just climbing a ladder to get back in the boat (like I thought it would) in the event I ever need it. My little mind started working on a solution. Having aluminum tubing and angle i came up with a bracket to keep the ladder from moving to the transom to the point where your feet are forward and the steps are against the boat and hard to keep your feet on. I bought two stainless U bolts and chair feet, then welded two short pipe legs to the angle, installed the feet and used the U bolts to attach it to the ladder.

I primarily fish alone and in the winter months 90% of the time. Knowing time is not on my side if I go in the cold water, making it easier to get in the boat could be a life saver. If you have a ladder, try it and see if you can easily get in your boat.