Hunter 18 swim ladder install

[Swabby Third Class]

New to the forum and first time posting. Recently purchased a Hunter 18 and can’t wait to get it in the water. Has anyone installed a swim ladder on the Hunter 18? I’ve seen a mod by stickinthemud57 on his 170 and PM’d him, but I’d like to hear from 18 owners to see if there are any whoopsies or gotchas that anyone has run into.

 

[rgranger]

You have that open transom.... so you will need the type that telescopes and hinges up onto the swim platform.
You will need something similar to this...

And you will want/need to install a grab rail where I put the red line in the photo.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

You'll want to through bolt it and use fender washers. If you don't have access to the backside of the fiberglass, you'll need to install an inspection port. Don't forget to use butyl!

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Yikes! More holes in the boat!
Not sure if there is any space for a hand, let alone fender washers and nuts for the deck-mounted ladder bracket on the sugar scoop transom, but the grab handle and inspection port I can definitely handle. Thanks for the quick replies! I have this one on order:

 

[rgranger]

Yikes! More holes in the boat!

The first one is the hardest. Lol

 

[shemandr]

Three steps is good! I don't know OP's level of function but I need three steps and grab bar(s). Numbers of posters on this forum consider a swim ladder a safety device. We have had reported cases of people being lost because they couldn't get from the water to back on the boat.
I tested mine on one boat near shore to make sure I could do it. I don't think that is over kill.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Three steps is good! I don't know OP's level of function but I need three steps and grab bar(s). Numbers of posters on this forum consider a swim ladder a safety device. We have had reported cases of people being lost because they couldn't get from the water to back on the boat.
I tested mine on one boat near shore to make sure I could do it. I don't think that is over kill.

I've read of many people who tie lines on their ladders so that they can pull the ladder down if they accidentally fall in

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Both hips resurfaced, but no problem climbing a ladder. The cleat on the port side aft is nearby, so probably will not drill any extra holes or inspection ports. Might hang a rope handle from the cleat to assist.

 

[rgranger]

Both hips resurfaced, but no problem climbing a ladder. The cleat on the port side aft is nearby, so probably will not drill any extra holes or inspection ports. Might hang a rope handle from the cleat to assist.

If it works it works.... like @shemandr said... probably should test getting in from the water before you actually need to.

I remember when I first started boating and I got a rope swim ladder. It was SOOOO hard to use. When I would step on the bottom rung, the ladder would start to shift under the boat. I had to use a lot of core muscles to keep my boddy from drifting under the boat while I was getting my weight to the second rung. I eventually switched to a rigid ladder because my wife could not get on board without help and it embarrassed her.

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Appreciate all the responses, but back to a modified version of the original question: are there any sugar scoop transom owners who have installed swim ladders on the transom where you can’t get inside to install a backer plate? If so, what did you find and how did you get it done?

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Alternatives to through bolting

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@Swabby Third Class

the 170 was a plastic boat which was an excellent design but was disappointed when Hunter decided against to build it in fiberglass. It took many claims to get Hunter to reverse building in fiberglass vs plastic which resulted in the fiberglass Hunter 18. I would suggest installing the three step by thru bolting. You will need large backing plates vs washers. The inspection ports come in 4, 5 & 6 inch. Suggest the 5 inch being placed forward of the ladder which I did when installing a fold down ladder on a hunter 18 years.ago as a dealer before retiring. As for the backing plates suggest the longer ones be placed fore to aft

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Thanks, Crazy Dave! Yeah, I looked at several 170’s, all with cracks in the deck, around fittings, the tiller mount, etc. before finding an 18. Solid as a rock! Bought it last week and can’t wait to get it in the water. I’ll look into backing plate options. Are there any cross-section drawings showing the anatomy of the transom for an 18? The manual shows the design of the centerboard area with the cap removed. Knowing that folks are going to probably put swim ladders on, ya think they would’ve provided some guidance.

i have enough upper-body strength to haul myself into the sugar scoop at 6’ 195 lbs and almost 60 years old. This is for passengers. (I guess I should save myself the wailing and gnashing of teeth and just leave them on the dock waving!)

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Thank you for advising. I became involved with all small boat designs in 1989 at Hunter

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Dave, did you put the inspection port on the floor or on the side of the bench?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Floor i

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Well, I took the plunge. Drilled four 1/2” holes in the rear deck of our new boat and installed the swim ladder. Felt like I was going to throw up the entire time, but it came out way better than I expected.

Ran the drill in reverse to drill 1/8” pilot holes, then ran in reverse to drill the 1/2” holes. Took my time and went as slow as I could. No splits nor hairline cracks. The deck is about 1/4” thick and solid as a rock. Kudos to Marlow Hunter! I used stainless steel Toggler Snaptoggles. Ended up breaking the last one and losing it in the hull, but fished it out with a tiny piece of Gorilla tape stuck to the end of a 10” long 1/8” drill bit. Filled the holes and surrounding area with white Flex Glue and butyl before mounting the ladder with stainless steel hex screws. Just touches the ground when the boat is hitched. Sigh of relief. Will have to wait until next year to test it in the lake, but already makes climbing in and out MUCH easier.

Thanks to you who gave advice and guidance. It’s nice to have a place for a noob to ask for help!

 

[kappykaplan]

Well, I took the plunge. Drilled four 1/2” holes in the rear deck of our new boat and installed the swim ladder. Felt like I was going to throw up the entire time, but it came out way better than I expected.

Ran the drill in reverse to drill 1/8” pilot holes, then ran in reverse to drill the 1/2” holes. Took my time and went as slow as I could. No splits nor hairline cracks. The deck is about 1/4” thick and solid as a rock. Kudos to Marlow Hunter! I used stainless steel Toggler Snaptoggles. Ended up breaking the last one and losing it in the hull, but fished it out with a tiny piece of Gorilla tape stuck to the end of a 10” long 1/8” drill bit. Filled the holes and surrounding area with white Flex Glue and butyl before mounting the ladder with stainless steel hex screws. Just touches the ground when the boat is hitched. Sigh of relief. Will have to wait until next year to test it in the lake, but already makes climbing in and out MUCH easier.

Thanks to you who gave advice and guidance. It’s nice to have a place for a noob to ask for help!

But where are the photos of the swim ladder installed?

 

[Swabby Third Class]

Tried to post them, but the files are too big. Stand by!

 

[Swabby Third Class]