I was checking out your Albums Chris. You did an excellent job with the mods. That's a nice looking 23. What I didn't realize until I looked at the pics was that your outboard is mounted on the Port side and your ladder is on the Starboard side. My set up is just the oposite. I don't know but being right handed, I might have a problem with that but I could be wrong.
How about building a real nice boarding ladder out of Teak that could be anchored to the combing and swung over the side when you want to use it? I remember seeing something like this on a web site and how to build it.
They do or did manufacture a detachable swim ladder that has receiving slots that can be permanently mounted on the side of your boat. My friend Del has one mounted on his Hunter 27. He came close to ripping it off one day as he was motoring from the dock. I tried to fend his boat off with my foot that day while standing on the dock and nothing doing. That boat weighs 8000 lbs. It doesn't move that easy when you push it with your foot.
At any rate, I don't like that set up and I don't think he cares much for it either.
A side mount that can be moved out of the way might be something that will work for you.
My boat has very low freeboard. It's lower than the freeboard on my friend Wayne's Seaward 22 and I'm able to paddle my kayak up to the Port side of my boat and climb right over the side after releasing the pellican hook. Of course, I have a line tied to the bow of my kayak which is kept handy so that I can tie up to my boat. I just pass the line around the first lifeline stanchion, pull out the slack, and throw a clove hitch around the Gennie winch. With the kayak tied off, I'm able to get right up into a standing position and swing my left leg over the combing of me boat and get aboard.
I tried boarding an O'Day 25 that way and nothing doing. It's just too high. I had to get aboard with the aid of their ladder.
I seriously doubt if Penny could jump up into a 25 from my kayak. It's too steep.
If you don't find anything suitable chris you could always make a rope ladder with Teak steps and hang it over your Gennie winch maybe.
I'll see what I can dig up on that Teak ladder. That's something I wouldn't mind owning myself.
Joe
