on trailer boarding ladder suggestions

RussC

RussC

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Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
What's your solution for a boarding ladder wile on the trailer? when I'm working on my 25 in the driveway I use a step ladder, but I'm thinking it would sure be nice to not have to haul it around in the back of the truck next summer, as that's just one more thing for me to forget to pack. I'm mulling over fabricating a ladder that semi-permanently mounts to the side of the trailer near the bow, allowing boarding right behind the bow pulpit, which could also act as a hand rail.
Thoughts?

Thanks,
Russ
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
I use the swim ladder on my H260. Can you use your swim ladder while on the trailer?
 
RussC

RussC

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Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
Kermit said:
I use the swim ladder on my H260. Can you use your swim ladder while on the trailer?
Click to expand
Not really. I just have one of those cheep things that hooks over the side when needed. works to get in after a swim, but not the hot setup when taking an armload of stuff on-board wile trailered. :(

Russ
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
RussC said:
.... I'm mulling over fabricating a ladder that semi-permanently mounts to the side of the trailer near the bow...
Click to expand
The side might work..

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trailer/trailer-mods-17.html
... the trailer that came with our Mac has a ladder all the way forward and it is a real pain to use it and I rarely do. I use a step ladder while working on the boat at home along side at the head of the cockpit and ....

...the boarding ladder if I just need to get into the boat,
Sumner
=============================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
I use the stern mounted swim ladder also... we trailer to a lot of different areas and lakes, and between destinations we camp on the boat overnight in walmart parking lots....
BUT, while working on it in the driveway or shop, there is nothing better than the step ladder....

I have thought it would be nice at times to have a ladder fabricated into the front of the trailer, but I would never use it for a general boarding ladder for a few reasons.... when I want onboard, its usually the cockpit/cabin area where im headed..... in addition, it doesnt make as much sense to board the bow if one is headed to the cockpit..... and when leaving the ground to the boat, I would rather NOT have dirt/debris tracked on to the foredeck..... and when I AM treading on the foredeck, im either barefoot or have soft gum soled shoes on..... and for use when working on the boat, a bow ladder is useless.

the only reason I think it would be nice is when I am launching/retrieving by myself, and when rigging/de-rigging while in the staging area.
 
CharlzO

CharlzO

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Jan 14, 2014
225
Newport Newport 28 Fair Haven, NY
Many trailers have the ladder built in by the bow for exactly what you describe. The swim ladder is another idea, but you may still need a step up to it, and depending on how you are, you may need to ensure the front of the trailer is secured so you don't pull the bow up off the ground when you're hanging off the back. I bought one of those expandable ladders from wherever it was, so I can carry it in most anything, and it doesn't take up as much as the full step ladder (Granted, I have a boat with a near-5' draft, so on a trailer, it's WAY higher than a regular 6' step ladder would need, so I open it up and use it as a regular straight one)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/COSCO-13-World-s-Greatest-Ladder/11150978
 
RussC

RussC

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Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
centerline said:
the only reason I think it would be nice is when I am launching/retrieving by myself, and when rigging/de-rigging while in the staging area.
Click to expand
This is my main interest also. when at home it works fine to just use the step ladder to the cockpit. I'd make a permanent ladder mounted on the side, at the front of the cockpit, but I think it might stick out past the road width limit. I agree about tracking dirt and inconvenient to have near the bow, but…..

Russ
 
R

RolfP

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Feb 16, 2015
7
Morgan 383 Port Superior WI
I'm not a McGregor owner, but I keep a 3 step stool with my Seaward 17 or its trailer. If that would get you aboard it is small, very stable, versatile, and stores easily many places, like trunk, cockpit, trailer when empty.
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
RussC said:
.... I'd make a permanent ladder mounted on the side, at the front of the cockpit, but I think it might stick out past the road width limit. ...
Click to expand
Yes it would be hard to put one there that wouldn't increase the trailer's width past the lawful limits for towing without a permit.
A ladder that goes straight up and down with no slope is hard to use. That is one problem with the one on the front of my trailer plus....

.....coming right up at the pulpit where the anchors usually are when launching or retrieving. I'll bet I haven't used it 20 times since owning the boat.

Having a swim ladder with an extension on it makes it easy to board on the trailer and really helps getting on the boat in the water with the ladder down in the water especially as the years creep up on you:wahwah:. Adding flat steps also helps the old feet when swimming and using the ladder....
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-30.html
Sumner
=====================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
 
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RussC

RussC

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Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
Years creep up on you?? not me……………… it's been more like being hit in the face with a shovel :yikes: .
I enjoy reading your blogs on the boat modifications, Sumner. they always give me new ideas. but I'm starting to wonder where you put everything you've built… or is it time for a bigger boat to put them on? ;)
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
RussC said:
.... or is it time for a bigger boat to put them on? ;)
Click to expand
Got that problem more than solved with...

.... the Endeavour :wahwah:...
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Some more work in a month or so on her and hopefully this trip she will actually end up back in the water for a spell.

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/bvillecar/bvillecarindexpage.html
I need to get back to working on the race car. It has been on hold too long. Just need to enjoy the boats form here on in,
Sumner
============================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
 
RussC

RussC

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Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
Sumner said:
Got that problem more than solved with...
Click to expand
Cool! I've never been to the flats, but the way I hear it, you'll be able to make a run there with the sailboat if it gets any worse :( . I see where you had once considered using a GSXR engine for the salt car, so you should recognize one of my previous projects…. or at least part of it ;) . 99 Cadillac Northstar engine with my own design ITB injection system, which utilized heavily modified GSXR 600 throttle bodies. that was a really fun project, and ran well.


I played with the car for a couple years and then sold it to start a new project 2 years ago. I still kinda miss my "pedal car on steroids" (had 5 speed T-5 trans also).



The only thing I don't understand is how you spend so long working on one project. from your pics it appears you've been working on the salt car for at least 6-8 years?? if I don't finish a project in a year or so I burn out on it and have to start the next one anyway.

Drifting from sailboats here, but hey… it's winter. what cha' gona do. :)

Russ
 
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walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,535
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
Nice!!! That looks like Hermin Munsters or Grampas Coach.. I think they called it Dragula.. LOL

Winter.. I came back to Denver for a week.. cant wait to go back where its warm and my boat is sitting in a slip.
 
RussC

RussC

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Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
Yup.. Kinda… Hermans coach was the sedan and grampa drove the coffin car.

I remember that show well and loved the munster coach (and Hermans daughter). when I first built the Northstar T I had curved intake pipes on it similar to the Munster coach but I found I liked the straight stacks better.
It's pretty warm here today, if a bit wet, but I hear the siskiyou pass will have snow on it by late this week, and likely will require chains. ck the forcast before you head for that hell hole down south. :biggrin::biggrin:
Too wet to work outside so I'm building all new standing rigging in the shop today.

Russ
 
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Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country

Looks from the video that the car ran very well with that combo. That was a lot of fab work. Neat engine choice. I remember when Speedway was selling those.
I actually haven't been working on the lakester all of these years. The work came to an end when I bought the Mac in '09 except for a little work in '13 and '14 but then that got interrupted when I made a lot of stuff ...

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/Hooley 2013/13 - construction menu.html
...for Hooley's Stude that we run and then it was back to the projects for both boats. I also need to work again on my pickup. 150,000 miles with a couple thousand of that on the salt have left the body in bad shape rust wise. I'm kind of use to longer projects building 3 of my houses and my trading post. Just keep plugging away and finally they get almost done. Problem is I'm getting older and slower so don't get as much done in a day anymore :wahwah:.

The Mac...

.... has actually been on the salt (above behind the Stude) when we stopped on the way home from the Canada trip with it to run Speedweek. You are right the salt is in trouble. We have been entered to run the past two years but it has been a no-go. We will be entered in 2016 though. I guess since you started this thread we can wonder a little with it :),
Sumner
===========================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
 
RussC

RussC

.
Sep 11, 2015
1,602
Merit 22- Oregon lakes
Sumner said:
Looks from the video that the car ran very well with that combo. That was a lot of fab work. Neat engine choice. I remember when Speedway was selling those.
Click to expand
About a year of steady fab work, including building a dedicated engine test stand with spare mule engine. It's what happens when I'm told "that won't work" ;) . I can't imagine that Speedway ever sold any Northstars unless it was one of the few Shelby crate motors that were floating around a couple years ago. there was only one place in the country that knew anything about the Northstar at the time and they built some wild and wicked sand rails with them. but the challenge of figuring everything out myself was part of the alure. I'd bet a lot of money that I had the only itb injected northstar powered T bucket on the planet.
I've never raced a sanctioned race of any kind in my life, but I do admire the creative nature that surrounds the salt cars. I've never met anyone involved with that portion of the sport that I didn't enjoy. it's not much of a follow the leader crowd ;) .
If you ever get by the south Portland Oregon area you need to stop just off I-5 in Tualatin. the World of Speed Museum is just a year or two old and has some truly amazing history pieces in it's collection. includes salt, drag, various road race venues, unlimited hydros, bikes, and you name it, it's probably there. self tour but there always seems to be knowledgeable staff wandering around willing to chat about the exhibits.
 
Sumner

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
I'd also bet you might of been the only one with that combo also. Here is an add...
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Cadil...F1FgsyYy98TUcYVNxRMSRK07vr3YH6loyEaAoEO8P8HAQ

You might be interested in this event, wish I could make it to it ...

http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,15440.0.html

They mention the World of Speed Museum and I went to the Museum's web site a couple weeks ago. Very impressive museum.

Lots of Bonneville cars from the northwest. Some of them very impressive...

http://www.target550.com/

If the salt gets to where we can run again you should make it for sure,

Sumner
===============================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas
 
willsnow

willsnow

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Jul 1, 2012
306
MacGregor 26D Kirkland, WA
I added a tongue ladder to my new trailer. The Ms and I climb up it every time we rig the boat at the ramp. It is a little awkward to climb up over the pulpit, but having the flat top on the top of the bow post helps with footing

The guide post wings make decent ladders too. And I did get this trailer inspected and licensed (of course) and it wasn't too wide or anything, so I bet you could fab up a ladder for the side of the trailer
 
timebandit

timebandit

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Jun 3, 2004
1,863
Macgregor 25 So. Cal.
The best way I have found to get in and out of the 25 is a step ladder. Up and over the bow with anything but yourself is a pain. You can come over the transom BUT be sure you put a block under the keel support on the trailer and then put a little weight on it to be sure the bow does not go skyward!
If you tie the step ladder to the winch or jib sheet fair lead You won't have to call for help if the ladder falls over!
Don't ask!
 
walt

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,535
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
Did I mention how much I like this forum for posting pictures..

This is the stock trailer bow ladder on my 1990 26S. Works fairly well, I use it for single hand unloading and loading the boat at a ramp where there isnt a dock to just "walk" the boat on/off trailer. When the boat is in the back yard, I just use the aft boarding ladder as its easier. Ladder on the side.. it would drag in the water when the boat was heeled.. no good. Some sort of rope ladder off the bow might be nice for a bow first beaching.

ladder_1.jpg
 
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