Anyone remove bow ladder?

[Speedling]

We need something to go in it's place but not be in the way of anchor. Custom box anchor holder perhaps?

 

[Rigger]

Nope. I use mine quite often - after installing grab handles - when not close to shore. After not having one and wanting one, and now having one I'm glad it's there.

 

[Ronnie]

I was puzzled why yamaha put them in the 210s but not the 230s and am happy they put them on the 240s. I installed grab rails last year, it is one one the cheaper yet better mods I've done as it makes entering from the bow from the water or trailer a lot easier. We use our bow ladder often especially when we have kids on board who like to jump in from the bow. Sometimes the ladies on board would rather hang off the bow ladder than the stern ladder to pee (more privacy but I try not to be swimming at the stern, down stream, during those times if I can help it).

It is a pita to stow sometimes because of the way it is hinged/operates and that flimsy spring holding the hatch up doesn't help either but I'm not taking the ladder out, if anything I may try to loosen it up so it will stow more easily. I store 4 to 5 fenders in the anchor locker and keep my box anchor unfolded under one of the bow seats or floor locker. So far this has been a good set up for me.

Incidentally, I tried to use a rope ladder as a bow ladder when I owned an sx230, it didn't work well at all, climbing a rope ladder is much tougher to do than climbing a ridged ladder most of my guests couldn't do it.

 

[Ilmmct]

Mechanically inclined members (I am not) ... How about some type of Bow Roller / Anchor aid to make it easier for my better half to pull up the box anchor.

I will order the 1st one that:

-slides and flips back into the anchor well (like the ladder which I want to remove)
-allows my better half to pull the slide anchor to a stop at the bow without hitting my gel coat
-kinda sorta like a bow pulpit but hides away in the anchor well when not in use
-no electric, just eases the manual recover of the anchor while I escape moorings without hitting neighboring boats
-the box anchor hangs from the bow and when I tell my wife to "drop anchor" she can just let go and it drops immediately

I my "mind" which has no mechanical or fab grounding this device could use the same flip mechanism that the ladder uses (hideaway and rests on the grooves that the ladder has) and could frankly bolt on the ladder rails if we decide hacking the useless bow ladder is an option.

I recognize this is an old post but I see some of you creative mechanically inclined members are subscribed!

 

[DCB-270]

Yes, never used it and always in the way getting to the anchors.

 

[Julian]

I have used ours once...climbing in the bow from the trailer. Kids used it a few times just for fun. Fortunately on our boat the anchor and ladder don't conflict with each other!

 

[txav8r]

Did away with the bow ladder immediately, to make room for my box anchor (collapsed).

 

[jawsf16]

One of the things I don't care for on the new boats is the tiny anchor locker. I think I would take a saw to it after I removed the ladder.

 

[Evil Sports]

I think I used mine once and hate that its in the way of the anchor. Looks like thats coming out before I put her away.

 

[eticket]

Pulled mine out this past Winter and have not missed it one bit.

 

[djetok]

we jave ours bungeed up so w e dont have to pull the ladder. i never thought about removing it. Until now!!!

 

[Rod5]

We use ours every outing when we nose up to shore to let Buddy out to go pee. Push off and climb up ladder.

 

[4x15mph]

This is a great thread. If it wasn't in the way of the anchor I would keep it, considering I had one, but seeing the setup on the Yamaha's I would now know to Yank it.

 

[jcsmith77]

I actually removed mine one of the first things, but i actually swapped it to the rear since it actually is a little deeper hanging than the original back ladder. It obviously doesn't have the post to hook the ladder with the rubber strap, but i have never had an issue just pushing the ladder in.

 

[Rideitout]

Removing the ladder was one of the first things I did when I got home from the dealership. While researching the boat before purchase, I was fairly certain our boating style wouldn't have a use for it.

 

[OperationROL]

Prior to 2015 I would have said the same thing about removing it. However, in my 2015 242 the anchor and ladder are not in the way of each other. They have made the anchor accessible without having to disturb the ladder and vice versa. We use the ladder all the time and love it. In our previous sx230 we always traveled with a step stool to fill the same role.

 

[BlackandTan]

I use mine every now and then and I'm glad it's there. I do plan on adding a grab rail up there somewhere when I get a chance.

 

[troybox]

Not sure how I missed these posts over the years, but they have now inspired me to do a spring cleaning and try to gain more functionality and storage. Going to pull out the bow ladder and also the bow cushions which have basically occupied my large port storage space since I purchased the boat...all of which have been used maybe twice.

Going to see what else I can come up with pulling to get more functionality.

 

[Ronnie]

Funny, one of my best friends and frequent crew member just noticed after 5 or 6 seasons and dozens of times on the boat that my boat has a bow ladder. I use it sporadically, mostly when we have teenagers/youngins onboard, so I guess never when he was onboard. I wonder if he would struggle to use it? I think it could use another rung.

 

[WetWillie]

I use mine nearly every time we go out, as I back our boat down the ramp and climb aboard while it’s still on trailer and the wife pulls the suv up to park as I head to the dock... it’s kept me dry boarding while it’s on the trailer every time... Definitely need to add some handles though; for those that have how are you attaching them?