Interesting Ladder mod.

[Speedling]

My ladder was beat up.
It was used and abused over the years and would swing all the way in to the point where it would hit the boat when trying to get up. This was because the thin metal poles of the ladder kinked in mainly and also because it just wasn't properly spaced out.
What I did was simple yet effective. I got some stainless tubing and cut it to about 2 inches, and welded it around the stock pipes. Then, get 2 1/2 bolts (stainless) and re-use the washers and lock nut and the ladder sits properly now, and actually angles away from the boat making it even better than I had anticipated!
The extra thickness did require me to loosen the bolts holding the bracket that holds the ladder out when extended, or up when retracted, in order to drop them to the lowest possible point and allow the extra thick tubing to get through.
Just one of the little things I've done, so I figured I'd share since I know my ladder was pretty annoying to me.
PS. Sorry second photo is a little out of focus. Camera phones ain't perfect man.

 

[cane.mba]

Dang I really need to learn how to weld! Between ladder repair, box anchor creation, and any number of other projects, it may be something to do this fall/winter.

 

[Speedling]

Go buy yourself a small box welder with a wire feed. You can do a lot with flux wire, and a lot of the units will allow you to have the wire with a separate gas attachment if you buy the accessories.

 

[cane.mba]

Wow... Had no idea a decent hobbiest wire feed welder was under $200. I'm sure I could find a cheaper one than the Blue Hawk at Lowes, but it has pretty reviews. Maybe I can build my adult sized Big Wheel and race my boys!


Sorry didn't mean to hijack your thread, just envious of your welding abilities!

 

[txav8r]

Uh...you can't weld 3/8" plate steel with a $200 wire feed welder however. But you can weld the ladder! Your going to need a big arc to weld a box anchor.

 

[Speedling]

lol true mel, but it's good to practice on a cheap machine first wouldn't you agree?

 

[KXCam22]

Thats a great mod. Stainless is one of the easiest metals to weld. I use an AC stick welder for stainless. I have tons of scrap stainless at work so I build most of my projects out of it. What size tubing did you use? Cam.

 

[txav8r]

lol true mel, but it's good to practice on a cheap machine first wouldn't you agree?

Totally agree! I practiced on the neighbors cheaper wire feed machine, and then decided against spending $1600 on a welder that I could weld plate like that. I also found that filling in all 4 corners and bending all the flukes takes not only a big welder and press, it takes more experience than I was going to gain quickly. And bending 2 flukes at the same time out of 1/4" thick plate...that takes a big press. My machine shop guy generally just loaded them up and went to a friends shop where they had a humongous brake and could knock them out pronto. My welder says stainless is harder to keep straight and harder to work with...maybe he is just upping the price on me. You can't use his magnetic fixtures and jigs, that is for sure. Overall, I think you can do a bunch of projects with a small machine, but those box anchors have both 1/4" and 3/8" plate, along with 5/8" round stock. I do know from experience it is harder to grind the stainless than carbon steel, but you can make it pretty! I am attaching your thread here to another anchor thread @Speedling , ladder repair is needed!

 

[Speedling]

Uhhhhh, I just found some pipe laying around, LOL
My father in law works at a machine shop and we just ran over there and did it. Always what ya need laying around.
I will make note, however, that you really need to keep the steel cool as there is plastic inside. We didn't see an easy way to get it out, nor did we care. Just welded a bit, then cooled it a bit, etc.
Works great in the garage, can't wait to use it... Shelbyville, HERE I COME

 

[txav8r]

@Speedling, we may need you to expound on how you did it a bit. I read it, but it wasn't completely clear to me...but I am southern, so I may understand it by this time next Monday

 

[Speedling]

What didn't you understand mel?
perhaps I should expand into original post.

 

[txav8r]

I have been a little busy today @Speedling and haven't fully reread it. I only read it once and was scratching my head. I want to save your instructions and reread them again. It is always good to have a jetboater try something, get success, and share it! I just wanted to make sure I understood it so that when I share it, I can explain it!

 

[Gym]

Hey @Speedling. Would JB Weld work for us non welders? Or possibly JB with a couple of allen screws tapped in flush?

 

[Speedling]

@Gym perhaps however you would want to be sure nothing is in the way of the plastic inside so you don't accidentally screw it together and it doesn't extend anymore.
Almost home and I will take another picture or two.

 

[Speedling]

So here you can see how the new tubing spaces it out from the U shaped groove in the bracket. The intent was to just reinforce the stock tubing but it spaced it away from the boat nicely.

 

[txav8r]

unless I missed it, I don't see the OD and ID of the tubing you used, do you know what it was? Most guys won't have a supply laying around and knowing what to buy would be great.

 

[0627Devildog]

Uh...you can't weld 3/8" plate steel with a $200 wire feed welder however. But you can weld the ladder! Your going to need a big arc to weld a box anchor.

Thats not necessarily accurate Mel . . . I did these (below) and other projects with my Lincoln MIG (<$500 at HD) as noted on this thread (https://jetboaters.net/threads/dock-system-opinions-needed.955/page-2). You certainly don't need an ARC welder for a box anchor which is much smaller in diameter than the brackets below, which for reference have 1/2" baseplate and 3/8" risers.
@txav8r @cane.mba

 

[Speedling]

Stock ladder appears to be 1 1/8
My o/d of "sleeve" os 1 3/8 which means it is 1/8" but you may need to sand it slightly depending on ladder condition.

 

[maboat]

Hey @Speedling. Would JB Weld work for us non welders? Or possibly JB with a couple of allen screws tapped in flush?

From the pictures, it looks to me like you could do either or neither. Since the mounting bolt goes all the way through both pieces I suspect the minimum needed is just cut the sleeves and drill the holes. Welding or JB Weld (or any other adhesive) is a nice touch but doesn't appear to be necessary from what I can see.

Overall, it looks like simple but great solution. Thanks for the tip @Speedling

 

[txav8r]

Thats not necessarily accurate Mel . . . I did these (below) and other projects with my Lincoln MIG (<$500 at HD) as noted on this thread (https://jetboaters.net/threads/dock-system-opinions-needed.955/page-2). You certainly don't need an ARC welder for a box anchor which is much smaller in diameter than the brackets below, which for reference have 1/2" baseplate and 3/8" risers.
@txav8r @cane.mba

I stand corrected then. I was not able to do it, and I had several failures that looked very good to the eye, but the current was insufficient to burn through and do more than just putting an outside bead. Like I said, it is a talent I don't have. But according to my welder and the specs on welders, it takes more current than a $500 welder can deliver, to weld solid, a 3/8" plate. But I am sure someone with more experience and talent could make lesser equipment work.