No good deed...

[tdonoughue]

You might have heard, we have had a little bit of rain down here in Houston...

But a beautiful day today! 84 degrees, water was 74-76. When we got on at about 11am, it was still glass. Sweet. Got in a few WOT runs, towed kids on tube, etc.

So, where were were tubing, I see a line of birds in the water. As we get closer, I can see that it is a piece of lumber. Like a 4x6x18' or so. I avoid it, as I figured it would not be good for my boat's health. But, when we were finished, I went over, had one of the kids snag it, and we hoisted it into the boat. A good job. No one (including the boat) got hurt by the nails/spikes sticking out of the side. So I took it easy, limped over to a portion of shore that didn't have houses (and had a few little tree-like things that would hold the timber over there). I backed into the area, where it was nice and shallow, and we offloaded the timber into the little tree-like things.

As I was pulling away, I powered up and heard the tell-tale sound of the SWIM LADDER BEING DOWN. Yes, when I backed into the shallows, bent it up nicely. Could kick myself.

So, we held it up with a line, and played the rest of our day. When we came back home, I removed the ladder and brought it to the garage. Right now it is resting between some 2x4's and a clamp trying to straighten itself out.

<sigh>

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Son of a gun....that plain old sucks.

I sat on my boat yesterday and jotted down a boat to-do list that will take me no less than 8 days to complete...... just add that ladder repair to YOUR list.

 

[Bruce]

Sorry to hear about your ladder. I have read that the manufacturer is helpful with replacement parts or ladders.

 

[Wayloncle]

Well, I've always heard the company will repair them if you send it in, if it comes to that.

Good job thinking of the next person, too many people would swerve around and let the next guy deal with it.

 

[MrMoose]

Sorry about your ladder @tdonoughue. Was the lake level high?

 

[Ronnie]

Stuff happens at least you were doing a good deed at the time, nobody got hurt and it don't ruin your day.

By the way, I have had to replace my rear ladder twice now. The first time it was just jammed not bent and windline replaced it for the cost of shipping to them, $18 including a box from the post office in which the ladder fit perfectly, after I hammered it shut). The second time I bent up the frame by putting the trailer in reverse while the ladder was down. In that instance windline charged me around $120 after in turned in the damaged unit as a trade in or core deposit of sorts. A new one is around $180 as I recall. In both instances I got a new ladder within a week of them receiving the old one. If you go this route be sure to pull off the plastic step / rung covers and retention strap and any loose hardware and call windline first for an RMA number and to verify that they have the right ladder in stock as it probably won't be on their website.

 

[96Pirate]

I commend you brother! But unfortunately we sometimes get a swift kick in the ass when trying to do something good. Don't let it stop you from doing the next good deed. Best of luck with the repairs.

BTW- You may have saved a serious accident or major repair for someone else (or yourself some other day). Feel good about that!

 

[tdonoughue]

Thanks, folks. Especially the info about replacement is very good to have. I *think* I can bend it back. So it will be good in time. Certainly one of the easier repairs/additions/to-do's that I have on the boat. It was just a bit of a bummer. No worries on dissuading me from making any place safer, and no regrets on that part. Even a bent ladder (which, after all, is my own darn fault and could have been easily avoided) is a very small price to pay compared to some kid on a jetski hitting that thing.

@MrMoose , as to the lake level, it was at 201--perfect full pool. Not too high at all. Just some floating chunks I had to swerve around... and one large timber that is no longer there.

 

[MrMoose]

Thanks, folks. Especially the info about replacement is very good to have. I *think* I can bend it back. So it will be good in time. Certainly one of the easier repairs/additions/to-do's that I have on the boat. It was just a bit of a bummer. No worries on dissuading me from making any place safer, and no regrets on that part. Even a bent ladder (which, after all, is my own darn fault and could have been easily avoided) is a very small price to pay compared to some kid on a jetski hitting that thing.

@MrMoose , as to the lake level, it was at 201--perfect full pool. Not too high at all. Just some floating chunks I had to swerve around... and one large timber that is no longer there.

On a positive note, I bet that you are enjoying the challenge of straightening the bent ladder.

 

[tdonoughue]

Ah, already you know me all too well...

 

[tdonoughue]

Oh, but I should add:

 

[KyleWade14]

Sorry to hear about your ladder. I have read that the manufacturer is helpful with replacement parts or ladders.

x2 on them helping out. I tried to back my trailer in the drive with ladder down last year. Called them about it, they had me send it in. Come to find out it was unrepairable. They sent me a new one for $100, and Ronnie is right, a new one is $180.

 

[mb300sd]

I recently swapped out my factory latter for the longer version Windline offers, the old ones for sale if you can't fix yours. It swings too far under the boat when used out of the water but is otherwise fine.

I really want to try installing some springs or bungee cord inside the ladder so it self retracts, I miss that on my old LS.

 

[tdonoughue]

I really want to try installing some springs or bungee cord inside the ladder so it self retracts, I miss that on my old LS.

Really? What a great idea! I feel a mod coming on, as long as that ladder is in my garage...

Oh, and thanks for the offer on the old ladder. I will hold that one open and see how it goes with fixing this one. So far, so good on that, but that is today's project (well, one of them).

 

[Andy S]

On my '07 I replaced the factory ladder with another Windline model, https://jetboaters.net/threads/need-a-new-ladder.805/#post-10567

 

[mb300sd]

On my '07 I replaced the factory ladder with another Windline model, https://jetboaters.net/threads/need-a-new-ladder.805/#post-10567

That's the same one I upgraded to, pretty sure I got the part number from your post actually, thanks

 

[tdonoughue]

Well, we have gone from 'maybe I can bend this back' to 'she's dead, Jim'. Seems I not only bent the bracket that holds the ladder (which, as it turns out, was jacked in two dimensions--the bracket was bowed out laterally, but also had squished so that the track on which the bolt runs was thinner in the middle). But, while trying to fix that, I noticed that I also bent the ladder itself up at the top where it connects to the bracket. Basically, I tore the hole for the bolt to twice its size and deformed the tube.

Sent a note to Windline. So we will see what they say. Keep that ladder warmed up, @mb300sd ...

 

[itsdgm]

That's a bummer about the ladder @tdonoughue Like the other guys have already mentioned, windline should take good care of you.

 

[tdonoughue]

I did mention this site to them and the very good reputation they have among jet boaters...

 

[96Pirate]

On a positive note, I bet that you are enjoying the challenge of straightening the bent ladder.

On a positive note, he made it in the water already. I am tentatively scheduled to get in the weekend of May 7 for my test run. That is if all my projects get done.