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Parents are getting older, jealous of you guys with the newer models and your fancy retractable ladders. Asked the local dealer, who said the 2012 swimstep is hollow so adding a ladder is challenging and expensive (cutting it open, reinforcing it, and replacing seadek). Couldn't find any DIY articles. Anyone ever done this?
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I have done this, but I didn't go into it knowing the swim platform was hollow.
Having the Garelick telescoping ladder and recommended fasteners in hand, I was surprised to drill into the swim platform and learn that the core was foam-filled. What I thought was going to be a quick project turned into Plan B, which has worked so far.
Plan B involved procuring the largest package of J-B Weld that I could find along with some plastic livestock syringes and large needles. I marked and drilled all of the holes for mounting the retractable ladder and then bent a coat hanger into a small "L" so that I could remove about 1" diameter of the foam inside of each hole. I used compressed air to blast out the loose foam. I then marked the outside of the ladder with painters tape and used an angle grinder with a flap disk to rough-up the mounting surfaces of both the swim platform and the ladder. I mixed the J-B Weld and proceeded to fill each hole with the syringe and spread an ample amount of the epoxy on the roughed-up mounting surface before mounting the ladder with stainless screws and flipping the platform to its service position to let the epoxy flow around the screws. With the ladder epoxied to the platform, I doubt the screws are doing much work.
We have only tested it with 215 pounds (me, fully clothed on dry land) but it has held so far.
Last edited by SatherG230; 02-07-2020, 12:53 PM. -
Makes sense, and better than any solution I'd come up with, thank you for the photos too! Love this community! I'd like to check back in following some real world use, but seeing you're in MN, that might be longer than my winter project season might allow. Did you consider taking a grinder to the entire section and doing fiberglass/epoxy over something to drill into? That was my first thought, but wonder if you'd thought of something I'd missed that kept you from doing it that way? Thanks againComment
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It was used on the water all last season without incident. I just mentioned the "fully clothed on dry land" as that is the most weight / leverage it has been subject to, since the force of standing on the bottom step in the water would be somewhat decreased by my natural bouyancy. I did think of creating a surface to drill into, but wanted to keep the ladder as tucked under as possible and didn't think it necessary with the entire ladder mount and screws epoxied to the platform. I figured I would reserve that as Plan C if Plan B tore out.Comment
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I also did it. I drilled small pilot holes and then put in the biggest stainless lag screws I could find. My theory was that if it did not hold I could remove it and fill the holes pretty easy. It made it through last summer no problem.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
cobeyComment
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How have you liked the ladders? Did you get the expensive one from nautique parts or a less expensive amazon one?Comment
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I got the amazon one. We don’t always use it, but when we do it is amazoning.Comment
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I ordered the Garelick 3-step Under Platform ladder from iboats.com. It is the same as the OEM ladder from Nautique or found on NP...and the company (Garelick) is right here in MN. We don't always use it either, but sometimes you have passengers that are much more comfortable because it is there.Comment
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How much? All the website says is out of stock.Originally posted by SatherG230 View Post
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I paid $158.18 including the ride from Utah. Searching Garelick Model 19643, I come up with one for $164.93 at Fred Warner (which I am completely unfamiliar with) https://www.fredwarner.net/product/g...SABEgLBePD_BwE but they have free shipping and $10 off when you spend $150.Comment
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Thanks
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Seems like a good price, the cheap amazon ones arent much less, and if it's the same as the nautiqueparts on theres is over $200Comment
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