Topic: Boarding ladder location
I'm glad you've asked. I have the same issue and have grappled with it over the non-sailing season (October to April in Nova Scotia). The best I can come up with is a mount just at the forward strut/stanchion of the pushpit and on the hull just below the rub rail. This would allow a 36 inch, non-folding ladder to swing up and hardly protude above the pushpit more than a few inches. It would put the bottom rung well into the water.
I'm concerned though about how much I'd have to re-inforce the hull at that point. A transom of course is pretty heavy duty stuff compared to the hull at topsides. I'd hate to see cracks and such like appearing half way thorugh the season. Reinforcement would have to mould to the (slight) curve of the hull right there. Perhaps three layers of 3/16 inch ply about 2 feet by one foot would bend enough to spread the load -- if there were then a suitable steel plate over the ply to stop the bolts digging in... But would they have to be glassed in?
An alternate plan would have used a 55 inch folding ladder hinged higher where the glass is thicker and doubles back on itself.
But I'm open to ideas and any opinions on the matter. I really do want something permanently mounted with a trip line hanging low enough to reach in case I fall off the boat. wbr