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Does anyone have a ladder on their 18' outrage at the transom. I do not know what will fit my boat. Two step, three step or four.

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key-z,

I suggest you look at all the photos in the members personal pages to see what people have on their Outrage 18....
http://www.whalercentral.com/viewpage...page_id=53

Here is one:
http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...ser_id=233

Here is another:
[img]http://users.sisqtel.net/jkriz/Outrage/right-side.jpg[/img]

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The easiest to install is definately the Windline 2 step ladder, I'd also argue the strongest. I originally wanted and went so far as to buy the same teak style platform that Joe Kriz and others have on their boats. However, after receiving the platform and trying to figure out how I'd install it, I realized I'd need to pull off my teak gunnel cap, drill a rather large diameter hole in the top of the gunnel and scoop out some foam to thru-bolt one of the platform supports on. Seemed a bit too difficult and invasive so I went with the Windline ladder. Also, my brother-in-law is a big boy, he tips the scales at 320lbs and I doubted the platform style ladder would be able to handle that much weight even if it was done properly.

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Thanks for the good advise Boys! Both are very good choices and I do have a nephew that is 6'4" and weights in at around 320+ pounds. Last time I took him fishing on my 17' foot sea squirt he reached over to get something lost his balanced and slid off the side of the gunwale like a walrus. The bad news he couldn't get back into the boat on a garlick two step ladder. The good news was, we were in 6' of water on the Atlantic side of Long Key, that is located in the 'Florida Keys and was able to walk to shore.

Thanks again,

Key-z B)

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OK, I have a question. Does the windline two step ladder need supports to keep it from pushing against the transome when boarding?

:|

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No it doesn't, but it does need a bumper stop for when its in the up position to keep it from vibrating on and chipping the gelcoat. I used a little square of black starboard as a stopper.

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Great! I ordered mine today from West Marine. Should have it by this coming Friday.

Thanks for the help.

Key-z

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Well, I picked up the ladder two weeks ago but I'm not sure how to install. I was told there is no wood in the area where I would mount the ladder. Would the foam in the transome hold up if I attached with nylon nuts and big washers? Should I use a stainless steel plate to distribute weight? :|

Thanks,

Key-z

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key-z,

I have a different type of bracket that mounts on the wood part of the transom.
This bracket takes most all of the weight and the outside rail is just for a little support.

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Wow, Joe, that bracket looks like it could support JJS's brother in law OR Key-z's nephew!
Could have saved him that walk to shore! (great workspace you have there... you farmers have the life!)

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Dan,

It is a very strong bracket.
The bracket and swim platform were on there when I purchased the boat from the original owner.
I assume he had the Boston Whaler dealer put it on when he bought the boat. They did a good job.

My workspace is getting filled up with my wife's stuff since she retired.
30 years of educational stuff in boxes. Time for a garage sale....

The old saying from farmers.
If I had another million dollars, I'd farm until that was gone too..... :p

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Joe, that is an awesome platform. What I purchased was a windline TI-3X that Jjohn has on his 18' outrage. I found an aluminum plate but I'd rather have a piece of stainless steel to mount on the transome for added strengh and to distribute the stress load. :D

Do you think I'm over doing it? Would it be just as good to mount with washers? Also, do you know it the lenght of the transome has wood or just parial?

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The transom has wood in the large central area extending to the ski/lifting eyes on both sides. On the outermost portions of the transom, there is NO wood that I know of.

The bracket in the upper photo is screwed into wood. That's what makes this swim platform solid when standing on it.

Here is a shot of how the platform grab rail is mounted. It is not in wood but seems to be sturdy.
Remember though, almost all of the weight on my platform is carried by the bracket, NOT the grab rail.

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Joe

I ended up buying the swim platform that you've got on your 18'...mine however came with a different type of support/bracket for the inboard side of the platform...mine is just a stainless pole that attaches to the platform at the aft end and travels at about a 45 degree angle down to the transom...the instructions that came with it insisted on thru bolting everything...I was wondering if any part of your platform is thru bolted?...I assume that the grab rail on the outboard side is not but I was wondering if maybe the top screw on the inboard bracket was thru bolted...if everything will just be screwed into the transom I'm going to have to get creative becasue I'm not comfortable using the harware supplied with only screws

Really long post and all I really wanted to find out was whether or not your platform is secure and is it installed with just screws?

Thanks

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woody,

The bracket that is on my 18' is a special bracket as you can see. I did not install it but it is heavy duty.
It is not thru bolted. There are 4 lag bolts that bolt into the plywood transom. That bracket by itself will hold everything. The other one is basically just there for a little support for the outboard side of the platform and also for a grab rail.

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I own a 1991 Outrage 17 and I'm looking for a swim platform. Any ideas?

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Yes. Start a new thread and ask your question there as this thread is over 4 years old.

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Thanks Joe!