Boarding Ladders

This boat seems to offer lots of challenges and  none quiet so awkward as that of getting into and out of it.
Its displacement is as yet uncertain and so therefore is the free-board.
I estimate all up but crew free the weight will be 1100 kilos which, as the water mass it will displace, means 1.1 cubic metres. This approximates to the volume of the boat beneath the floor board runners and is a foot above the keelson.
Thus the free board will be some 4 ft at the stern, 3 amidships and rising to 4 again forward and except at  the stern the hull, being sans bilge, cuts in deeply and offers no vertical purchase to board. Also the decking slants up towards the lubber line. The combined result means a difficult boarding from a dinghy along side or from a pontoon. From the briny itself it would be near impossible.
So for safety and convenience I have solved this by providing a permanent ladder on each side, just rear of midships, which is hinged so that it can folds into and under the deck when not in use.
Below is a general view of the ladder between the forward shelf and rearward seating flat against the hull and
out of the way.

This shows some detail of the hinged wing supports similarly laying flat against the hull and the bottom section of the ladder is seen folded in and under its upper part.

Here is seen a retrieval lanyard and bash plate where the ladder will come to rest and below shows how hauling it from outside the boat causes the ladder to swing up, out and over the deck.


The ladder can now be seen unfolding completely. The hinged wing supports are swung so as to engage the hull where they keep the ladder 'vertical'  prevent it from swinging under the hull.

Some detail of the ladder across the deck and engaging the bash plate. The yellow cordage seen in these pictures is shock cord and the way it is strung causes a 'click fully open' effect on the bottom rung but a closing effect when folding is started.

The white line that shows along the hull will be where the boot top will be. The bottom of the ladder comes close to this and hopefully will allow someone in the water a chance to get on board.