Mike, it's hard to make out that ladder there. Looks a little like the Mystic Stainless Foldaway - which looks really substantial going to the diagram on their site.
Still a look though - have to see the actual ladder to be sure.
One little detail either way could be the clincher, as it so often is when making a decision to buy something.
The Foldaway mounts to a track.
That's clever, spreads the attachment points, allows repositioning of the ladder, and is strong. The taffrail on the Ariel is curved two ways and could present a problem, maybe not. The Mystic Foldaway diagram obviously shows the ladder off the side of a boat.
The tube sides have slides of what looks like plastic tubing that immobilize the hinges and stiffens the deployed ladder.
Again, that may be a good idea as it gives the hinges a little movement. The hinge design looks like they have some 3-dimensional flex too. They may turn on a stainless toggle and pin device, it's hard to make out exactly, but if they do something like that that would insure that they last. Mystic may have something there, wish there was a close up of those babies.
Imagine trying to get the ladder folded again once you're on deck. The lower section slides will be at water level. H m m m m ....
The standoffs may be a problem to keep positioned. But the ladder may be able to stand the strain if one or both fold under load at the wrong time. It looks like a great product.
Mystic has an optional handrail kit that would allow you to haul yourself up by not relying entirely on the pushpit stanchions. One end of the handle-loops mount on the same track. Looks like they 'fold' also independently of the ladder - they may be TOO articulated for anything but conservative boarding.
The ladder is obviously meant for an open sternrail....BUT
It might be a good thing to have a STRONG full round rail, if you can see yourself stepping over the rail while climbing. The "Foldaway" might work on any Ariel transom. Preferably with something above deck level to grab on to.
It is made of 1" tube - great! And is 15" wide.
Makes it easier to CRAWL up the device, because that's what we doing....
Looks like the rungs have a flattened top. Probably too narrow for my arch.
Has a curved bottom step, that isn't going to jab you when you are looking for it with your feet.
Foldaway folds into a neat very compact unit.
Now the thing is, of course, can be deployed in a confusing emergency situation? Important. Can you get to it from the water?
If it's a good ladder, it'll get used. And will become familiar.
I would not mount this off the side unless the stanchions on both sides were triangularly braced inboard. If I had the ladder mounted on the starboard side, I'd be sure to trip off the port.
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There are stainless tube telescoping ladders. I'm curious about their longevity stowed in their compact state. Windline makes them. Windline makes some substantial products - so they are worth looking at. The longest is a three stepper.
PlasTEAK Inc has ladders worth looking at also - including telescoping ones that are meant for powerboats but may be adaptable. Including an all stainless 4 stepper - $145! They have 5 and 6 step rope ladders with Plas-teak treads that have a grab hole in the center so you don't have to crush fingers. $60 and $70. Might be good to have one of these all plastic roll-ups aboard for insurance. Depending on how they attach the line to the treads, they should survive being stowed away.
Feed back from the gallery would be nice.
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