FALL IS A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT ACCESSORIZING YOUR BOAT. THERE ARE ALOT OF GREAT OPTIONS OUT THERE. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR OPTIONS FOR PONTOON BOATS ARE THE LILLIPAD LADDERS.

WHY PEOPLE LIKE THE LILLIPAD LADDERS

IF YOU SPEND ANY TIME SWIMMING OFF A PONTOON, YOU ALREADY KNOW THE “GETTING BACK ON” PART IS WHERE THINGS CAN GET AWKWARD. A GOOD LADDER MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR KIDS, ADULTS, AND ANYONE WHO DOESN’T WANT TO DO A FULL-ON PULL-UP ON A WET DECK.

THE BIG SELLING POINT FOR A LOT OF BOATERS IS THE WAY THESE LADDERS ARE BUILT TO HANDLE REAL USE: WET FEET, SUN, WAVES, AND PEOPLE CLIMBING UP ALL DAY. WHEN YOU’RE ANCHORED OUT AND EVERYONE IS IN AND OUT OF THE WATER, YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT FEELS SOLID AND EASY TO GRAB.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PICKING THE RIGHT ONE

NOT EVERY PONTOON SITS THE SAME IN THE WATER, AND NOT EVERY CREW IS THE SAME EITHER. WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING AT A LILLIPAD LADDER, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU ACTUALLY USE YOUR BOAT MOST WEEKENDS—SAND BAR DAYS, COVE SWIMMING, KIDS JUMPING OFF THE BOW, OR JUST A COUPLE PEOPLE COOLING OFF.

• DEPTH IN THE WATER: A LADDER THAT GOES DEEPER MAKES IT WAY EASIER TO STEP UP INSTEAD OF TRYING TO LIFT YOURSELF OUT.
• WHERE IT MOUNTS: SOME PEOPLE WANT IT OFF THE SIDE FOR SWIMMING, OTHERS LIKE IT NEAR THE REAR SWIM AREA OR A SPECIFIC GATE.
• WHO’S CLIMBING IT: IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS, OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS, OR ANYONE WHO LIKES TO FLOAT AROUND FOR HOURS, EASY ENTRY MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK.
• STORAGE AND FOLD-UP CLEARANCE: YOU WANT IT TO STOW CLEANLY WITHOUT BANGING INTO FENCES, RAILS, OR COVER SYSTEMS.

WHY THE “EASY STEP” STYLE GETS TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH

ONE REASON YOU’LL HEAR BOATERS BRING UP THE EASY-STEP STYLE IS BECAUSE IT FEELS MORE LIKE USING STAIRS THAN USING A TYPICAL STRAIGHT LADDER. THAT CHANGES THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WHEN PEOPLE ARE TIRED, COLD, OR JUST TRYING TO CLIMB BACK UP WITHOUT MAKING IT A PRODUCTION.

ON BUSY DAYS, THAT LITTLE DIFFERENCE IS A BIG DEAL. PEOPLE MOVE FASTER, THERE’S LESS SLIPPING AROUND AT THE TOP, AND YOU’RE NOT HAVING SOMEONE HANGING ON THE EDGE WAITING FOR THE “RIGHT MOMENT” TO HEAVE THEMSELVES UP.

INSTALLATION: WHAT MOST BOAT OWNERS CARE ABOUT

THE OTHER THING THAT MAKES THESE POPULAR IS THAT THEY’RE A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD UPGRADE WHEN YOU PLAN IT OUT. MOST OWNERS ARE LOOKING FOR THREE THINGS: A CLEAN MOUNT, A SOLID FEEL WHEN IT’S DOWN, AND A STOWED POSITION THAT DOESN’T GET IN THE WAY.

BEFORE YOU DRILL ANYTHING, IT’S SMART TO CHECK A FEW BASIC DETAILS SO YOU DON’T END UP MOVING IT LATER:

• MEASURE WITH THE BOAT IN THE WATER: THE WAY THE BOAT SITS LOADED WITH PEOPLE AND GEAR IS WHAT MATTERS, NOT JUST THE TRAILER POSITION.
• LOOK UNDER THE DECKING: KNOW WHAT’S UNDERNEATH WHERE YOU WANT TO MOUNT—WIRING, STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU DON’T WANT TO HIT.
• THINK ABOUT TRAFFIC FLOW: IF EVERYONE ENTERS FROM ONE GATE OR GATHERS IN ONE SPOT, PUT THE LADDER WHERE IT HELPS INSTEAD OF CREATING A BOTTLENECK.
• TEST THE STOW POSITION: MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T INTERFERE WITH COVERS, BIMINI HARDWARE, OR DOCKING LINES.

SAFETY DETAILS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON REAL BOAT DAYS

ON PAPER, A LADDER IS A LADDER. ON THE WATER, IT’S WHERE PEOPLE ARE WET, MOVING, AND NOT ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION. A FEW SMALL HABITS AND SETUP CHOICES CAN MAKE ENTRY AND EXIT A LOT SMOOTHER.

• KEEP THE ENTRY ZONE CLEAR: DON’T LET TOWELS, FLOATS, OR COOLER LIDS TURN THAT AREA INTO A TRIP HAZARD.
• SHOW KIDS WHERE TO HOLD: IF THERE’S A NATURAL HANDHOLD OR RAIL NEAR THE LADDER, MAKE THAT THE DEFAULT SPOT EVERY TIME.
• DROP IT ALL THE WAY: HALF-DOWN LADDERS ARE WHERE YOU GET WEIRD FOOTING AND SLIPS. IF IT’S OUT, PUT IT OUT.
• WATCH THE PROPELLER SIDE: IT SOUNDS OBVIOUS, BUT IT’S WORTH SAYING: KEEP SWIMMERS AWAY FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND MAKE ONE SIDE THE “IN AND OUT” ZONE.

MAINTENANCE AND OFF-SEASON CARE

FALL IS ALSO WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE START THINKING ABOUT HOW THEIR GEAR IS GOING TO LOOK NEXT SPRING. THE GOOD NEWS IS LADDER MAINTENANCE ISN’T COMPLICATED, BUT DOING A LITTLE NOW SAVES YOU FROM STIFF HINGES AND GRIME BUILDUP LATER.

• RINSE AFTER USE: ESPECIALLY IF YOU BOAT IN BRACKISH OR DIRTY WATER, A QUICK RINSE KEEPS STUFF FROM CAKING IN THE MOVING PARTS.
• CHECK HARDWARE TIGHTNESS: VIBRATION AND WAVE ACTION CAN LOOSEN THINGS OVER TIME, SO A QUICK CHECK DURING CLEANUP IS WORTH IT.
• LOOK FOR WEAR POINTS: ANY SPOT WHERE METAL MEETS METAL OR A STEP GETS CONSTANT CONTACT IS WHERE YOU’LL SEE WEAR FIRST.
• STORE CLEAN AND DRY: IF YOU’RE WINTERIZING, PUT IT AWAY THE WAY YOU’D WANT TO FIND IT—NO SAND, NO WATER SITTING IN CREVICES.

HOW IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU USE YOUR PONTOON

ONCE YOU HAVE A LADDER THAT FEELS EASY, PEOPLE SWIM MORE. IT SOUNDS SIMPLE, BUT IT’S TRUE. THE BOAT STOPS FEELING LIKE “WE CAN SWIM IF WE FEEL LIKE DEALING WITH GETTING BACK IN,” AND STARTS FEELING LIKE A TRUE SWIM PLATFORM THAT EVERYONE USES WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN YOUR CREW IS COMFORTABLE GETTING IN AND OUT, IT OPENS UP MORE OPTIONS FOR HOW YOU SPEND THE DAY—QUICK DIPS WHILE YOU’RE DRIFTING, LONGER ANCHOR SESSIONS, OR JUST A BETTER FLOW WHEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE ROTATING BETWEEN FLOATS, TOWELS, AND THE DECK.

OTHER ACCESSORIES THAT PAIR WELL WITH A BETTER LADDER

IF YOU’RE ALREADY IN “UPGRADE MODE,” THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF PONTOON OWNERS START BUILDING A SMALL LIST OF CHANGES THAT WORK TOGETHER. A LADDER IS ONE PIECE OF IT, BUT A FEW SMALL ADD-ONS CAN MAKE THE WHOLE SWIM SETUP FEEL MORE COMPLETE.

• NON-SLIP MAT OR STEP PAD: GIVES PEOPLE A BETTER PLACE TO PLANT A FOOT WHEN THEY’RE DRIPPING WET.
• DOCKING-SIDE FENDER STORAGE: KEEPS THE ENTRY AREA LESS CLUTTERED WHEN YOU’RE ANCHORED OR TIED UP.
• DEDICATED TOWEL HOOKS: STOPS PEOPLE FROM PILING EVERYTHING RIGHT WHERE THEY’RE TRYING TO CLIMB IN.
• FLOAT STORAGE: ANYTHING THAT KEEPS BIG FLOATS FROM DRIFTING INTO THE LADDER AREA HELPS A LOT ON BUSY DAYS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION OR PRICES, CALL OR TEXT KAYLOR'S MARINE AT 859-986-0146 AND WE'D BE GLAD TO HELP YOU!