Dock ladders are used on docks to transfer material or people from the boat to the dock. They consist of several straight, simple steps. A dock ladder needs to be permanently fixed to the docks that are wooden platforms, sea walls or stationary docks with floating water lines.

Most of these dock ladders come with hoop handles to make climbing in and out as easy as possible. In case the dock space is limited, it is a better option to purchase a ladder without handles.Dock ladders come in a variety of models. Some of them are fixed and some removable.

Removable types can be lifted out without use of many tools and stored safely for later use. This helps in avoiding unnecessary exposure to water. Dock ladders can generally take up to 200 lbs of weight. But some special ones come for industrial docks that can take up to 500 lbs. Dock ladders have a range of 2 to 10 steps to accommodate varying dock heights. For safety, dock ladders are often found in a yellow color.

They are mostly made from aluminum, fiberglass or stainless steel materials. Whatever dock ladder you purchase, make sure that it can sustain in fresh and salt water for long durations.To mount a dock ladder, drill holes where it is to be installed. Then it needs to be secured with the help of bolts or welding. One must check regularly for any disintegration signs on the dock ladder, since it is in contact with water most of the time. A dock ladder can be purchased from boat material suppliers or on the Internet.

By: Damian Sofsian