Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Findings

Several of the ladders tested were specifically designed for inflatable boats. But our testers found that most of them were not very effective. One of these, the Garelick Inflatable Boat Ladder, was a perfect fit on both the jonboat and the Whaler. But testers on the RIB found it very difficult to use because the lowest rung of this two-step ladder barely skimmed the water’s surface.

Female testers found that it was very difficult to reach into the boat to deploy the ladders because of the wide girth of the tubes. They, instead, preferred to reach into the boat from the stern then throw the ladder over the side. The male testers, in contrast, often appeared as though they didn’t need a ladder at all when pushing up to reach into the RIB and grab the test ladder.

The handhold straps on the tubes of the inflatable proved invaluable to testers as they boarded. Though the top rated ladders for the RIB didn’t have conveniently place handholds (if any at all) the handles on the boat worked perfectly as substitutes.

Another frequent complaint was that testers’ arms and legs were scraped by the sharper edges of the ladders that were exposed across the wide edge of the tube when climbing aboard. Shorter ladders were favored again since they tended to leave fewer exposed edges.

The number 1 ladder from the jonboat, the David Swim Stirrup, also ranked highest on the RIB. It was the perfect length (about 20 inches below the waterline) for all the testers. The C-Level Sea Steps was a close second. Though its bottom step was 24 inches below the waterline, just a hair too long, it was still described by one tester as, "Perfect for a boat like this!" Third place was a tie between the 3-step version of the C-Level Sea Steps and the Plastimo Folding Inflatable Ladder.

The Plastimo, designed specifically for use on inflatables, has a unique S-curve shape. The top of the S curves over the tube, hugging the gunwale and then curves back out at the bottom to give better leverage while boarding. This distinctive design often required testers to turn it over during testing since it only fits one way, a small point of frustration, but overall, it was well-liked for the RIB.

Again, testers found that many longer ladders floated out from under them causing much frustration. Tangled ladders also seemed to be more of a problem on the RIB compared to the other boats. Some ladders became twisted inside the boat or during deployment and testers had to adjust them multiple times before beginning to board.

Adjusting the ladder to the right length before getting in the water became a standard procedure for testers.

Ladder 5 was a tester favorite on all of the boats.

Testers found it easiest to deploy ladders from the stern of the RIB.

A few of the ladders, like the one pictured here, scraped testers' legs during boarding attempts