Over the last couple of years I've been hearing quite a bit about the safety importance of having a ladder for your boat, in the event you would go overboard. When I bought my used boat the other year, I had them install a ladder on the boat.

Just read an article about boarding ladders for small boats.  According to the US Coast Guard, 275 fatalities resulted from 721 boating accidents that involved a fall overboard in 2006.  The article went on to suggest 2 safety items you should have on a boat regarding ladders: 1) Life Vest (a fully clothed adult with no buoyancy would have difficulties attempting to get back aboard using any type of ladder), and 2) a of course a boat ladder.  Funny, but the cheapest ladder seemed to work the best, a 4-inch wide webbing ladder ranked highest in the test(less than $25).

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|294|92384&id=92369

An interesting read:

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/findings/findings44/FF44_Mag.pdf

One of the FIRST things my wife insisted that I buy for my new "used" bass boat was a ladder that I could have rolled up and available to lower should I be fishing alone and fall overboard, PERIOD. I bought a 5 rung roll up ladder at West Marine last Saturday and fully intend to have it attached to the boat and within my grasp FROM the water at all times when fishing alone. CHEAP INSURANCE, IMO!!! I also wear a PFD when fishing alone even though I am a strong swimmer.

I agree a ladder is a great help getting in your boat should you fall out. I have used the cavitation plate on my out board to get in. For you guys with power tilt you can stand on the cavitation plate and use the buttons mounted on the outboard to lift you right in the boat.

I agree a ladder is a great help getting in your boat should you fall out. I have used the cavitation plate on my out board to get in. For you guys with power tilt you can stand on the cavitation plate and use the buttons mounted on the outboard to lift you right in the boat.

Yep.  

i dont know if i read it here or another forum but as the story goes a person fell over-board fishing in cold water and clung to his motor and trimmed it up to get back in the boat.

id never thought of that until i read that.