Bilge Ladder

Sindbad

Sindbad

Member
Apr 11, 2010
218
North Channel
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2006
390 Sundancer 2005
44 Sundancer 2006
Engines
8.1L Horizons (2006)
8.1L HO (2005)
Cummins QSC 500 (44 DA, 2006)
Just purchased a 2006 DA 44, Cummins QSC 500. Noted during survey that the bilge ladder was missing. SR customer support gave me the part number and vendor name, but also indicated it was no longer available. The ladders were manufactured by Southcoast Marine Products in Clearwater, FL. The vendor did not stock the product; only manufactured for Sea Ray. I will try and see if Southcoast will manufacture one for me, but unlikely; or try and buy the drawing from Southcoast and have it fabricated locally. Would appreciate any other suggestions. Thanks.
 
In situations like these you need to read between the lines.

When SR customer service tells you NA, they are only looking at their inventory records which show # on hand and # on order; so you get the answer "not available".

There is a master vendor agreement between Brunswick and the vendor which prohibits the vendor from selling to you directly.

The way around t his merry-go-'round is to get a SR dealer to order the ladder for you. They will try what you did, i.e. SR customner service which is the part of the company that takes dealer orders. They will see none on hand and none on order which means the ladder being ordered is a single unit. More than likely they will just give the dealer the vendor name and their contact person and tell him to order it directly from the vendor. They have the golden handshake (they are a dealer!) that gets them by the vendor agreement and if the vendor will make a single unit, you are in business.

The down side is that there is now a dealer's markup involved, but that i better than a SR markup + a dealer markup.


If you need a friendly dealer who will order parts for you and shiop or have them drop shipped, I can hook you up.


Finally, I own an older boat and find that there have been times where I needed replacement parts that were not available due to the mold being destroyed, ornery vendors, etc. Everytime I get in this box, I always use the opportuinity to look at the function of whatever I need and see if there is a way to improve its form, function or just its appearance. In the case of your ladder, sea ray had the habit of making bilge ladders too danged narrow. Try carrying 5 gal buckes of oil thru a hatch and into the bilge on a ladder with rungs so narrow that only one foot fits on them. One foot still must pass the other even if you don't need to place them on the same rung.
 
fwebster said:
In situations like these you need to read between the lines.

When SR customer service tells you NA, they are only looking at their inventory records which show # on hand and # on order; so you get the answer "not available".

There is a master vendor agreement between Brunswick and the vendor which prohibits the vendor from selling to you directly.

The way around t his merry-go-'round is to get a SR dealer to order the ladder for you. They will try what you did, i.e. SR customner service which is the part of the company that takes dealer orders. They will see none on hand and none on order which means the ladder being ordered is a single unit. More than likely they will just give the dealer the vendor name and their contact person and tell him to order it directly from the vendor. They have the golden handshake (they are a dealer!) that gets them by the vendor agreement and if the vendor will make a single unit, you are in business.

The down side is that there is now a dealer's markup involved, but that i better than a SR markup + a dealer markup.


If you need a friendly dealer who will order parts for you and shiop or have them drop shipped, I can hook you up.


Finally, I own an older boat and find that there have been times where I needed replacement parts that were not available due to the mold being destroyed, ornery vendors, etc. Everytime I get in this box, I always use the opportuinity to look at the function of whatever I need and see if there is a way to improve its form, function or just its appearance. In the case of your ladder, sea ray had the habit of making bilge ladders too danged narrow. Try carrying 5 gal buckes of oil thru a hatch and into the bilge on a ladder with rungs so narrow that only one foot fits on them. One foot still must pass the other even if you don't need to place them on the same rung.
Click to expand...
Thanks Frank. I'll try the local dealer. If unsuccessful, I will contact you for the information of the friendly dealer.
Kind regards.

Frank C.
 
fwebster said:
In situations like these you need to read between the lines.

When SR customer service tells you NA, they are only looking at their inventory records which show # on hand and # on order; so you get the answer "not available".

There is a master vendor agreement between Brunswick and the vendor which prohibits the vendor from selling to you directly.

The way around t his merry-go-'round is to get a SR dealer to order the ladder for you. They will try what you did, i.e. SR customner service which is the part of the company that takes dealer orders. They will see none on hand and none on order which means the ladder being ordered is a single unit. More than likely they will just give the dealer the vendor name and their contact person and tell him to order it directly from the vendor. They have the golden handshake (they are a dealer!) that gets them by the vendor agreement and if the vendor will make a single unit, you are in business.

The down side is that there is now a dealer's markup involved, but that i better than a SR markup + a dealer markup.


If you need a friendly dealer who will order parts for you and shiop or have them drop shipped, I can hook you up.


Finally, I own an older boat and find that there have been times where I needed replacement parts that were not available due to the mold being destroyed, ornery vendors, etc. Everytime I get in this box, I always use the opportuinity to look at the function of whatever I need and see if there is a way to improve its form, function or just its appearance. In the case of your ladder, sea ray had the habit of making bilge ladders too danged narrow. Try carrying 5 gal buckes of oil thru a hatch and into the bilge on a ladder with rungs so narrow that only one foot fits on them. One foot still must pass the other even if you don't need to place them on the same rung.
Click to expand...

I have exhausted all effort to find a replacement engine room ladder. Had local dealer try and obtain from the original vendor; no luck. SR Customer service searched archives for dimensions so I could have fabricated locally; no luck there either. They suggested I try the various sites, e.g. Flounder Pounder, etc. which I did, but no one has the item. My last effort will be to post a CSR request to reach current owners of 2006 to 2008 DA 44, and request a pic w/dimensions. I even offered to purchase the drawings from the vendor, but no success. Open to ideas. Thanks.
 
Can you make a "mock up" out of something like cardboard tubes (wrapping paper) and masking tape... or PVC pipe... then have it fab'd locally? I'm just spit-ballin' here - maybe it'll spur an idea as you know your setup much better than me. But from the ones I recall seeing, it seems like this should be doable? I can't remember what the attachment point/hardware looks like, but I would think that would be able to be sourced or just replace it with something new. Again, though, just kinda talking out loud here. But it would't necessarily have to be the same way Sea Ray made it - make it whatever way works best for you.
 
Last edited:
yes, that is what I will end up doing. talked to someone at my club that can do; need to create template. thanks.
 
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