The Pilots Ladder
A ladder worthy of your boat
Handmade wood + rope pilot ladders that look right on beautiful boats—lighter, quieter, and timeless. Beautiful and yacht-worthy, pilot ladders are handmade from premium hardwoods and marine rope. Custom step counts, wood species, rope, chafe gear, and hardware options.
Built in Port Townsend, WA.
-
Custom step count for your freeboard
-
Choice of hardwood species (Padauk shown)
-
Premium marine rope (Langman Ropes available)
-
Optional leather chafe gear + hardware package
-
Built in Port Townsend, WA, USA
About the Pilots Ladder
Our semi-custom ladders are built to order using traditional pilot-ladder construction: hardwood treads with classic “cheeks,” deeply grooved for secure rope seating, and finished with clean seizing's and marine-grade materials.
What you are buying:
-
A complete, ready-to-use pilots ladder built to your specs
-
Designed to be beautiful enough to stow on deck - no need to hide it
Why wood and rope beat stainless
-
Looks right on classic boats (and modern boats that care about aesthetics)
-
Warm underfoot and quiet—no clanking metal
-
Floats (and yes, we’ve seen what lurks underneath… 🦈)
-
Serviceable: components can be re-seized and refreshed over time
-
Ages beautifully: we choose species that grey gracefully with no regular finishing required (unless you want it varnished—we can do that.)
Options
Wood Species
Padauk (shown), plus other hardwoods available
Chafe Gear
Options to leather where it matters
Step Count
Build to your boats boarding height
Hardware
Attachment options to match your setup
Rope
Premium marine options
Finish
Change the text and make it your own. Click here to begin editing.
FAQ
How do I choose step Count
Measure from the waterline to your boarding point. If you are unsure, send photos and the measurement and we'll recommend the right count.
Will if work on a swim step / transom / side boarding gate?
Yes - tell us your boarding location and we'll match length and attachment style.
Does if float?
Yes - wood + rope floats, which is a nice change from many metal options
Lead time?
These are custom and handmade - that takes time. Contact us and we can give you a lead time estimate.