Things You Will Need
Sometimes, the difference in water levels may be great enough that the only way you can get into your boat with your dignity intact is with a dock ladder, allowing you to climb down properly, rather than making an unceremonious jump for your boat from the end of the pier.
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Use your measuring tape to measure the distance between the height of your dock and the water at lower low tide. Add 3 feet to this measurement and mark this length onto the 1-by-4 inch boards. Use your circular saw to cut the 1-by-4 inch boards to this length, forming the side rails of the dock ladder.
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Measure 3 feet from the top of each side rail and make a mark at that point. Measure downward from that mark on each side rail, making another mark every 12 inches to indicate where a tread (step) should be mounted. The top 3 feet of the ladder's side rails will not have any treads between the side rails and will extend above the level of the dock, so that a person climbing the ladder will be able to maintain a grip on the side rails and "step through" these handrails and onto the dock.
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Lay the two side rails on edge, parallel to each other, with their tops even. Count the number of treads you will need. Use your circular saw to cut the 2-by-4 inch boards into this many pieces, each 24 inches long.
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Place one 2-by-4 inch tread on its edge between the side rails, at the first mark. Drill two 1/8-inch pilot holes through one 1-by-4 inch board and into the end of the 2-by-4 inch board, then drive the 1/4-inch galvanized wood screws through the pilot holes in the 1-by-4 inch board and into the 2-by-4 inch board with your screwdriver. Repeat this process to attach the other 1-by-4 inch board to the end of the 2-by-4 inch board and form the first step.
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Continue attaching steps between the 1-by-4 inch boards until you reach the last mark on the 1-by-4 inch board side rails. Attach one more 2-by-4 inch step to the bottom of the two side rails.
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Attach the 1-inch angle iron to the bottom of the uppermost step with screws. Screw the angle iron to the side of the dock.