Stowable low profile boat ladder

Abstract

A ladder for a recreational boat has an elongated support which has a rung or step at one end and is pivotally attached to the hull or transom of the boat at the other end so it can be swung downward into or toward the water for use in climbing into the boat and swung upward to rest on the boat hull for stowing. The support is shaped to conform to the contour of the boat hull or transom when stowed.

1 . A stowable boat ladder, comprising:
 a) a rigid elongated support;   b) said rigid support having a pivot bracket at one end for attachment to a boat hull for pivotally swinging said support between an upward stowed position and a downward use position when said bracket is attached to the boat hull; and   c) a step at about the other end of said rigid support.   
   
   
       2 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 1  further including a latch mounted on the boat for releasably engaging the rigid support in the stowed position. 
   
   
       3 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 1  further including a step at the bracket end of said rigid support. 
   
   
       4 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 1  wherein said rigid support is shaped to conform generally to the contour of the exterior of the boat hull when in the stowed position. 
   
   
       5 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 4  wherein said rigid support comprises a single elongated rigid member. 
   
   
       6 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 5  wherein said rigid support comprises a solid rod. 
   
   
       7 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 5  wherein said rigid support comprises a hollow tube. 
   
   
       8 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 4  wherein said rigid support comprises multiple parallel elongated members. 
   
   
       9 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 8  wherein said elongated members are solid rods. 
   
   
       10 . A stowable boat ladder as in  claim 8  wherein said elongated members are hollow tubes. 
   
   
       11 . A stowable boat ladder comprising:
 a) a rigid elongated support;   b) a bracket for attachment to the hull of a boat;   c) said rigid elongated support pivotally attached at about one end to said bracket for swinging said support between a downward use position to an upward stowed position resting on he boat hull when said bracket is attached to a boat; and   d) a ladder rung at about the other end of said rigid elongated support.   
   
   
       12 . A stowable boat ladder as described in  claim 11  wherein said rigid elongated support is arcuately shaped to conform to the contour of the boat hull when in the stowed position. 
   
   
       13 . A stowable boat ladder as described in  claim 11  further including a latch mounted on the boat hull for releasably engaging said support when in the stowed position. 
   
   
       14 . A stowable boat ladder as described in  claim 11  further including a step at the bracket end of said support. 
   
   
       15 . A stowable boat ladder as described in  claim 11  wherein said rigid elongated support comprises multiple parallel elongated members.