Abstract: A retractable ladder assembly for a watercraft has a rotatably mounted ladder which is attached to the craft by brackets. The ladder is pivotably mounted to the brackets. There is a plate biased to engage and rotatably retract the ladder from a use position to a storage position is also attached to the bracket. The bias is provided by a torsion spring. In one embodiment, the bracket mounts to the top of a rear platform of a boat and in another embodiment the ladder mounts to the underside of the rear platform of the boat. In both embodiments, the ladder may have a telescoping second ladder which retracts, due to gravity, when the torsion spring rotates the ladder assembly to a sufficient amount above the horizontal. There is also a stopper mechanism for each embodiment.

Abstract: A retractable ladder assembly for a watercraft has a rotatably mounted ladder which is attached to the craft by brackets. The ladder is pivotably mounted to the brackets. There is a plate biased to engage and rotatably retract the ladder from a use position to a storage position is also attached to the bracket. The bias is provided by a torsion spring. In one embodiment, the bracket mounts to the top of a rear platform of a boat and in another embodiment the ladder mounts to the underside of the rear platform of the boat. In both embodiments, the ladder may have a telescoping second ladder which retracts, due to gravity, when the torsion spring rotates the ladder assembly to a sufficient amount above the horizontal. There is also a stopper mechanism for each embodiment.

Abstract: A retractable step assembly has a U-shaped step, a rotatable joint including a bracket, a first member to fix the bracket to the rear of a boat or personal watercraft, to a fixed step, a pivotable rod, and a second member to fix the U-shaped step to it for rotation with respect to the first member. The joint includes two rings which are fixed to the bracket and a tube disposed within the rings at each end for rotation around the axis of the tube and rings. One of the assemblies is fixed to the tube and another assembly is fixed to the bracket. The bracket has two springs fixed to it and also acting on the tube or the assembly connected to the tube to rotationally bias the tube and assembly with respect to the bracket.

Abstract: An automatically retractable step assembly for watercraft rotatably mounts to a fixed step assembly fixed to the craft, a movable sliding chassis mounted on tracks, or a manually retractable step. The automatically retractable step assembly can also rotatably mount to another automatically retractable step assembly. The automatically retractable step assembly is preferably formed by a U-shaped member with outward projections that rotatably fit over mating projections from a supporting element. The U-shaped member is biased by torsion springs to rotate with respect to the supporting elements towards a position in which the retractable step assembly will be stored and away from the water. The retractable step assembly, during use, is rotatable against the bias and towards or into the water by pulling or stepping on the retractable step.