Abstract: A boat boarding ladder telescopically mounts to fishing rod holders fixedly secured within gunnels on either side of a boat. The ladder is of an inverted J-shaped configuration and is comprised of an ascending connector portion, a transverse bridging portion and a descending ladder portion. The ladder portion has laterally spaced standoff legs to bear against the hull of the boat and longitudinally spaced steps. The transverse portion bridges the gunnel and rest thereupon. The connector portion comprises a connector tube which extends generally downwardly and is pivotally connected to the transverse portion such that the axis of the connector tube sweeps out a conical path. The axes of the rod holders are generally orientated relative to the gunnels such that fishing rods held therewithin extend rearwardly and laterally outwardly.