How to Make a Pirate Rope Ladder

Measure the height of the space where the ladder will be. It is important to determine specifically how large your ladder needs to be, rather than guessing. This will prevent you from having a ladder that is either too short to reach, or else so long that several feet drag on the ground. Measuring the distance of the place where the ladder will be located also allows you to know exactly how much material is needed.

Acquire two pieces of rope, which will be needed for the pirate rope ladder. Start with your measurement from Step 1, and add 50% to it. So for every inch of length you require for your ladder, you will need 1 1/2 inches of rope (on each piece). For example, if you need a rope ladder that is precisely 10 feet tall, then each rope length should be 15 feet. In addition to length, thickness is also important. You should have a nice, inch-thick (or thicker) rope in order to have a sturdy ladder.

Acquire the boards that will be used as steps on the pirate rope ladder. Again, referring to the measurement you took in Step 1, you will need one plank for every 10 inches of length. If you are building a pirate rope ladder that is 10 feet (120 inches), you would need to have 12 planks available. The size of the boards depends largely on the weight of the person who will be stepping on the ladder. If it will be used by children, then a 1” x 4” board, cut to a length of 20 to 24 inches will do nicely. If an adult will use the ladder, you may wish to upgrade this to 2” x 4”, which is more durable, but also bulkier.

Drill holes through the ends of the boards--this is where the rope will pass. On each end of the board, you will need to measure two inches in from the end of the board and make a mark, then measure across the length of the board to center the mark. You will now have a centered mark on each end of the board. Outfit an electric drill with a drill bit capable of cutting a hole large enough for the rope to pass.

Start to assemble the ladder. Tie a knot in the end of each rope. The knot should be large enough that it will not slide through the hole in the board, even when weight and pressure is applied to it. Tie a double knot if that is necessary to make the knot large enough. Once you have tied a knot in each piece of rope, slide the other (unknotted) end of the rope through the holes in one of the planks and slide the plank all the way down the rope until it reaches the knot.

Finish the ladder assembly. Once the first plank is in place, measure 10 inches down the rope from the top of the plank and tie another knot. Do this on each rope so that the distance between planks remains consistent. After the knots are tied, thread the ropes through the holes in the next plank, and slide it into position. Continue repeating this process until all planks are in position. Once the final plank has been added, tie an extra set of knots on the top side of it, so that it has knots on the top and the bottom.

Wrap the ends of the rope with duct tape or electrical tape. If you wrap both ends (of both ropes) tightly, it will prevent frayed edges from developing and increase the life of the pirate rope ladder.

Hang the ladder. If the ladder is hung on the wall as a purely decorative element, then simple cup hooks are all that is needed to hold it in place. If the rope ladder will be used, the best way to hang it is to drill two additional holes in the plank at the end that has a knot on both sides of the plank. The holes should be drilled two inches inside the rope (four inches from the outside edge), and should be the right size for a large bolt to slide through. You can then use a large nut, bolt and washer set to firmly secure the plank to the tree house, bunk bed or whatever object the rope ladder will be used on.