The ladders on the South side of the canal are recessed into the wall, but the ones on the North side stick out quite a bit; not enough to damage boats, but probably far enough to discourage boaters from parking in front of them.
This will probably result in what even a Canal Corp. employee bemoaned as an increase in the congestion for boaters trying to moor along the wall. Everyone I've spoken to has ridiculed both the need for these ladders, and their high cost.
The fact that most foot traffic along the canal is during the summer season, when there are boats moored seems to have been overlooked. Think about it, if you did happen to fall into the canal, wouldn't you climb up on one of the many boat swim platforms, which are lower and easier to access, rather than swim to a ladder? I know I would.
