Ducklark Games / Stepword ladders / Ladder #16
Stepword #16: Paddle a BOAT to the PIER
What happens when you set out from BOAT with PIER in mind? On Wednesday, October 21, 2026 that was the question, and “Paddle a BOAT to the PIER” was the story that went with it in ladder #16.
#16 in numbers and letters
- Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Start word: BOAT
- Goal word: PIER
- Par: 5 steps
- Word length: 4 letters
Why ladder #16 takes 5 steps
The two words disagree in all 4 places, but getting from one to the other takes 5 steps, one extra. Somewhere along the way the best climb makes a sideways move.
Nothing lines up between BOAT and PIER: not one letter is in the same place in both, so each position must change on the way. Vowels: 2 in the start word, 2 in the goal. The game’s list has 6 different ways to climb in par.
- Letter 1: B to P
- Letter 2: O to I
- Letter 3: A to E
- Letter 4: T to R
How #16 compares
8 of the 18 ladders so far have had a par of 5. The day’s story line was “Paddle a BOAT to the PIER”.
Play ladder #16
Yes. It is one of the last seven days, which Stepword keeps open. Use this link to climb #16 or find the day on the calendar. Nothing you do on a replay counts toward your streak.
No answer ladder is shown on these pages.
The days around ladder #16
- Stepword #15: Give a FISH its FINS (Oct 20), FISH to FINS, par 5
- Stepword #17: Put CASH in the TILL (Oct 22), CASH to TILL, par 5
Every past ladder is listed on the Stepword ladders page. The rules, par and hints are in How to play Stepword. Other daily games are on the topics page.