Are your topsides climbable?

Just thinking that any soft ladder will be a hell of a problem to get one's foot on under water. Apart from the ' swing under the hull effect'. It needs to be a robust item that can be easily found by feet and tough enough to take 21 st.! at a bad angle. Still.. If it works and survives the loads, even if bent, not too bad.
Bit like earthquake codes on construction. Doesn't matter if the building is scrap, as long as you walk out.
A
 
Elessar said:
ok so the thread has just made me worry more. It is just not possible to deploy my ladder from the water as the bit of deck above it has to be lifted and held whilst the ladder is hinged over.

I have seen on some bavarias a rope ladder that fits in a little tube that is mounted just above the water line for emergency use.

where can i buy one?
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Hmmm, that does pose somewhat of a problem! Mine was easy as my ladder simply hinges down & I fitted a quick release shackle arrangement with a release line. I also have one of those safety ladders shown by planteater, I fit it to the toerail when sailing.
 
Bower15 said:
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rhumbunctious, Do you not find that the rope ladder scoots under the hull as soon as you put any weight on it, which means you are doing an inverse climb with all the weight hanging off your arms? Hard enough when in swimming shorts but impossible when fully clothed, waterlogged, cold and tired.
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I've practiced climbing aboard with it, and yes, it's a chore and not fun, but where I have it located the hull is its most vertical, even "bulbous" and only the first step or two are a bit unstable. Yes, the rope ladder requires a certain amount more arm strength than the fixed ladder. If I can use the fixed ladder, I will, but the rope ladder is there as a backup, if that fixed ladder seems to be more a hazard than a help in tumultuous seas.

An emergency release line is a good idea, in fact i don't understand why anyone would not fit one of these but looking around i don't see many fitted.
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It's probably comes down to convenience. Swim ladders are usually used for "play" and a release that is suitable for emergency use from the water tends to take more effort to use in non-emergency situations.
 
planteater said:
I've opted for this, strapped to the top rung of the fixed ladder.

At 2.4m it provides a rope ladder underwater that lets you get onto the bottom rung of the transom ladder.

That's the theory anyway. I'll let you know how it works when the sea gets a bit warmer!

http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/liferaft-accessories/ocean-safety/kim-2-4m-webbing-ladder.bhtml
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I would urge anyone to have a practice with whatever system they have, ideally whilst fully booted and spurred and with lifejacket inflated. I think you will be surprised how difficult it is and how quickly you become tired! Make sure you have some one with you to assist if things get too difficult.
The first problem you will encounter is deploying the ladder, then finding it with your feet, Followed by the ladder, if not a fixed one, wanting to go in the opposite direction as soon as you puy your weight on it ie. under the hull whilst you are trying to get up it.
 
Well in the film as I re-call there were a few in the water. We done the same last season, for fun, and albeit our top side aren't as high as the ones in that "fantastic" film, but I managed to get my hands on the toe tail, then with me holding on, the next person used me as a climbing frame. Bob's ya uncle & fanny's....:)
 
DownWest said:
Just thinking that any soft ladder will be a hell of a problem to get one's foot on under water. Apart from the ' swing under the hull effect'. It needs to be a robust item that can be easily found by feet and tough enough to take 21 st.! at a bad angle. Still.. If it works and survives the loads, even if bent, not too bad.
Bit like earthquake codes on construction. Doesn't matter if the building is scrap, as long as you walk out.
A
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a soft ladder would be very difficult agreed.
but possible.
my boat is currently impossible to get aboard without the ladder, which i can't deploy from the water.
 
planteater said:
http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/liferaft-accessories/ocean-safety/kim-2-4m-webbing-ladder.bhtml
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Plastimo do one with solid plastic rungs which came out better in the YM tests because it was easier to find and use the rungs when in the water

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snooks said:
I think Plastimo do one with solid plastic rungs which came out better in the YM tests because it was easier to find and use the rungs when in the water
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Solid rungs would definitely be an improvement. Maybe somebody could combine the two - a folding safety ladder with solid steps that's over 2m in length to ensure a deep immersion.
 
Thanks gentlemen for a most enlightening discussion. I must confess that I had hitherto based my hopes of regaining the boat on that other great yachting documentary (I forget the title now) where Sigourney Weaver (I think) demonstrates scooping her man, one-armed, out of the water from the foredeck as the boat sails past him at what looks to be at least 6 knots.
I now realise that I have been totally unrealistic. I shall henceforth ship at least 2 Renee Zellwiger (as she stood in "Bridget Jones" ) - equivalents, perhaps 3 Denise Lewises for offshore work.
Going to need a bigger boat.
 
Mike2309 said:
I now realise that I have been totally unrealistic. I shall henceforth ship at least 2 Renee Zellwiger (as she stood in "Bridget Jones" ) - equivalents, perhaps 3 Denise Lewises for offshore work.
Going to need a bigger boat.
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You might be able to get by with one of these:

body-building-woman-792970.jpg
 
Yikes!

Little story from a drinks do yesterday evening.

Host's daughter was in US and decided to try and crew her way home. Advertised and got replies, chose one and had a couple of trips to check competance and non letchy. They set off and were several days out when she woke up and felt the motion was a bit odd. On deck she realised the skipper was MOB (night time and just the two of them). Figured out the recip course and sailed back. Around two hours later, she found him.. Got him back on board and treated him for hyperthermia. Nearly five hours in the water. He had gone forward to fix something and while switching harness points tripped over something and flipped over the rail. After he felt a bit better they decided to continue to UK. Host said the best bit is he is now my son in law. AND all our tethers have two clips apart from the harness one.
I forgot to ask him how she recovered him from the water
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I have a four rung telescopic ladder on the stern. When I am single handed I leave it hanging, with a Velcro strap holding the rungs together. I have tried it intentionally, swimming, and it works very well. Two rungs below the water when extended and I can get a foot on the lower rung quite well. Fully clothed it would be harder I'm sure. If I have a crew on board I flip it over to lie on the rear platform, which looks a bit neater. I have tried to devise several ways of deploying it from flat from the water, but it is easy to just leave it hanging. I also leave it hanging when she is on the mooring so that any unfortunate who falls in nearby (most likely me) will have at least one boat they can climb onto.
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Good info in this thread.

Has anyone tried to get out of the water onto a sugar scoop stern with a swim platform just above water level? If there was a strong handle on the platform to grab hold of? Would it be possible do you think or would you still need a ladder?

My boat (in the garden still being built) has a sugar scoop stern and I have wondered about this.
 
Didi said:
Good info in this thread.

Has anyone tried to get out of the water onto a sugar scoop stern with a swim platform just above water level? If there was a strong handle on the platform to grab hold of? Would it be possible do you think or would you still need a ladder?

My boat (in the garden still being built) has a sugar scoop stern and I have wondered about this.
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In calm conditions, in swimming trunks, yes. Impressively, the 5 year old made it unasissted, too. That particular boat had a moulded in outboard bracket to hold on to.

One of these (minus outboard):
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Yes sighmoon - my setup exactly sans outboard.

You say in calm condiions - so in anything of a sea state the stern would be up and down too much - high risk of it landing on top of you?
 
Didi said:
Has anyone tried to get out of the water onto a sugar scoop stern with a swim platform just above water level? If there was a strong handle on the platform to grab hold of? Would it be possible do you think or would you still need a ladder?

My boat (in the garden still being built) has a sugar scoop stern and I have wondered about this.
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I would say it would be nigh-on impossible in anything other than ideal conditions.

We have a 'L' shaped ladder that flips up into the (minimal) sugar scoop when not in use. There's a short trailing rope that can be used to pull it down from the water.



It's probably the bare minimum length that you could get away with (it helps to have the step on the transom to use as a hand-hold). Another rung would be better.

Andy
 
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