Bathing ladder - essential safety tool?

[mikejames]

I was once in Yarmouth Harbour when it was visited by a rally of smaller yachts from a sailing club. During the process somebody (the commodore as far as I can remember) got royally drunk and missed the gap between his boat and the next and began drowning. His boat had no ladder. He tried to climb back aboard, or rather feebly swim around unable to reach even to the gunwhale .
As he was surrounded by his mates on other boats, also equally drunk I decided to watch rather than assist. In the end the large gentleman was dragged into his boat by three people in a painful manner and dumped back down his companionway.



I would have pointed out my boarding ladder about five feet away from them but
a) I was enjoying the show
b) They seemed to be coping in that no further people fell in
c) he was recovered fairly quickly.
d) I was not 100% certain they would have appreciated the assistance as they were having such a heroic time.
e) I wouldnt have been able by myself to so effectively throw him back down his companionway.. ...


To the point: my ladder is held up only with weak plastic clips so it can be flipped down from the water. I initially tied it up with a rope, but now the rope only suffices to pull the ladder back up when on board and otherwise hangs loose.

I would rather have a ladder that is pitching up and down in the water, instead of only the sheer side of the boat. I dont think I could 100% expect there to be a 'competent' person around when I choose to fall in.
Without a ladder the best I can do is get a foot hooked round one stanchion and a hand round the next. No way up.
And that is on a GK24 which has a relatively low freeboard.

 

[paulwitney]

It is a must have!!! Mine folds down from the starboard side of the pushpit and is held in place by a loop of elastic strap. Is easily released from the water or if desperate the strap will break. The double fold of the ladder then drops below the water by one and a half rungs.... another important feature when you really need to get back on board!!!

 

[Drascomber]

Whatever you use - Test it.

In circumstances where there is a safe alternative way out of the water with help at hand, check that whatever system you are trusting your life to will actually work for your size and degree of agility. Even more vital if you sail with inexperienced crew or single handed.

When you need it is not the time to find that it has broken, siezed, can't be reached or whatever.

 

[Guest]

I fell in Bembridge harbour a few years ago and was able to immediately cling to the side of the boat. I worked my way round to the stern where I have a rudder that protrudes out from the vertical line of the boat .. and above two folding bronze steps going up the transom. There was absolutely no way I could get back on board ... I could not get any foot high enough to even step up from rudder blade. I was fast getting cold and lower body was becoming numb and literally useless. My arms were aching with the effort ..

It took 3 guys to lift me up onto the steps .. and they had to help me climb those to get back into cockpit.

To say the whole experience was sobering is an understatement. The first thing I did when got ashore after the trip - bought the longest solid folding ladder I could .. (Lazilas 5 rung alloy job) - able to be hooked on any where round the boat. It has a number of rungs below water - which is the important part .. the more rungs into the water the better ...
Forget the silly concertina jobs - I had one of those and was a waste of time SWMBO even getting it out ....

Yes my ladder is a pain to stow ... but I can get back on board with it - as long as I'm not too long in water ..

The best tool - is the inflatable dinghy .... even if only half inflated ... roll into that and then be helped up into boat.

IMHO the amount of so-called MOB rescue gear sold over the counter that is "cosmetic" is downright criminal ... once you have either been the victim or a helper in a real situation - you realise just how hard it is to get back on board ...

In my case - I really began I think I was a "goner" ...... it took about an hour once back in the cabin to start to feel anything like normal again ... (I had done full off-shore survival training in Plymouth Sound as a Cadet many years previous ... didn't really help !!)

 

[billdash]

As an often solo-sailor, in an area with cold water and strong currents, with my low-topsides and tender SeaWych on a swinging mooring and a hard dinghy, I rapidly decided that a) the most dangerous time was getting on/off the boat and b) if I couldn't get out of the water by myself and quickly, then I likely would drown regardless of life-jacket always worn.

So long sturdy stern ladder, permanently fitted, openable from water by line pulling it out of clip, and with a further step (ss steel tube on cord) deploying so I can get foot up despite heavy weather clothing/inflated lifejacket is essential for me.

 

[macd]

An observation on boarding by stern ladder on a moderately pitching boat: the instinctive reaction as it descends will be to let go of the ladder/transom and protect your head. This is a mistake. Keep hold of the boat and allow it to push you under. It'll bring you back up again in no time. The alternative is being brained by a very heavy blunt instrument.

 

[JohnGC]

I have a permanently mounted stern ladder, so that it can be deployed from the water I never tie it up . In its folded-up position it seems to be the perfect handhold when boarding from the tender. But anyone actually using the folded up ladder risks pitching back into the tender.

A solution to this would be a catch that holds the ladder firmly in place but could be released from the water by pulling a cord. Anyone know of such a catch?

I could achieve the same thing with a slip knot but that seems too easy to tangle or miss-tie.

 

[Zagato]

WOW that has to be a first pulling up a 5 year old thread!

As an often solo-sailor, in an area with cold water and strong currents, with my low-topsides and tender SeaWych on a swinging mooring and a hard dinghy, I rapidly decided that a) the most dangerous time was getting on/off the boat and b) if I couldn't get out of the water by myself and quickly, then I likely would drown regardless of life-jacket always worn.

So long sturdy stern ladder, permanently fitted, openable from water by line pulling it out of clip, and with a further step (ss steel tube on cord) deploying so I can get foot up despite heavy weather clothing/inflated lifejacket is essential for me.

 

[prv]

WOW that has to be a first pulling up a 5 year old thread!

Nope, people do it all the time, including older ones than that. Eight years is the oldest I've noticed

Pete

 

[actionoptics]

We extended our folding stern boarding ladder last year so that it is easier to get one foot on the bottom rung and we tie it up with a Highwayman's Hitch with the long release end dangling just above the water. The hitch stops the ladder rattling or falling down on its own and the long rope means a swimmer can be to one side and not get clobbered on the head when he pulls the release rope.

 

[VicS]

As an often solo-sailor, in an area with cold water and strong currents, with my low-topsides and tender SeaWych on a swinging mooring and a hard dinghy, I rapidly decided that a) the most dangerous time was getting on/off the boat and b) if I couldn't get out of the water by myself and quickly, then I likely would drown regardless of life-jacket always worn.

So long sturdy stern ladder, permanently fitted, openable from water by line pulling it out of clip, and with a further step (ss steel tube on cord) deploying so I can get foot up despite heavy weather clothing/inflated lifejacket is essential for me.

This is a very old thread which you have resurrected

However

With Seawych and small light dinghy I agree with you.

A couple or three years ago I capsized my dinghy while getting into it!

Fortunately it was fine warm day and i was wearing only light clothes so nothing bulky to become waterlogged. Nevertheles it was very very difficult to climb out again ... I only just managed to do so by using the dinghy painter to form a step to climb up from.

I have now fitted a stern boarding ladder and i have extended it with an extra step. Photos below. It has not yet been put to the test but I am hoping that it will also be useful as a swimming ladder

BUT a stern ladder is not so good for boarding such a small boat with rudder and outboard also on the transom

Therefore for boarding from the dinghy I have bought a fender step. Also see below

I hang it from the winch.... it makes a good fender but to use it I slip it inside the dinghy. It takes a little getting used to but it has ceratinly made climbing on and off a lot easier ... esp now I am not as agile as I was 40 years ago

I am also considering wearing a lifejacket, or at least a buoyancy aid, in the dinghy but a self inflating one would have made my self recovery above even more difficult.

 

[Rossynant]

Good idea to pull out such thread before the season.

Another thing - for those with transom hung rudder - no problem to incorporate steps into a rudder, this was quite common on old working boats. Also here on inland, for swimming. Enough to place some points to support a foot from about meter below water - as this gives possibility to reach a stern ladder or whatever is up there.
Not sure if this can be spotted on pic - Giles 'Wanderer' type has steps on rudder, just notches in blade on waterline and below. http://www.cheoyleeassociation.com/images/Wanderer/Five.jpg
This method is even better: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3223/2948726642_0b9924967c_z.jpg

I'm another to say scoop sterns are not so usefull if there is no deep and stiff ladder below. Generally with modern flat-bottomed boats problems stem from high freeboard coupled with nothing being there below water; even on midship there is no support under water to place feet against.

I have a stiff removable ladder at the moment, permanent on transom is planned.
Another thing to install - which I like personally - just a couple of rope loops amidship, forming kind of steps, tied between stanchion bases and loosely held to rail. Easy way to ensure some way up, or handhold, in case...

 

[raven]

Agree - an essential piece of safety kit.

A bathing ladder is one of the jobs I have earmarked for this Spring. I want a permanent one but have trouble with the "standard" ss types because my boat is not standard (steel hulled Robert Tucker designed with steep inward sloping stern)
I will be measuring up over the next couple of weeks and will be looking at having a folding ladder fabricated - I very much like the modification shown in VicS photo above.

 

[billdash]

A solution to this would be a catch that holds the ladder firmly in place but could be released from the water by pulling a cord. Anyone know of such a catch?

I could achieve the same thing with a slip knot but that seems too easy to tangle or miss-tie.

How about a snap shackle,

with a stout line dropping down to the water? You might be able get one big enough to have the eye slipped over a rung on the folding end (at the cost of drilling and replacing pop rivets), and the hook over a rung on the fixed part. That way you could make use the pull ring was always facing down. The split-ring need's to be strong and pin greased - I've read of yachties who used them as quick releases for safety harnesses found the ring pulled straight when under load, leaving the release pin in place. Some drowned.

A cheaper solution would be to have a securing part with vertical 'R' clips through a folding part rung and it to hold in place, freed by a downwards tug from cord. But I can see the clips being put in wrong way up/snagging on hands when board from a dinghy etc.

VicS Hi Vic - it was reading of your experience (and others) that led me to shamelessly copy your arrangement.

Rossynant Good idea to pull out such thread before the season. was in my mind... especially as about 98% of original responders seemed to think a ladder was essential...

 

[alahol2]

Shown before but worth repeating... This ladder extends well below the waterline and is regularly used to re-board after swimming. Can be extended easily from in the water. Mine's a bit scruffy because I got it second hand. Here's a new one...http://www.securefixdirect.com/4-step-fold-away-telescopic-boarding-ladder-stainless-steel-1353-p.asp

 

[Roberto]

I have a permanent bathing ladder on the transom, it has a piece of rope with a float and it is possible to deploy it from the water.
When we mount the wind steering gear, the permanent ladder has to be taken off, so I have made this from 25mm poliester webbing.

The length is designed to go 1.5m below the water, and it cannot interfere with either the propeller of the rudder

When coiled in its bag, it is hung from one side of the cockpit. The loop can be grabbed with a hand by someone in the water.

I used it once, I had to dive to clear the propeller from some fishing line, am very happy with it.

 

[Jamesuk]

Yes it is, It should be available immediately for deployment and not need a degree or training to operate ;-)

 

[Daydream believer]

Shown before but worth repeating... This ladder extends well below the waterline and is regularly used to re-board after swimming. Can be extended easily from in the water. Mine's a bit scruffy because I got it second hand. Here's a new one...http://www.securefixdirect.com/4-step-fold-away-telescopic-boarding-ladder-stainless-steel-1353-p.asp

Are you sure you can operate the hook from the water. It looks rather high

 

[Cardo]

Here's ours. It aint pretty, but it does the job. It is held up by one of those simple pull to undo knots (should learn the name), easily reached from the water.

 

[Zagato]

I have a detachable fold down one that attaches amidships, positioned by previous as it's the lowest part of the boat! It wouldn't be any good to have on whilst sailing but I can get up via the bobstay on mine if I fall in...