best place to board a boat from tender?

[vyv_cox]

We board at the stern in light conditions but somewhere alongside in more chop. When younger we could easily climb over the toerail into the cockpit but reduced flexibility now requires a step half way up the topsides. We tried a ladder like VicS shows but we found it very heavy and somewhat too flexible, so we sold it again.

We saw this idea in New Zealand and adopted it. It has the advantage of using the same equipment for two jobs, saving a little on stowage. The two boards are also used to prevent slings from bearing on our wooden toe rails.

Another advantage of having the dinghy alongside instead of astern is that the outboard is far easier to lower into it there. Ever since we began cruising we have used the same method - genoa sheet tied to the handle, lower it over the side into the dinghy, climb down and mount it on the transom, untie genoa sheet. Recovering it is the reverse.

 

[RupertW]

I think it depends on the boat. On a 24 footer with transom rudder it's awkward boarding from the stern so alongside makes more sense.

But so much easier again in a boat with a sugar scoop. As long as its wide enough to tie the dinghy bow and stern across it, then by far the safest and best approach even in strong tide for or aft, or in a swell, at least if you have a rib or inflatable. That's been my approach even in some fairly rough open sea anchorages and it has still been the right way to go.

8 years pile moorings, AWB, sugar scoop, heavily loaded inflate dink, go across the sugar scoop, one bow line on, one stern line on, pwllheli harbour, piles, fast current at the start and finish of the tide.
I wouldnt even contemplate boarding amidships, sugar scoop every time.
Stu
PS no polyprop on my boat either!

 

[John the kiwi]

View attachment 29830
26 ft trailer yacht. Self draining cockpit. transom hung rudder. Hard Dinghy. Transom gate.
Dinghy has bow and stern painters. Pull and cleat stern painter and bow painter so dinghy is hard in sideways to transom and board through gate.
Good dinghy fenders so no stress.
Good luck

 

[VicS]

If you leave that poly-prop' line out in the sun for a while, can I watch you using that boarding fender ladder please?

Only a bit of PP that was to hand to try the idea out before investing in something more suitable. In reality never never out in the sun (sun ... in the UK ??)
so would probably outlast me anyway

I wouldnt even contemplate boarding amidships, sugar scoop every time.
Stu
PS no polyprop on my boat either!

A very large %age of boats do not have sugar scoops!

How do you suggest fitting a sugar scoop to a small boat with a transom hung rugger and an outboard on the back anyway?


Should always have along lenth of PP rope on board as a flaoting rope for MOB or even as swimming safety line

 

[fireball]

But not in a strong estuary tide

The strength of the current doesn't make a huge difference* - it's wave action that matters the most.

Like BH we always board from the stern - we couldn't easily board from midships - it's just too high. Only once have I had to change our plans on mooring the tender across the stern - and that's when it was a F8 straight down the channel which created a significant chop. Then we nosed the dinghy up to the transom and boarded that way. I can board from the bow (usually when leaving the tender on the mooring) but I do need a step and even then it's quite a reach - I'd not be able to do that with an inflatable.

The method for securing the tender is to thread the painter, motor the stern around and attach that ... then tie off the painter and sternline - at that point we're secure and can start disembarkation.
I'm (usually) the last one out as I'll act as ballast and crane. The sugarscoop is only slightly higher than the side of the tender and that makes it easier for the less agile crew to get on and off. If we had to board by the shrouds then they would not be able to get on at all.

*our tender has a relatively flat bottom and sat behind the boat the current doesn't have a huge affect on it.

 

[sailorman]

The strength of the current doesn't make a huge difference* - it's wave action that matters the most.

Like BH we always board from the stern - we couldn't easily board from midships - it's just too high. Only once have I had to change our plans on mooring the tender across the stern - and that's when it was a F8 straight down the channel which created a significant chop. Then we nosed the dinghy up to the transom and boarded that way. I can board from the bow (usually when leaving the tender on the mooring) but I do need a step and even then it's quite a reach - I'd not be able to do that with an inflatable.

The method for securing the tender is to thread the painter, motor the stern around and attach that ... then tie off the painter and sternline - at that point we're secure and can start disembarkation.
I'm (usually) the last one out as I'll act as ballast and crane. The sugarscoop is only slightly higher than the side of the tender and that makes it easier for the less agile crew to get on and off. If we had to board by the shrouds then they would not be able to get on at all.

*our tender has a relatively flat bottom and sat behind the boat the current doesn't have a huge affect on it.

Try The River Deben, slightly more tide than Chi Hbr

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The answer is surely going to depend heavily on the boat being boarded. The mid-ships freeboard of my Moody 31 is far too great for boarding from a dinghy. It is quite a step up from a low pontoon - so much so that we carry a little folding step, just in case! Even with a ladder (and I have a fender ladder) it would be difficult and/or dangerous to try and climb up from a dinghy.

However, we have a shallow sugar-scoop - less than a foot wide, but perfect for stepping onto. Normally we go sideways on to it; in difficult conditions bow on (or stern on, if we want to avoid someone clambering over the person rowing) and just step out.

This is what works on my boat - but it might be totally inappropriate on another boat. On my dad's boats, no sugar scoop (I don't think they'd been invented!) and a relatively low freeboard, so we boarded from the side all the time. The stern on that boat was quite high, with a transom mounted rudder, and no ladder; you COULD board from the stern, but it was tricky!

 

[fireball]

Try The River Deben, slightly more tide than Chi Hbr

As I said - strength of current doesn't make a huge difference ...

If it was a really strong current that affected the tender then I'd consider a change of tender to one that allows easy disembarkation over the bow.

Really - you cannot get up the side of our boat without a fair bit of effort ... other boats are different I know - the first boat we had you could step across onto the side, but had to be careful because the boat would tip towards you ...


There isn't one correct answer - just a load of compromises - the trick is finding one that works best for your scenario.

 

[Burnham Bob]

As we don't have a transom hung rudder, we have a boarding ladder at the stern. Belt and braces, dinghy is secured fore and aft to the cleats on the boat and I have a third line run under the grp dinghy seat which I lead up to the lowest bar on the pushpit so the dinghy doesn't roll when you get back in it and put your weight in.

Used to board from the side but it was a long way up!

 

[PetiteFleur]

I will take the contrary position!
I always board the dingy (both hard dingy and inflatable) from the transom boarding ladder (straight stern, ladder reaches well below water level.) Usually the dingy just trails behind, but sometimes I tie it alongside just overlapping the stern, particularly when loading things into or out of it.

The thought of boarding amidships from a small dingy, especially an inflatable, horrifies me . (Completely different matter of course with a larger work-boat, ferry, etc). I doubt if I could even manage it without some sort of ladder. (Sadler 29).

I also always board across the stern with a fixed ladder on the transom - much easier than trying to pull oneself over the side, even near the shrounds.

 

[Giblets]

A most interesting and informative thread this as I am shortly to take up a swinging mooring and have been pondering exactly this problem. My little Leisure 17 is, errm, a little "tippy" to say the least and I fancy that heaving myself on board by the shrouds could end in an unwanted dunking.

 

[fireball]

From the back qtr straight into the cockpit may be your best bet ... that's what we had to do with a MW Rowan 22 ...

 

[VicS]

A most interesting and informative thread this as I am shortly to take up a swinging mooring and have been pondering exactly this problem. My little Leisure 17 is, errm, a little "tippy" to say the least and I fancy that heaving myself on board by the shrouds could end in an unwanted dunking.

You will be OK boarding over the stern if you dont leave the outboard on its bracket. If the outboard is on there you could have problems. I have, in fact, fitted a stern boarding ladder but the outboard effectively stops me from using it to board from the dinghy. It's there in case I fall overboard or capsize the dinghy again!

 

[Lakesailor]

A most interesting and informative thread this as I am shortly to take up a swinging mooring and have been pondering exactly this problem. My little Leisure 17 is, errm, a little "tippy" to say the least and I fancy that heaving myself on board by the shrouds could end in an unwanted dunking.

I posted earlier about this problem. You will find that in any sort of chop the outboard will hack viciously at your dinghy. In calmer conditions the dinghy will be mysteriously attracted to the outboard leg.

I find it hard to believe that any normal-sized person could knock down a Leisure 17 merely by hauling up on the shrouds. I've had a few small yachts and they really are very stable.

 

[Giblets]

I did say "I fancy that heaving myself on board by the shrouds could end in an unwanted dunking." I have to admit to not having tried to board from a dinghy yet so may well revise my concerns once I have actually done it! I am looking to get something like a BIC 245 as a tender which I believe are quite stable beasts so may well find that my initial fears on boarding at the shrouds are unfounded (I hope!).

 

[Debenair]

As a Deben sailor I am heartily with Sailorman on this one.
My last three boats have been a Sunshine 38, Parker 275 and SO36i. The Jeanneaus have sugarscoops, and the Parker had a transom rudder with ladder on the starboard side of the transom.

I tried boarding from across the transom on all 3, both from my rigid tender and my inflatable. Not a happy result.

The freeboard on the SO36i is considerable,indeed impossible even for someone with relatively long legs, but esasily overcome by the use of a "Fenderstep", which can double up as a stern fender for the boat when moored stern to in marinas.
Frankly the across the stern method scares me s...less, which is why in my 55 years of sailing I, and those who introduced me to the water, have always used the alongside method.

You know it makes sense....!

 

[fireball]

I find it hard to believe that any normal-sized person could knock down a Leisure 17 merely by hauling up on the shrouds. I've had a few small yachts and they really are very stable.

It's not Knock down thats the problem - just grabbing hold of the shrouds and stepping on the side can tip the boat towards you - then you're left hanging on the shroud whilst trying to get over the guardrail... that's fine if you're fairly agile and have strength in your upper body - but no good if you don't ... hence the boarding from somewhere you can step straight in ..

 

[fireball]

I tried boarding from across the transom on all 3, both from my rigid tender and my inflatable. Not a happy result.

The freeboard on the SO36i is considerable,indeed impossible even for someone with relatively long legs, but esasily overcome by the use of a "Fenderstep", which can double up as a stern fender for the boat when moored stern to in marinas.
Frankly the across the stern method scares me s...less, which is why in my 55 years of sailing I, and those who introduced me to the water, have always used the alongside method.

You know it makes sense....!

Just because you couldn't do it with your vessels in your location doesn't mean nobody else should!

I would not get some of my crew onboard with a fender step - it's transom boarding or they don't get on.

 

[alahol2]

I will take the contrary position!
I always board the dingy (both hard dingy and inflatable) from the transom boarding ladder (straight stern, ladder reaches well below water level.) Usually the dingy just trails behind, but sometimes I tie it alongside just overlapping the stern, particularly when loading things into or out of it.

I'm with Vic on this one (up till now). Pre-sugarscoop, transom hung rudder, highish topsides amidships. We clip the dinghy painter onto the shrouds which allows the stern of the dinghy to just overlap the yacht transom. It is then just a sideways step from the dinghy onto the stern ladder whilst holding the pushpit, up and over. This year the wife is due hip replacement which may mean having to modify the method, maybe at the shrouds with a substantial ladder which will probably have to stay attached whilst the boat is on the mooring. Possibly even a gate but we'll have to wait and see. (Stag 28).

 

[Giblets]

It's not Knock down thats the problem - just grabbing hold of the shrouds and stepping on the side can tip the boat towards you - then you're left hanging on the shroud whilst trying to get over the guardrail... that's fine if you're fairly agile and have strength in your upper body - but no good if you don't ... hence the boarding from somewhere you can step straight in ..

At least my little boat does not have guard rails.