getting into a dinghy safely for the bus pass generation

[Burnham Bob]

I got this tip of a forum posting a couple of years ago, but having seen a couple who like me have their bus passes having difficulty getting into their dinghy, its worth repeating.

Use the painter for getting the dinghy in but then release it having looped a line under the seat. Secure that to a cleat quite tightly so the dinghy is sideways on and it can't rock or move downwards when you step in.

I have a boarding ladder at the stern of the boat so on arrival repeat the process with the 'under the seat line' tight onto a ladder rung.

I find even with the bow painter and a stern line on the dinghy, it still rocks when i step in. The line under the seat makes things much more secure and feels much better.

Apologies if you already know this, but I didn't and the couple I saw getting into their dinghy obviously didn't.

 

[Poignard]

Seems a good idea, provided the seat is very strongly attached to the dinghy so that it can withstand the upward pull when someone gets in (I'm thinking of inflatable dinghies here).

 

[ffiill]

I board using a fender step along side where the bulwark drain exits and side safety rail lifts up.
Attach bow warp then run it behind the safety rail vertical posts and down to the paddle loop/lifting strap at rear of dingy.
Totally stable and secure but then again so is my dingy when out in the water- and I have a bus pass!

 

[ghostlymoron]

Don't forget to always step into the middle of the dinghy.

 

[VicS]

A stable dinghy is the first requirement.

I was given this one. Old and just about on its last legs but it transformed the procedure.

Similar to a BIC Sportyak 245 http://www.bicsportboats.com/products/sportyak-245,3,69.html

I found one of these very helpful too

With an outboard on its bracket and a rail to climb over using the stern ladder is not practical

Pretty though it is my little plyboard dinghy is no longer stable enough for me ( dumped me in the drink a couple of years ago)

 

[awol]

Yesterday, two couples, all with bus passes, in and out of a rubber dinghy to yacht, pontoon and stone jetty, no problems - and certainly no ropes under thwarts.

 

[rivonia]

Practice makes perfect

 

[Burnham Bob]

actually i find my rubber dinghy easy as opposed to the rigid dinghy. the rigid dinghy rocks and pivots - hence the line under the seat. the inflatable of course has all the buoyancy in the tubes so you can't push the edges under water and the floor is flat. you can actually stand on the tube which will still stay floating. the rigid dinghy was the one that tips and rocks