How to get back into the inflatable after swimming

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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isn't this the same issue as being the first one to have to climb into a life raft - wearing a life jacket, and could be very bad conditions?

IIRC, you are totally reliant on the ability to put one foot in the little webbing steps and heave yourself over head first. I suppose the adrenalin of fear might help, but there again stress fatigue might make matters a lot worse.

Maybe a similar little ladder on the dinghy would provide good practice, in case the dreaded day every arrives.
 
Nick, yes it's the same issue but you cannot put a rigid ladder in your liferaft canister....many liferafts are, according to test reports, difficult to get into. Ours (Zodiac) has a little gate that opens almost at sea level so you can squiggle over (so they say).

What we need is a pneumatic ladder that can be pumped up to rigid when needed (wherever did I get that idea from? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).
 
Chris, do have a look at the US web site http://www.boatus.com/foundation/findings/findings44/page5.asp recommended by Adaero.

It has video coverage of tests conducted with a series of different ladders, straps, and steps - with inflatable and rigid tenders.

I contacted them regarding fixing details for the "swim stirrup" designs (I have a rigid, wooden floored tender) and received prompt and helpful advice.
 
Why don't you improve the hand grip inside the tender? Put a rope across from the otherside and you can pull yourself up ,,,,
 
We do that now; arrange one line with a loop for a foot and have another one to grab hold of but it is surprisingly difficult to get in. If you were very tired it would be difficult and certainly hard for weak swimmers.

A rigid ladder for the transom with a long reach so that it could go against the outboard would work, but it would be quite a long reach with mine, a 6hp 4 stroke, and many others have far bigger outboards.
 
How about a lilo,small surfboard, kiddies inflatable dingy etc, just to raise the body and maybe legs out of the water a bit.
In the case of the person falling overboard, a small polystyrene surfboard could be tied on and kept on its edge next to the float (inside) so it's easy to grab from the water, if they couldn't manage to get back into the inflatable it could at least help as a bouyancy aid. It might be worth someone in warmer climes giving it a go and giving some feedback.
 
Good idea. Maybe a flat fender? We can easily drill those flat fenders to take lines, oars, or whatever. Any ideas based on that idea?
 
I like the idea of the surfboard approach. The problem with any step approach for me is that I'm 6' 4" and my lenght of stride is such that the leverage needed to get me up is beyond what my arms will provide. Sliding onto a board might be the answer.....
 
Getting onto a surfboard takes a bit of practice and they are quite big. OK if you want to carry a surfboard anyway but not just for this purpose.
 
Sounds interesting though I don't suppose I'll find one around Almerimar.
 
It seems to me that a partially flooded rubber dinghy would be lower and more stable, therefore easier to climb into.

For those of you with watermakers ;-) why not put 50 galls of fresh water in before going swimming, then when you climb back in you have a nice sun-warmed fresh bath to climb into...

Always tried to persuade my exSWMBO that the rubber dinghy would serve well as a bath, but she was not impressed. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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