Making it easier to get kids on and off the boat

Laurin

Laurin

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Now we are approaching the start of the season i'm remembering how much of a pain it was that I can't get kids on and off the boat without Patrick's help. High topsides plus shortarse me means I can't lift them over the guardrail. We put netting round the boat which I am pleased with but this prevents sliding a child through it to get them on. Thought about trying to get a gate made but would really need an extra stanchion and we can't figure out how to get access from the inside. We have moulded toerail round the edge of the boat but no access to underneath it that we can figure out. Thought about just having a section of the guardrail that we can unclip, might be ok but this leaves a large area where they could potentially fall off before I get up and clip it back in place - might be the best solution though.

On top of all this Mum has now retired and it would be good to make getting on and off easier for her as this would mean more potential for her babysitting while we are at the boat so we can do more maintenance.

Stern is vertical with a ladder, could be a possibility but I'm not good at reversing:D Also not sure how this would help with the kids. AJ (3) could possibly climb the ladder but getting over the pushpit would be tricky for him with netting in place. Not sure how possible ladder would be with Esmé (1). Maybe would work with her in a baby carrier.

Anybody got any other ideas?
 
Are you talking about getting aboard from a pontoon or a dinghy?
In my experience, by the time you've sorted out a safe method for kids, they have found their own method, you then have to think of a way of STOPPING them getting on & off.
Could you use a pelican quick release clip at the pushpit end?
There is a thread running on Scuttlebutt about kids swinging from halyards, that might work for Mum:D
 
Last edited:
DanTribe said:
Are you talking about getting aboard from a pontoon or a dinghy?
In my experience, by the time you've sorted out a safe method for kids, they have found their on method, you then have to think of a way of STOPPING them getting on & off.
Could you use a pelican quick release clip at the pushpit end?
There is a thread running on Scuttlebutt about kids swinging from halyards, that might work for Mum:D
Click to expand...

In Burnham Yacht Harbour for the next few years until boat usage changes somewhat. At the moment probably 60/40 Caravan/Boat so being alongside makes sense. Once youngest is a little more independent and we aren't so reliant on crew then we'll be sailing more, alongside less and the cost save associated with a mooring would make more sense.

Pelican clip at pushpit end could make sense if I backed in, otherwise we overhang then end of the finger.
 
PaulGooch said:
If you're on a mooring, why not have some steps on the pontoon ?

Would one of those fender steps help ?

I'd be mooring stern too. If you were stern too, would a pasarelle/gang plank help ?

Anything here give an idea that might work for you :

http://www.boardingramp.com/doc/photos
Click to expand...

I'm thinking steps on the pontoon, or at least a box might be the way forward. We have a fenderstep - Mum doesn't like it but managed last year, however her grip is really weak at the moment so she's a bit nervous.

Might be making a box to stand on for helming anyway, perhaps it could be multi purpose.
 
Photo and vid

Good point..... here's a picture (not ours, it's missing a boom on the mizzen mast and we don't have a gate in the Pushpit, also have ladder stbd side, anchor roller port side.

6830120642_567fb04010.jpg


This youtube clip IS our boat a couple of years before we bought her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WltSudKEMIU
 
Also need to figure into the equation is time required to make any mods. (Finding it really hard to balance boat jobs with looking after kids).
 
Rather than just thinking kids, i'd think long term convenience for all.

You could make a gate at the stern, clipped in section of cable at the top and a hinged section of tube below. On the outer face of the transom, have a ladder made and fitted that could hinge down for a boarding ladder or reach the pontoon as a gang plank. This would also make getting on and off from a tender easier. You'll have to learn to drive backwards though :D

You could fit brackets each side and have a clip on boarding ladder/gang plank that you could use either side, which saves mooring stern too. But, that means you ideally need to have some clip in section of guardrail and as you say, that does look like you really need to add a stanchion.
 
I've had pelican hooks put on the middle section of the guardwires. The bit where the dodgers are is fixed with a D-ring fitting through the stanchion and the pelican hooks clip on to that. So you can drop the wires but still have the safe bit behind the dodgers. That and a folding step (eazystep £4 on ebay) make boarding and loading heavy stufff much easier.
 
We managed with our 3 without any special arrangements , from birth to about a yr they were in a car seat with a handle and this was in a dinghy as we were on a swinging mooring , wifey would be first out the dinghy and I would just pass said seat up to her , later when toddlers it was life jackets when in dinghy and told to sit down or else , marina's were not a issue , just picked up and plonked on deck , I could row on my own by the time I was 5 so maybe I don't have the same wrap em up in cotton wool approach to this .

For what it's worth we had more accidents and trips/slip/falls when using a touring caravan for a few yrs than ever happend on a boat .

Wait till they're coming back from the pub Pissed up and negotiating a finger pontoon that will be fun ......
 
nigelm said:
We managed with our 3 without any special arrangements , from birth to about a yr they were in a car seat with a handle and this was in a dinghy as we were on a swinging mooring , wifey would be first out the dinghy and I would just pass said seat up to her , later when toddlers it was life jackets when in dinghy and told to sit down or else , marina's were not a issue , just picked up and plonked on deck , I could row on my own by the time I was 5 so maybe I don't have the same wrap em up in cotton wool approach to this .

For what it's worth we had more accidents and trips/slip/falls when using a touring caravan for a few yrs than ever happend on a boat .

Wait till they're coming back from the pub Pissed up and negotiating a finger pontoon that will be fun ......
Click to expand...

Nigel - you are not paying attention! - Karen wants ideas on how do it when she's on her own! It's easy peasy when there are two of you :P
 
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