MOB safety ladders

[single]

After reading about a guy who drowned when he couldn't get back on-board, i have thought about buying a safety ladder. I'm looking at the pull down type in a pouch on the transom. Has anyone got any advice? My transom towrail is 1m vertical above the waterline. I have looked at the Ocean Safety 2.4m webbing type and also the rigid step types.

 

[hartcjhart]

from my experience of water skiing go for a 'rigid' ladder that hinges against the transom,trying to get a foot into a web/rope ladder while bobbing up and down is a nightmare

 

[davidpbo]

It has been a concern of mine since a previous owner of my boat removed the lower section of a boarding ladder to fit a boarding platform. After 13yrs (Not as much of a concern as it should have been) I am in the final stages of fitting a "Cassette Boarding Ladder" under the platform. It it is a rigid ladder when extended and gives me 1 step at water level and 3 underneath and is easily deployable from the water, but not so easily re-stowable from the boat, a lanyard of some sort short sort that.

I ruled out flexible ladders because my boat has little hull under the water and my legs slide under too easily. I didn't realise how much much you rely on the wall of a swimming pool when putting arms over the edge and pushing/pulling up. I can't do that now anyway. I did consider blocks either side of the transom hung rudder but thought that would cause more drag and turbulence, not a major consideration on my boat but nonetheless I thought the under platform ladder a better solution, the wood to be replaced is soft wood and one slat has rotted. The slats rest on the top of the tubular ssteel frame,one side of the ladder case sandwiches the frame underneath, a block of wood on the outer edge of the platform engages with the frame underneath on the outer side so the platform should not tip when to ladder is used.

Stowed:

Deployed:

It replaces this platform.

 

[Salty John]

Yes, rigid ladder which places the lowest rung low enough for a small, weakened person to reach easily.
A flexible ladder has the nasty habit of swinging away under the curve of the hull making it almost impossible to climb unless you're an athlete or acrobat.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Yes, rigid ladder which places the lowest rung low enough for a small, weakened person to reach easily.
A flexible ladder has the nasty habit of swinging away under the curve of the hull making it almost impossible to climb unless you're an athlete or acrobat.

Sound comment, but I have one and used it last week (for the first time since fitting it in 2010) when I dived to check possible keel damage.
I was relieved to find that it deployed easily and well with the lowest rigid foot-bar well below the water level and I could easily climb up. OK, it did swing under the hull a little and I wasn't exhausted from minutes/hours in the water or even injured.
But if nothing else it brings great peace of mind. And I wouldn't like to see a rigid ladder permanently fixed to the boat.

Most of my sailing is S/H, so for real peace of mind I should also always deploy a long, floating warp with big knots in every half metre. Obviously not a practical idea if not away from moorings, buoys and other obstructions.

 

[hartcjhart]

It has been a concern of mine since a previous owner of my boat removed the lower section of a boarding ladder to fit a boarding platform. After 13yrs (Not as much of a concern as it should have been) I am in the final stages of fitting a "Cassette Boarding Ladder" under the platform. It it is a rigid ladder when extended and gives me 1 step at water level and 3 underneath and is easily deployable from the water, but not so easily re-stowable from the boat, a lanyard of some sort short sort that. I will post a picture if I remember.

we attatched a 'bungy' strap to the ladder so that when not in use it was just above water level,but easily pulled down for use

 

[Stemar]

I pet hate of mine is folding ladders tied up in such a way that you wouldn't be able to release them from in the water.

I found out why it's a bad idea after a Tom & Jerry moment between the tender and the boat a few years ago. I needed a knife to get the ladder down and I had one, but it was in my trousers pocket and I had my oilies on. Fortunately, it was in September and I had crew, so it's something to laugh about in the pub, but it could have been very nasty if single handed in March.

 

[Georgio]

For a few years I have a Plastimo "rescue" ladder in a yellow pouch, it has plastic rungs but is made of webbing. Having used it after a swim I'm pretty happy with it. I have low freeboard but I'm still pleased I bought the longer version as getting your leg into the first rung when swimming would be difficult with the short version.
The handle that releases the ladder is short so I added has a short piece of line with a stainless nut at the end for weight, the nut then dangles over the stern making it easy to deploy from the water without stretching.

Whatever you decide, once fitted make sure you try it out keeping in mind that when you really want to use in an emergency the person overboard may be cold with numb fingers and fully clothed.

 

[colind3782]

I have the standard type of boarding ladder on the transom, hinged to the bathing platform. To make it deployable from the water I have secured in the "up" position by a snap shackle to the pushpit. The other end of the release lanyard for the snap shackle is tied to the bottom of the ladder near the hinge and easily accessible from the water.

 

[Roberto]

I made this webbing ladder, I keep it attached to the side of the cockpit, it is long enough to go well underwater, but not enough to touch the propeller.
I do have a permanent rigid ladder in the middle of the transom but when the windvane is fitted the ladder has to be taken away, so here comes the webbing one.
I have used it a couple of times and found it satisfactory.

When packed, it becomes like this, the loop can be grabbed by someone in the water. The three shackles have since been replaced by dyneema shackles, much better for the aluminium toerail.

 

[davidpbo]

Yes, rigid ladder which places the lowest rung low enough for a small, weakened person to reach easily.
A flexible ladder has the nasty habit of swinging away under the curve of the hull making it almost impossible to climb unless you're an athlete or acrobat.

I thing the need for getting the rung lower is greater with larger people.

They are by and large:
A) Less easy to hoik out the water.
B) Distance between chest and feet greater, therefore more bending required to get foot on ladder.

 

[bikedaft]

i have one of those step fenders with 4 steps. lives near stbd shrouds tied on with a bow so you can untie it from the water

relatively easy to get out of the water with it, and an extra fender...

 

[DownWest]

Think it was in Water Craft that they tested a simple fold up hook step on a Cornish Shrimper. Fully clothed guy in drysuit hauled himself up after pulling it down. Simple, but provided the underwater step that one really needs.

 

[Daydream believer]

A friend of mine bought a Plastimo ladder but never tried it until a chap fell in the water in the marina
He aided the bloke to his boat & released the ladder
To his surprise the rungs all floated & the chap could not use it
He was a fairly big bloke & got cold & tired very quickly -it was only the appearance of a couple of fit people arriving that they managed to get him out of the water on to the pontoon
Moral is -- try the system before you need it