Swim boarding

[WoodyP]

Our boarding ladder is similar but longer than the OP's picture so it does go under the water, however it doesn't go in deep enough, as you have to get your knees up to your chin and as we get older the push in the legs and the grip in the hands decreases. Also the round rungs are very uncomfortable with bare feet, so need to slats to widen them. I think a new ladder is called for if you want functionality. The one you have seems decorative, but not very.

 

[roaringgirl]

8 knots is very fast for a liferaft.

 

[doug748]

Here is a pic of our stern with the fold down ladder that doesn't reach the waterView attachment 133825

It looks like you could get the folding bit remade, maybe next winter, so that it does the job. I would not be happy moving it all downwards if it involved redundant holes in the boat, they soon start to look dodgy.
For swimming - if it reaches below the water you are normally ok;. The technique is to lift your knees into your chest whilst holding the ladder, locate the bottom step with both feet and then lever yourself up as you pull with both arms. Works ok as long as the swimmer is fit enough to get the knees into the chest.

Maybe as an experiment you could try a couple of heavy, sinking steps on rope, for this season. If you do, report back and let us know how useful it is. I have been thinking about it myself.

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[LadyInBed]

Pictures of your current ladder, up and down would be helpful

Forgot that you had posted pics ?
The telescopic ladder that I linked to in #13 would do the job well attached to the bottom of your ladder by P brackets around the bottom rung.

 

[ronsurf]

Can't you had a rope ladder extension to your existing ladder? It can be tied up when not in use, and used to get a foot on your existing bottom rung.

 

[Supertramp]

I note a curious lack of actual in-water MOB exercises. Yup, done a few, including hoisting a limp body. Without practice,theorizing means little. Do it.

The lack of practical methods for attaching lifting tackle is also concerning. First, it would help if the crew all wore harnesses or PFD/harness combos; then all you need to do is clip. Yes, there are conditions where entering the water is quite dangerous, but not always. I can remember two off-shore swims in moderate conditions (3- to 6-foot waves, 10-15 knots) just to clear lines from running gear. Not that big a deal, with a few common sense precautions. I guess few grew up surfing and playing in waves?

Fully agree with you.

You can read and train and establish some general common principles. But each boat is built and handles differently and each crew is different in size, strength and number. Avoiding problems is a better strategy than solving unforseen complications.

Interestingly when I learned to sail over many 1000s of miles around Scotland we never had anyone fall in (too cold to contemplate...) and no boarding ladder other than a rope emergency one. When playing in the water and swimming, the dinghy (Avon or rigid) was the route out. And we always towed due to lack of deck space (another story altogether as your dinghy overtakes at 10 knts).

I now have side gates and a stern boarding ladder (untied with a rope to pull it down from the water) and realise how useful they are and how they improve safety. Especially singlehanded. Rolling into a dinghy is easy at 15 but a lot harder past 60.

The answer is to take advantage of safety advances but read the situation, act and take precautions accordingly.