Swimming Ladder

[Adios]

For an inflatable boat. I bought one made from webbing but it's totally useless. Does anyone have one they are happy with without spending a small fortune?

Do you want to sell it?

I've been considering the options of this too. I can see that anything flexible the legs will swing under the boat but while it won't be as easy as walking up a ladder I wonder how useless the webbing ones are, did you give it quite a few goes or could it be easier with practice? They seem to be making it useful here:

With a good handhold on the boat pulling the body up and taking some of the weight on the legs maybe its better than nothing to the point of being enough for occasional and emergency use? This guy made his own with at least rigid steps which I imagine is a worthwhile upgrade over the fully webbing one and not much more to stow.

Anyone getting on OK with this type?

 

[davidpbo]

Its quite tight but I never thought of that. Dry run in the garden tomorrow.... in the snow

I would have thought that would be too much weight on the back of the boat unless there is someone sitting forward.

Ladder with hooks over the bow of the boat?

 

[MystyBlue2]

I made one from a length of rope and pvc pipe cut in half with holes drilled either side of each piece to make rungs. Hung a weight off the bottom rung to help it keep form and stop it floating.

There's loads of "How to" vids on youtube.

Make sure the pipe has a thick wall, This eliminates and Bending/Flexing/Snapping as weight is applied from boarding.

Cost less than a 10a and with it being rope, It stowes away so small and neatly, And is a fraction of the weight of a fixed stainless boarding ladder. And better still....No drilling holes in transom or big bulky ladders to get in the way

 

[Daydream believer]

My wife did our club rescue boat duty on one of the RIBS for 10 years. She always had one crew. Her method for getting a stricken dinghy crew aboard was to "bob" them, She would shove them under the water 3 times so they got into a "bobbing" motion. Then on the third bob she & the crew would hoist them aboard. I used to do windsurfing during those years & often needed rescuing. The club would think it funny to call her on the radio ,rather than any other boat, to come to my aid. You can bet that she would love to bob me if I let her. One day we were seen to be having a domestic, just in front of the club. Me in the water refusing to be "bobbed & her in the RIB trying to drown me whilst those on the shore looked on.

 

[Adios]

My wife did our club rescue boat duty on one of the RIBS for 10 years. She always had one crew. Her method for getting a stricken dinghy crew aboard was to "bob" them, She would shove them under the water 3 times so they got into a "bobbing" motion. Then on the third bob she & the crew would hoist them aboard. I used to do windsurfing during those years & often needed rescuing. The club would think it funny to call her on the radio ,rather than any other boat, to come to my aid. You can bet that she would love to bob me if I let her. One day we were seen to be having a domestic, just in front of the club. Me in the water refusing to be "bobbed & her in the RIB trying to drown me whilst those on the shore looked on.

She sounds like a latent swimming pool bully. "I just want to duck your head under the water a few times and then I'll rescue you"

 

[tico]

like this

 

[Dellquay13]

When I had a Dory, I could never get a ladder to work as the boat only had about 4” draft and all ladders swung around under the hull when loaded. The easiest way we found was to climb up the cavitation plate. I put a knotted rope from the front cleat to the outboard to help. We had Doelfins which made it a bit easier too.
The one time I took the plunge from my Shetland, I found the cavitation plate easier than the small hinged bathing ladder on the transom, as it sits deeper in the water.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I don't think there's an easy way of getting into an inflatable from the water - and certainly not an elegant way!

Ideally you need two burly Lifeboatmen to grab you under the armpits and whisk you over the sponson instaneously.
A rigid hooked ladder near the bow, so that a person's weight is counterbalanced by the outboard, would be my suggestion.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Ideally you need two burly Lifeboatmen to grab you under the armpits and whisk you over the sponson instaneously.
A rigid hooked ladder near the bow, so that a person's weight is counterbalanced by the outboard, would be my suggestion.

When I used to SCUBA dive from a RIB the duck and fin was the way we got back on board after removing our tank.

The boat skipper would help by grabbing the neck of the wet suit and pull at the same time.

 

[Dellquay13]

Ideally you need two burly Lifeboatmen to grab you under the armpits and whisk you over the sponson instaneously.
A rigid hooked ladder near the bow, so that a person's weight is counterbalanced by the outboard, would be my suggestion.

You would struggle with this, your weight would pivot the ladder underneath instead of it hanging vertically

 

[Adios]

You would struggle with this, your weight would pivot the ladder underneath instead of it hanging vertically

Anything that isn't rigid would be a struggle for that reason but I don't know if its so much of a struggle its not worth having or if its a bit of a help so useful to have with practice. Anyone tried it and got the hang of it other than Dan?

 

[MystyBlue2]

All i do is loop the ladder over the stern cleat and let it hang about 1-2ft below the draft of the boat at the rear quarter, The ladder stays surprisingly still and holds it's form with 1LB of weight hanging off the bottom rung, Which can be unclipped for storage by a stainless carabiner. The pvc pipe helps the rope keep shape and prevents it from folding in on its self.

On a RIB or SIB i suppose you could tie off to a grab handle or D ring on the inside of transom or where the tank straps to the deck?

I have 2 rungs on mine as bottom rung is about 2ft below the boat, 2nd rung is about inline with bottom (slightly lower to prevent and scratches to gelcoat) then once my foot is on the top rung i can grab the top of gunnel and pull myself into the boat.

It maybe worth making it on the boat if that makes sense, then your custom making it to the correct length for your gunnels and draft. Then you achieve the best size and fit for your particular needs. Also the heavier the lead on the bottom rung, The better it will keep form and prevent swinging by tide/Current.

This works really well, i will maybe record a vid next time I'm out and upload

 

[Dellquay13]

You would struggle with this, your weight would pivot the ladder underneath instead of it hanging vertically

I tried it on my dory, if the ladder isn’t screwed down it swings under the boat when you put your weight on it and the centre of gravity moves towards you. Most ladders work by having a boat to rest against low down, but not with really shallow draft boats.

 

[Adios]

I tried it on my dory, if the ladder isn’t screwed down it swings under the boat when you put your weight on it and the centre of gravity moves towards you. Most ladders work by having a boat to rest against low down, but not with really shallow draft boats.

if you were pulling yourself in with no ladder you'd have to grab something inboard on the dinghy to haul on. While doing that would it help having something to push your feet on? I imagine it could be made to swing outwards and you can use it to push up and back towards the boat as your body goes up. Just as an aid to doing it without a proper ladder. I'll tie some rope together and try it