Trouble getting back on-board after a swim

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PhillM

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My boat came with a 4 step rope ladder. I cleaned it up and re-roped it thinking it would be part of any MOB recovery or could be used for swimming. It doesn’t work!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Osborne bay with a few other boats, for a swim at slack tide. My 21 yr old daughter went for a swim but when we tried to get her back on board she couldn’t. She is a strong, fit lady but she really could not get on the ladder.

Eventually we managed to get her back but it was a real struggle. We then borrowed a metal boarding ladder from one of the other boats and we found that providing somebody on-board held it firmly, it was fairly easy to climb.

I’m interested in what others use to facilitate getting back on board?
 
I have a fold down ladder but have got up the bowsprit before. Rope ladders and alike can be very tricky mainly because they can fold under the boat as you try to get up.
 
The only way to climb a rope ladder is sideways on, one leg on one side the other round the back so the edge of the ladder passes between ones legs.
That precludes the use of one that is hard against a surface like the hull of a boat.
 
Ariam has a modern style swim platform stern with a fold-down stainless steel ladder - climbing back up that is trivial, like swimming pool steps. However, not much use for someone with a traditional hull like yours.

Kindred Spirit was shaped more like your boat, and she had a ladder which clipped onto the gunwale amidships:

IMG_2496_zps1fe4db7f.jpg


This was not quite as easy as Ariam's stern platform, but still very usable. I often used it after swimming. As you can see, I hung a manrope from the running backstay block which was helpful, though not essential.

Not surprised that a rope ladder was very difficult, and I certainly wouldn't rely on one for man overboard purposes.

Pete
 
As said, rope ladders are very tricky, especially against an overhung hard surface. Added to that, I suspect that yours is too short: if you can't get on the ladder in the water, then a hard job becomes near-impossible. A rigid one's the only answer. In the meantime, clambering into an inflatable and then onto the boat usually works (although some people find that tricky enough).
 
PhillM said:
My boat came with a 4 step rope ladder. I cleaned it up and re-roped it thinking it would be part of any MOB recovery or could be used for swimming. It doesn’t work!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Osborne bay with a few other boats, for a swim at slack tide. My 21 yr old daughter went for a swim but when we tried to get her back on board she couldn’t. She is a strong, fit lady but she really could not get on the ladder.

Eventually we managed to get her back but it was a real struggle. We then borrowed a metal boarding ladder from one of the other boats and we found that providing somebody on-board held it firmly, it was fairly easy to climb.

I’m interested in what others use to facilitate getting back on board?
Click to expand...



Fixed, folding, rigid boarding ladder that goes at least a couple of rungs deep is the answer.

After capsizing my dinghy recently and having great difficulty climbing back onboard I have fitted a boarding ladder with an additional rung added.

Yet to put it to the test but I realise with the the bottom rung hanging on a couple of bits of rope its not going to be ideal but hopefully will make the difference between possible and impossible


DSCF1051.jpg


DSCF1053.jpg
 
Fit 21 year old women find it much easier to get out onto a Vivavity 20...you just let me know where and when :D

I actually gave up on the idea of a ladder when I bought the dinghy, now I just pump that up and climb in there when swimming. In a MOB situation my boat would continue sailing on auto anyway so my chances of getting aboard would be slim but I think in that situation I would be sufficiently motivated to climb up the rudder :)
 
I've got a fold down ladder and only the bottom rung is in the water. The previous owner fitted another step, about 30" below the surface, on the (transom hung) rudder . It makes it very easy to get up onto the ladder. And, no, it doesn't seem to affect the rudder when underway but I'm sure it makes a small difference
 
PhillM said:
My boat came with a 4 step rope ladder. I cleaned it up and re-roped it thinking it would be part of any MOB recovery or could be used for swimming. It doesn’t work!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Osborne bay with a few other boats, for a swim at slack tide. My 21 yr old daughter went for a swim but when we tried to get her back on board she couldn’t. She is a strong, fit lady but she really could not get on the ladder.

Eventually we managed to get her back but it was a real struggle. We then borrowed a metal boarding ladder from one of the other boats and we found that providing somebody on-board held it firmly, it was fairly easy to climb.

I’m interested in what others use to facilitate getting back on board?
Click to expand...

Salutory lesson for MOB!
 
If intended for MOB and/or swimming make sure the ladder can be reached/lowered/unfolded from the water. In case nobody on board it's a killer not to be able to get the ladder down.

Eg.
Lm%2022%205.jpg
 
Our previous boat had a folding ladder that stopped about 3 in above the water when unfolded. Only once did I have to get back on from in the water after getting a rope off the prop - it was not easy and I would not like to have to do it in anything other than the calmest water!

On our latest boat I have added a ladder that extends 2 rungs below the surface and will add some 'clip on' extensions so we can get aboard when the boat is on the beach.

A couple of years ago I rescued a guy who had swam out to an anchored boat after a few pints on a sunny afternoon. The boat was a 17-18ft cruiser with low freeboard but after a 100m or so swim in the cold sea and few beers he was completely unable to get out. By the time I got to him (maybe 15mins) he was so tired that when he let go of the boat for me to pull him in he disappeared under the surface. I managed to grab him so no harm done but it definitely showed me that Scottish waters are to be treated seriously even in the height of summer and a means off getting out quickly in the event of someone going overboard is a basic but vital bit of safety kit.

PP
 
Have a look at these ladders, http://www.pontoonanddock.com/dinghy-ladders.html
They have various models for both inflatables and hard sided boats. When extended they lock rigid so they don't kick under the boat
I use one on my inflatable in the Med and it makes getting back on board a doddle, it wasn't cheap, but some of the family were having real problems getting back on board with the rope ladder and this was a perfect solution.
 
Ladder over the side, with additional wooden steps on rope that enable you to get the all important first foot in/on when actually fully immersed in the water to the neck..

I have a transom rudder and windvane with struts so the first foot is in the propellor aperture, the next is the top slope of the rudder then its a knee wedged ontop of a strut and argh 'Armstrong patent' hauley up to deck level..
 
Thanks all, I had not tried a swim before and would not have done so without being part of a group. I did have a plan b (rope from bow to stern for her to hang on) to while I deployed plan c (horsehoe bouy) to keep her aflot in the awater while I deployed plan d (blow up the dinghy) but as I said above it really made me think about MOB recovery.

In the end all was well and she got back on board, alboet with a few bruises from various attempts.

A hard ladder does seem the answer. I like the look of Pete's version on KS and I also like the mast steps on the rudder stock idea although not sure how practicle that is until I get back down to the boat. I also like the idea of a fixed ladder that can be uncliped from the water. So many choices ....

Thanks again all, lots of great feedback from the forum.
 
PhillM said:
A hard ladder does seem the answer. I like the look of Pete's version on KS and I also like the mast steps on the rudder stock idea although not sure how practicle that is until I get back down to the boat. I also like the idea of a fixed ladder that can be uncliped from the water. So many choices ....
Click to expand...

I don't know if mine is available off the shelf somewhere, or if it was a Crabbers special. There are two keyhole plates let into the teak gunwale, and matching fittings on the ladder which slot into them. I've never seen them anywhere else.

Although, come to think of it, I have seen some fittings designed to mount a wooden swimming / boarding ladder on the gunwale. Possibly from Classic Marine? This type of ladder would look good on your boat, though it's probably a bit bulkier to stow than a stainless one.

I reckon the rudder steps are more of an emergency exit, in case you fall in, whereas the ladder would be rigged if swimming, and perhaps for MOB as well if the rudder steps were too difficult.

A fixed ladder is only really feasible on a transom stern; can't remember what yours looks like. Kindred Spirit has a counter stern where it wouldn't really work, hence the midships ladder.

Pete
 
Agree the ladder needs to go at least 2ft below the water.
A knotted rope or some thing you can heave on with your arms makes a huge difference.
I normally launch the rubber dinghy though, for swimming or diving.
But not everyone can get themselves into a dinghy without capsizing it!
 
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