will a rope ladder help SWMBO get back on board after swimming?

Burnham Bob

Burnham Bob

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We have an opening gate at the stern with a fold down boarding ladder for getting on and off the dinghy. When SWMBO wants to go swimming getting in a doddle but getting out there is the problem that the first step is too high up. I'm tempted to buy a rope ladder and add it to the bottom rung of the boarding ladder temporarily when she goes swimming. But will the rope ladder swing under the boat when she puts weight on it or will she just need to acquire the knack of keeping her body upright with her arms on the rigid boarding ladder and making sure she presses down vertically to climb the ladder?

Other suggestions welcome.
 
Burnham Bob said:
But will the rope ladder swing under the boat when she puts weight on it or will she just need to acquire the knack of keeping her body upright with her arms on the rigid boarding ladder and making sure she presses down vertically to climb the ladder?
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It will and she will and it's not easy. Try a loop of rope to start with. The only real solution is a ladder extension, folding or telescopic.
 
With such women (my wife is one of them) the only solution seems to be a rigid ladder with at least two rungs fully immersed, i.e. with the third one awash.
 
True rope ladders are horrible - do you mean wooden rungs suspended from rope? That might work but you'll probably want something to make it sink. The other issue is partly how people climb them - there's a tendency to lean back which makes the rungs scoot even further out in front of you and under the boat so that you find yourself climbing up an overhang. If you can manage to keep your (or her) body pulled in close to the ladder and resist the tendency of the feet to go forwards it's a bit easier but I've always struggled with them, even when I was young and lithe(r). I guess the only way you'll know is if she tries it really.
 
Rope ladders, or rope loops, are better than nothing and may well be enough for a fit person in decent conditions.

For real emergencies, nothing beats a long deeply immersed ladder, even a single pole with a rung each side type; I'm going to fit one or the other this winter, have had one warning and really must heed it.

On my boat's short but relatively wide transom that will mean either a double hinged traditional job or some sort of single pole from the pushpit - in the case of the latter I don't see why it shouldn't swivel / hinge up in the air when not in use, people have so much gubbins on the back end these days I could just say it's a MOB - band antenna !
 
I use the tender to get out of the water, there is a knack to it and it's probably not elegant, but I can manage it in a diving drysuit....
When it comes to swimming ladders on the transom, yes they ideally need to go deep.
If any rope bit is at 90 degrees to the rigid bit , so you climb with the rungs of the rope ladder pointing away from you, it's much, much easier.
I was taught that potholing as a kid.
Proper ladders for divers go 5 feet below the surface.
 
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