As I
travel by my self on many occasion and some distance from home where cell service or any activation short of the big red button on the radio or on the SPOT, my wife has concerns. To elevate some of her stress I verbally promised to ware one of the new inflatable vest, never use the toe rail space that serves as our side deck, to access the anchor or bow if alone. To make that promise good I created a folding ladder that will fit within the anchor locker in the bow. From that I can unfold and hook to the escape hatch which I fit through fine in full clothing.
I would like to add a second concern and how I addressed it. Falling over board and retrieving ones self. During the above discussion the question of "Okay you did good, now in addressing the anchor, you fall overboard. What preparations have you made for that big boy?" the wife asked.
I had installed one of those folding down three step swim ladders on the boarding step. Fine except during a boating trip I witnessed another boat where the adult male was swimming about and time to climb out he used his similar step. Wow, there was not a handy hand hold to grasp so that the struggle as he made like a seal or sea lion getting on the float or dock made me take a hint. I placed a shackle in the aluminum canopy of the aft cover and tied a knotted line that drops down to the water level.
Now a standard rule, when anchoring, the swim ladder is dropped and the line is released to hang ready.
Cheers,
Al-Marben Pocket CRUISER
Al - Sometimes our similarity in ideas of many sorts... moral, ethical, legal, governmental, fire arms, mechanical, boating and Rube-Goldberg-like inventive options astound me. See attached photos.
Whenever on boat for any reason I drop the thick, knotted, blue "pull-uself-up-da-ladder" line (which can also be used to firmly secure ladder in its up position - as in photos) and leave the 6' tall swim ladder either down (when anchored) or only attached in up position by a thin bungee cord that can be easily broken by pulling hard on ladder while in water. Blue line with loop in center, attached to side cleats, is used to hook on our 14'8" tow behind Crestline 50 hp runabout.
Hope these years old photos show ladder and pull-line/bungee cord clearly. I used two full sections of Tollycraft's original swim ladders to conjoin and fashion this. BTW - We swim a lot!!! Easily being able to get up onto swim step is a must.
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