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A cautionary tale, overboard and boarding ladder.
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thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 11:24 pm    Post subject: A cautionary tale, overboard and boarding ladder. Reply with quote

Just today, Lew on Cat Claw, was asking about a swim ladder. It was 10:30 PM, and a storm was brewing, so I wanted to double up on the dock lines. We are on the Tennessee River in a Marina, having launched at about 2 PM today.

I went along the dock, because it was "safer" than going along the side decks. I had the shade and rain cover over the air conditioner over the foredeck. As often these accidents happen fast, and we don't know exactly the mechanism. As I stepped on the boat, to put a bow line on, I slipped, and probably hit my left leg as I slipped off the boat, and between the boat and dock. Marie had gone to bed. I yelled out for "help". She could not get me out of the water onto the dock--about 2 feet above the water level. I could not hold on keeping me as high out of the water. The davit was on the dock side.--it might have been a possibility. I had Marie bring the inflatable, which was at the stern, tied to the dock. around to the bow--as I was loosing my grip. She got it there, but I could not pull myself into the boat, nor roll one leg into the boat. We decided the best solution was to get me back to the swim step and 3 step ladder which swung down from it by handing onto the bow of the dinghy, as Marie pulled it around to our swim step. I was able to get a knee on the lowest rung--and my upper body strength was giving out. I did get a foot (Had Teva's and sox on) onto the lowest rung. I got aboard, and have difficulty walking because of an injury/hematoma (on anti-coagulants) in my left leg.

Moral--always have some way to get back aboard if you fall in. Fortunately the water temp was 72 degrees. But with my heart and back disease, it could have been enough to have had serious consequences. After this, I suspect Lew will probably get a ladder soon!

Be safe!

_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
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BillE



Joined: 09 Jun 2016
Posts: 283
City/Region: Nashville
State or Province: TN
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: TBD
Photos: BillE
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh Bob, so sorry, and I'll bet that Marie was scared to death. Hope that you are not too sore tomorrow but best plan on taking it easy. Best wishes.
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Bill & Sherry C-25 sold 2020, next?
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NORO LIM



Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Posts: 875
City/Region: Olympia
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 23 Venture
Vessel Name: NORO LIM (sold 12/12/14)
Photos: NORO LIM
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh, man! So glad you are OK. Rest up. Heal up. Take care.
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Bill, Formerly on NORO LIM
2001 CD 16, 2001-2006
2006 CC 23, 2006-2014
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C-Val



Joined: 15 Sep 2012
Posts: 296
City/Region: White Rock
State or Province: BC
C-Dory Year: 1988
C-Dory Model: 22 Angler
Vessel Name: Seaduced
Photos: C-Val
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bob that is a crazy story and a lesson for us all!

You are always such an inspiration to all of us on safety and being prepared because life can happen at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected ways.

Thanks for the reminder. Makes me think twice before I go out by myself!
Good thing Marie was there!

David and Val

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Writing a sea story with my C-Dory !
1982 22' Classic Popeye
1981 22' Classic Bad Boy Brutus
1988 22' Angler
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Hunkydory



Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2652
City/Region: Cokeville, Wyoming
State or Province: WY
C-Dory Year: 2000
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Hunkydory
Photos: Hunkydory-Jay-and-Jolee
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bob, a good reminder & glad the outcome wasn’t worse & do hope you are able to continue on your present adventure.

One can’t plan for everything that might happen, but in things like this, I do find myself more than ever before, planning a way out or preventing, the many what ifs that can & do happen to many.

Jay

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I will not waste my days in trying to prolong them------Jack London
https://share.delorme.com/JuliusByers
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Jack in Alaska



Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1190
City/Region: Anchorage/Ninilchik
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 26 Pro Angler
Vessel Name: HIGH TIDE II
Photos: HIGH TIDE II
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:43 am    Post subject: Almost !!!! Reply with quote

Bob,
I am very glad to hear that you made it back on the boat safely. We all need you and your knowledge and your mate needs you.
Two years ago I installed a 4' fold down ladder from my Armstrong bracket down to the water. THe bottom step is 1 foot under when folded down. As I am a 320 lb man I am not sure it would have helped me to climb back in the boat but it would have given me a fair chance.
Heal up and keep on motoring. Don't give up now.
Jack in Alaska.....our water is 50F.

_________________
On the HIGH TIDE-II, wife Carolyn and I.....Another summer fishing on the HIGH TIDE II in the Cook Inlet at Cape Ninilchik, Alaska.

HIGH TIDE-II; 2005 26' ProAngler; 2003 200 Honda / 2009 9.9 Honda high thrust
No. CD026021I405; AK-5008-AK
MSSI No. 338143486(cancelled)

HIGH TIDE; 1983 Angler Classic 22'; 90 Honda/ 9.9 Tohatsu-sold 2009 to son Dan (flatfishfool)
Stolen & stripped in Aug. 18
Bare hull & trailer sold in Nov.
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Marco Flamingo



Joined: 09 Jul 2015
Posts: 1154
City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 16 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Limpet
Photos: Limpet
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 10:58 am    Post subject: Re: Almost !!!! Reply with quote

Jack in Alaska wrote:
Bob,
THe bottom step is 1 foot under when folded down......our water is 50F.


Before installing, I looked at the extension ladder choices and saw that most don't extend down into the water very far. Since I would be approaching it when submerged up to my shoulders, a first rung at one foot under would mean that I would need to get my foot up to chest height in order to get on the first rung. I now know that I can do that in warm water, wearing just a bathing suit, on a calm day, but it's not easy.

The ladder looks great folded up on the transom. I'm sure that the view looking up from cold water at night is much different.

Mark
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JamesTXSD



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 7444
City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 11:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeow! Bob, glad to hear you were able to get yourself back onboard (with Marie's assistance). Those short ladders on the C-Dory swimsteps are a concern. What we did with our 25: keep a line attached to the railing (at the base) at the stern, close to the swimstep. With a line, I could pull myself up enough to actually get a foot on the bottom rung of the ladder. It takes some upper body strength, but it is the only way I found to get back into the boat on my own.

Take care.
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ssobol



Joined: 27 Oct 2012
Posts: 3358
City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JamesTXSD wrote:
Yeow! Bob, glad to hear you were able to get yourself back onboard (with Marie's assistance). Those short ladders on the C-Dory swimsteps are a concern. What we did with our 25: keep a line attached to the railing (at the base) at the stern, close to the swimstep. With a line, I could pull myself up enough to actually get a foot on the bottom rung of the ladder. It takes some upper body strength, but it is the only way I found to get back into the boat on my own.

Take care.


I just put a hand grip on the stern of my boat above the swim step.
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ken35216



Joined: 12 Mar 2013
Posts: 569
City/Region: Destin, Florida
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2017
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Lady Onyx
Photos: ken35216
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm glad you're okay Dr. Bob. You really are an inspiration and a wealth of knowledge so we want you safe!
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2007 25 Cruiser 150 Suzuki (2013-2016)

2017 25 Cruiser 200 Yamaha (2017-present)
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Pat Anderson



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 8551
City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, Bob - a really scary tale! So glad you are still around to tell us about it!


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DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com

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Pat Anderson



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 8551
City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Patty here. Wow, Bob. It can happen to anybody, I guess. So happy for the outcome and hope your leg heals quickly.

We traded out the 3 step ladder for a 4 step ladder-so much easier to step onto. We also added a grab handle which also helps pulling yourself up. Pat recently was stepping from the kayak over the gunwale and his leg pushed the kayak away and he fell in. He immediately swam to the swimstep and was easily able to get back on the boat.
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Micahbigsur@msn.com



Joined: 27 May 2019
Posts: 484
City/Region: Big Sur
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2003
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sierra
Photos: Sierra
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh no Bob, that sounds scary and very painful thank God you made it out and are on the road to recovery.

Get well and feel better soon!

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Micah Curtis and Dana, RN
2003 C-dory 25 Sierra, 200, 9.9 and 2.5 Suzukis
2012 R25 SC Sequoia (2015-2018)
1978 Folkes 38 SV Audacious (2006-2015)
Micah, KJ6GUF, Dana, KJ6GXG
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jkidd



Joined: 23 Oct 2006
Posts: 1609
City/Region: Northern, Utah
State or Province: UT
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Voyager
Photos: Voyager (JK)
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad your ok hope you get better soon. I thought about what I would do if that happens and decided I would sit on the Permatrim plate and tilt the motor up to lift me out of the water. Now I just have to have the wits about me to do it.
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Jody Kidd
KE7WNG
Northern, Utah

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hardee



Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 12632
City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jkidd wrote:
Glad your ok hope you get better soon. I thought about what I would do if that happens and decided I would sit on the Permatrim plate and tilt the motor up to lift me out of the water. Now I just have to have the wits about me to do it.


Bob. so glad you are still here to tell us that story, and glad Marie was there to help too. The engine tilt system has been my plan to reboard if needed. I used to shut off the power when anchored or at a dock, but before this season I added the MOB+ device and rewired some things so I can leave the main switches in the "ON" position, making my engine tilt system a 24/7 workable plan.

Thank you for sharing, and for all your offerings here. So much enjoyed and appreciated.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon


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