A cautionary tale, overboard and boarding ladder.

T

thataway

Active member
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!
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
Jack in Alaska":24ejy7zz said:
Bob,
THe bottom step is 1 foot under when folded down......our water is 50F.
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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
 
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.
 
JamesTXSD":ng9u1y3o said:
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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I just put a hand grip on the stern of my boat above the swim step.
 
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.
 
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.
 
jkidd":3kcr3871 said:
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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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

9_Sept_Seq_2019_Cal.thumb.jpg
 
Bob .....ran a shiver up my spine reading about your incident. It can happen to anyone. I have always disliked the swim step that C-Dory’s have. Much to difficult for me. We have a Garelick UNDER PLATFORM DOUBLE TUBE TELESCOPING DIVE LADDER part number 18636. It’s heavy duty Stainless and makes it easy to get back on the boat even with dive gear. Of course you must have a swim step to attach it to. The only thing I did not like about it was the price. List is over $800 but Wholesale Marine has them for $546.00 but I managed to find a used one on EBay for about $300.

Hope your having a great trip otherwise. We are still traveling west on the Erie and should get to the Niagara River tomorrow.

Tom and Joyce
 
Thanks for all of the good wishes--I am getting around better this PM. Marie is voluntarily swimming right now. We did about 25 miles--mostly at 6 to 7 MPH today. Some interesting country--from Olin Chemicals, to clear cold water at the navigable. head of the Hiwassee River. We are headed up stream and anchored in Richland Creek.

We do have an after market ladder--and it makes a big difference. It is only 3 rungs, but all are under water. We have two hand holds--one on the side of the splash well, and a 24" high piece of 1" SS pipe with a crutch tip on the inboard side of where the generator is mounted. This pipe is attached too the generator support bar.

We do have person overboard life ring and a throw bag, or could be trailed like a life sling. I would rather use the ladder than the davit--We do know that Marie does have enough strength to lift me with the 6:1 block and tackle. The davit is rigged So a person would could be deposited in the cockpit--but being on the "dock side" it was not available..! What we did not have, and will make, is a lifting sling for a person. We always had bosun's chairs on the sailboats..but nothing like that on the power boat.
 
thataway":5d0taagg said:
Thanks for all of the good wishes--I am getting around better this PM.
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Glad all is well. Close calls with a good outcome are a great / tough reminder to be careful. :thup
 
I'm still gimping around, and will pick up crutches for any long walks in Ft. Loudon tomorrow.

But we all had another scare today. Lew, who had asked about the ladder, decided to take a swim. He could not get back out of the boat. Doris called Marie on the phone, and there was some mis-communciations. We thought he wanted us to check out a ramp where he could swim. Not the case, he was in trouble. Doris called back and asked for "help" now. Dan from Lake Effect, and Mike and Kristi on Little Joe responded along with our dinghy. We got Lew into the dinghy and eventually back into his boat--Marie and Dan did the heavy lifting. Another cautionary tale. Don't jump in the water unless you know exactly how you are going to get back out, and have tried it before.

I went in the water, but very slowly. I didn't let go of the ladder, but did a full dunk. The water was 82 degrees. I used to be a great swimmer--did some 5 mile ocean swims. Had WSI, Senior Life Saving, life guard cert etc.... But at 83, age takes it toll, and I doubt that I could swim 100 yards, even though I get in our pool about once a week and swim a couple of laps....
 
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