dive ladder

603doug · 25 February 2007, 22:07

At the Boston Boat Show the Brig's salesman told me about a co. that built a great ladder that goes over the tube and they are out of Seattle. Has anyone heard of this outfit?
Have a dive buddy with hooks so trying to pull over the tube could spell a problem with out a ladder

PacificNWrib · 25 February 2007, 23:04

Here is a place that carries them on the east coast.

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|294&id=92384

Folding Ladder For Inflatable Boats
Plastic jointed anodized aluminum tube
Construction makes it strong and light.

Item #: 451182
Manufacturer: SCOPREGA
Model #: 6352000 /SGA2
Shipping Weight: 2.00 Lbs.

Our Price: $64.95
Status: In Stock

Stoo · 26 February 2007, 13:38

I have one similar to the second one down on that page. It's not bad for swimming, but not robust enough to handle a lot of weight....

jyasaki · 26 February 2007, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by 603doug

Have a dive buddy with hooks so trying to pull over the tube could spell a problem with out a ladder

Huh? Not sure I understand. Disabled (for lack of a better term) diver?

There are several ladders that hook over tubes; the problem with most of them is that they tend to swing under the boat when you try and stand on them.

Anything set up with a brace to keep the ladder more or less vertical in the water becomes pretty bulky.

Hopefully, someone will (or has) come up with a solution for that.

jky

Donnie144 · 26 February 2007, 19:39

I found an all stainless steal ladder a couple years back that hung over the tube and snaped to an anchorage point inside the boat. Being the hing was also stainless it was plenty strong to climb with dive gear. But as mentioned it would swing under the boat. I ended up just tying off the BC and floping over the tube. After that long story I did try and find it again but I've had no luck. I do know it was made locally here in the Seattle area though.

Stoo · 26 February 2007, 19:49

"Diver" on this forum, who lives in Denmark, was kind enough to send me these pictures of a setup on his RIB. I haven't been able to track down a fabricator yet (the couple I have spoken to want to see the boat, which is buried under the snow at the moment), but it looks pretty solid. (Henrik, I hope you don't mind me posting these!)

The "hooks" reference is interesting and I also wondered if it was in reference to a disabled person. The guy I dive with most often is missing one hand and is a larger guy. Generally, he is able to kick himself up high enough (without tanks, weights) that I can haul him in the rest of the way. I keep threatening to use a gaff hook, but I think it might damage his drysuit! Alternatively, I was going to glue a SIB handle to his butt!

Ian M · 26 February 2007, 20:03

Go on, go for the SIB handle, but be sure to photograph it

Stoo · 26 February 2007, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

Go on, go for the SIB handle, but be sure to photograph it

LOL... If you knew him like I know him, you'ld want to gaff him too...!

603doug · 26 February 2007, 23:09

I like the ladder that set away from tube. Like to glue a handle to his head but I would still would need a crane (250 lbs plus gear) His hooks suck on paint jobs and I can just guess what they would do to hypalon. He lost his hands in the military. We thought about towing back to shore but rib only rated 115hp

CAH · 27 February 2007, 02:04

This is a great ladder and of all the ladders I've owned this is the best. Stainless, folds up and stows in small spaces. The ladder does not swing under the tubes like many others do. A bit pricey $$$$ but if you search hard you can find internet deals. The ladder is commonly called the St Croix Folding ladder.

Stoo · 27 February 2007, 02:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by 603doug

We thought about towing back to shore but rib only rated 115hp

As funny as this sounds, we almost had to do this one time. My buddy and I dive separately. I need to help suit him up, he starts diving, and by the time I am heading down, he's usually doing his hang.

A few springs ago (i.e water temp 33F surface/34F @ 110') I was surprised to find him still hanging off the side of the boat when I surfaced. He would have been on the water for about an hour at this point (in a Viking drysuit). My SO was tending, but at 98#s, she's not a lot of help in the hauling end of things. Because the water was so cold, and possibly because it was his first dive of the season, he simply couldn't pull himself up the way he normally would have done. To make matters worse, he had removed his fins and tried to use the engine skeg as a step, but still couldn't haul his carcass in. (He weighed about 300#, 6'4" tall)

Once I surfaced, I got him to put his fins on again and we reverted to the original plan, but we "seriously" considered looping a line around his foot and dragging him in. (Even with a 150, we'd have had a hell of a time getting him to plane!)

Since then, he has lost a fair chunk of weight...

jyasaki · 27 February 2007, 17:04

I tried that, once.

A buddy of mine and I decided to eschew the rescue diver refresher course a friend was putting on, and planned to dive a sunken sailboat that is something like 200 yards offshore. Once we were off the beach and swimming to the site, a friend came up in his RIB. Rather than shed gear, climb in, haul gear in, and reverse the process at the sailboat, we decided to have him drag us over there in reverse at idle speed (to keep the prop away from a diver who came loose.) Big mistake. The water generates *lots* of drag on fully kitted diver who is trying to hang onto the lifelines. I made it to the sailboat, but had to rest for about 10 minutes to get my arms to work correctly again.

I now dissuade people from trying that. It actually is easier to get everything into the boat. Even without the butt-handle.

jky

Stoo · 28 February 2007, 01:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

The water generates *lots* of drag on fully kitted diver who is trying to hang onto the lifelines.

I do a fair bit of tow-planing up here looking for wrecks. My SO putts along at about 3-4 mph and I drag on a tow-plane way behind the boat. (Kind of a poor man's Side Scan!)

My board has a nice little seat on it, hand holds, spaces for computers and most importantly... a quick-release shackle. I can cover large areas this way, flying along just above the bottom. There isn't much resistance at this speed, but it does get cold.

Donnie144 · 28 February 2007, 03:00

STOO i've been looking for something like that. I've been wanting to do that for a long time. Can you send me info on what you are using?

jyasaki · 28 February 2007, 03:33

Stoo; I've seen that done before, but usually with freedivers. You do this fully rigged for scuba?

I would guess that a board would be easier, though (better grip, more streamlined position, etc.), rather than trying to hang on a tubes lifeline. I will honestly say that I won't try that again.

The tow-line thing probably wouldn't do us much good here, as we have pretty poor average visibility. Then again, it would be a good way to waste a dive day, figuring it out. Food for thought, I guess...

jky

603doug · 28 February 2007, 04:10

Stoo
We have alot of rocks etc on the ocean bottom so how do you avoid them scanning near the bottom. We tried a crude version of a sled but steering with fins proved difficult

Stoo · 28 February 2007, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnie144

Can you send me info on what you are using?

Donnie, the board "lives" in the boat and so it's in storage at the moment. I'll see if I can do up a doodle and post it... It's pretty simple to make.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 603doug

Stoo
We have a lot of rocks etc on the ocean bottom so how do you avoid them scanning near the bottom.

I find I can "fly" this just by shifting my weight on it. It's actually pretty exciting to fly along the edge of a drop off. It's very quiet and I often surprise large fish like lake trout and salmon because I come up on them so fast. And yes, I wear full SCUBA... including doubles. If you have an adjustable second stage it's helpful to dial down the flow, otherwise you will free flow. Oh... and torque down your mask strap too if you intend to look sideways!

You need to use a lot of line... usually about 3X the depth you want to reach. If it isn't long enough, there is a great tendency for the board to keep pulling up. I routinely tow at 100-130'. This board is my 3rd one, and I couldn't improve it... Well, maybe a com system to talk to The Captain... she kind of worries about dragging me into something, like a fish net, which isn't an entirely remote possibility...

I'll see what I can come up with to show you...

Cookee · 28 February 2007, 13:45

We have a customer who is specifying a boat for the US Virgin Islands - he has asked us to fit one of these - http://www.garelick.com/prodcat.php?subid=AB01 They look perfect for the job - it will obviously be fitted to the transom.

jyasaki · 28 February 2007, 17:32

The Garelick's are pretty popular; in part, I think because there are so few manufacturers.

I have heard of a few people losing the ladder part, either while removing it, or forgetting to do so.

Still, it's one of the few games in town, so I guess you can't complain too much...

jky

Donnie144 · 28 February 2007, 18:17

I almost bought that ladder but opted for the one with fixed rungs because it FLOATS. I've dropped it a couple times swapping it over and it sure is nice knowing it will float. I was going to tie a line to it but was afraid it would be an entanglement hazard.