Hi folks, getting a few things together ready for the nice weather.
Just wondered if a reboarding ladder is part of the standard kit to have on a SIB
Cheers
Phil
Not sure how many people choose to pack one as "standard" kit. Personally, I am a big fan of FibreLight products, including their various boarding ladders and rescue cradles - a premium product, but wonderfully light, packs small, easy to use and virtually no maintenance. Might be slight overkill on a small SIB, but useful bits of kit.
Definitely not standard unless you are in an out of the water all the time. Unless it is a 'rigid' type that does not disappear under the boat as soon as you try to use it they are not the greatest thing anyway.
i use to get back in by dunking my body then kick like mad pulling on the hogging strip ropes and pull myself in, now an old git i can't do that so i made a rope ladder stowed in a bag fixed to the ali floor within easy reach from the water. you can get back in if nimble using the cavitation plate on the engine for the foot hold a pull over the rear of the tube using the hogging strip again. what i would say you must try and get back into your boat as a matter of course you never know IMO
Extra narrow folding ladder from Force4 , part no 851135 £59-95. www.force4.co.uk . Fits easily on my transom only 18cm wide.
Perfect if on your own and you fall overboard.
I have one, its a must for me. I made it from rope and PVC pipe. Yes it pushes under the boat but It works with my setup. I have a solid grab just inside the boat.
This could be a handle but I have a pipe console. Without this it would be harder. The first time I took my boat out and entered deep water I tried the transom technique and it wasn't going to happen without a lot of trouble. I'm 62yr old and a body size best described as FATASS. (sorry no video of the attempt)
The bottom pvc footstep has a piece of stainless scrap tube in it to keep the step where your foot expects it to be. Only two steps were needed. I think the all webbing designs will move around enough in the water to be a hassle. The solid tube designs will be better than what I made but storing is not as easy.
P.S. When I was younger/in better shape, and my sib had pointy tube ends, I would climb in no problem!
Extra narrow folding ladder from Force4 , part no 851135 £59-95. www.force4.co.uk . Fits easily on my transom only 18cm wide.
Perfect if on your own and you fall overboard.
I have the same on the transom of my dory.
Fitted after seeing how much of a struggle it was for a RN winchman to climb into my boat - & they're young & mega fit. I'm neither!
I do have a permatrim on the cavitation plate but I think the ladder's easier.
spy-sea-one
