Boarding ladders

TXS-ALAMO · #1 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

I just discovered a major problem; I couldn't get off my boat! With only a stern ladder and tied to a finger pier, I couldn't get off the boat without a long jump from deck. Granted the tide was six feet over the usual two foot tide, an unusual situation, but I faced an eight foot drop! Lucky for me, a neighbor coming to the marina spotted the problem and had a spare ladder, or you wouldn't be reading this. Does anyone have an idea how to solve this problem? Do I permanently mount folding boarding ladders at the gates, or use precious lazerette or below deck space for a simple removable ladder?

pigslo · #2 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Do they offer floating docks for a few bucks more?

TXS-ALAMO · #3 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

The only floating docks simply float around the bay since Rita and are hazardous to your boat hull upon contact! And I couldn't take one sailing with me.

Faster · #4 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Asuming this is your regular marina slip, can you not just attach a ladder to your finger pier for such occasions? I wonder if you would run into similar problems at other moorings often enough to warrant carrying a ladder with you.

TrueBlue · #5 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXS-ALAMO

I just discovered a major problem; I couldn't get off my boat! With only a stern ladder and tied to a finger pier, I couldn't get off the boat without a long jump from deck. Granted the tide was six feet over the usual two foot tide, an unusual situation, but I faced an eight foot drop! Lucky for me, a neighbor coming to the marina spotted the problem and had a spare ladder, or you wouldn't be reading this. Does anyone have an idea how to solve this problem? Do I permanently mount folding boarding ladders at the gates, or use precious lazerette or below deck space for a simple removable ladder?

I must be missing something when trying to visualize your problem. How does a variable tidal range cause you to jump "down" 8 feet from your boat's deck to a fixed finger?

Surfesq · #6 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Thats a heck of a freeboard.

Gene T · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Maybe the dock was 5 feet under water. If not then this boat is large enough to carry a ladder.

TrueBlue · #8 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Either that, or his finger floats and his boat has a deep draft wing keel, dry-docked on the seabed during ebb tide.

PBzeer · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

Water is up at unusual levels in the whole Galveston Bay area. Was up 4 1/2 feet at the far end from Galveston, and has been all day. Has dropped maybe 6 inches during the day. Heavy rains, with flooding all along the Galveston Bay drainage area, and wind blowing inshore seem to be the main factors.

pigslo · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2006

I got sucker punched on that one. The pigs goes down cloven hooves up. No floating docks were damaged in Rita but there was a lawn chair knocked over.