It can happen so quickly.

[ron_hudson]

I was polishing my boat last week. I was using the step ladder at a sideways angle to the boat, but perhaps because I was pushing to hard the ladder suddenly jack knifed away from me. Somehow, I managed to grab the toe rail of the boat but the upshot of the situation was that here was a 200lb midlde aged male hanging on by his fingers some distance away from anybody else. Clearly, I was not going to have the luxury of spending any time thinking about what to do. I guessed that there was about 3 feet between me and the ground and so I braced myself for the impact and let go. The fall was not too bad (I have a badly bruised heel) but the danger that I had not thought about was that the ladder was lying on the ground sideways and just behind me. I fell back and luckily my head went between the legs of the ladder other wise Im sure that I would have cut my head open.

[WanderingStar]

Glad you're ok. Thanks for sharing, it helps everyone stay safer.

[LandLocked66c]

Originally Posted by WanderingStar

Glad you're ok. Thanks for sharing, it helps everyone stay safer.

Except for Ron!

[CapnBilll]

Thanks for the heads up, it is always a temptation on a ladder to reach out a little to get one more thing just out of reach before you have to climb down and move the ladder. DONT Do it. It is too easy to over ballance, and once the ladder starts moving it is too late to do anything but grab. Lucky your boat has good toe rails.

[Captainmeme]

Just think if he had pulled the boat off the stands!

[LandLocked66c]

Originally Posted by Captainmeme

Just think if he had pulled the boat off the stands!

I was actually waiting for that and cringing as I read the op's post. Thankfully that didn't occur!

[Faster]

Took a similar fall off a stepladder at home one time... busted a rib - not fun. Glad you're OK..

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by ron_hudson

I was polishing my boat last week. I was using the step ladder at a sideways angle to the boat, but perhaps because I was pushing to hard the ladder suddenly jack knifed away from me. Somehow, I managed to grab the toe rail of the boat but the upshot of the situation was that here was a 200lb midlde aged male hanging on by his fingers some distance away from anybody else. Clearly, I was not going to have the luxury of spending any time thinking about what to do. I guessed that there was about 3 feet between me and the ground and so I braced myself for the impact and let go. The fall was not too bad (I have a badly bruised heel) but the danger that I had not thought about was that the ladder was lying on the ground sideways and just behind me. I fell back and luckily my head went between the legs of the ladder other wise Im sure that I would have cut my head open.

For buffing the ladder steps should be facing the boat. This allows you to climb them backwards and lean back into it for support when buffing. If you put it sideways to the hull you found out what can happen..

Sorry about your heel. Try it with the ladder facing the hull and climb it with your butt facing the ladder and you facing the hull... A LOT easier on your body when buffing and you're pushing against the ladder the way it was designed.

Also use a carpenters tool belt for the polish & compound and some rags and a misting bottle of water...

Above all else BE CAREFUL!!!

[rugosa]

Similar experience many years ago, ladder fell away, grabbed air and my ring caught toerail first, got other hand onto rail, could have lost a finger (oops! did that a few years latter, another war story), have never worn any jewelry since.

[Frantum]

Did the same, sprained my ankle.