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Great, I have a boat, but how do I get on it?

7K views 34 replies 20 participants last post by  jrd22 
#1 ·
I'm not a short woman. I'm a very average 5'4". But I guess the boat is either made for men, or very tall women as I have the hardest time getting on it!

When I stand on the floor of the dinghy the back platform is over my head and it doesn't help much to stand on the seat as that only brings the platform to eye level. I have a swinging transom ladder with 4 steps and with one bad knee (thanks to a drunk driver) that results in one foot on the dinghy, trying to hold it still while the other foot reaches out to the swinging ladder and once I've got my footing the other foot is on the ladder and I climb the four or five steps up and then onto my knees on the platform and finally am on the boat. What should take all of about 10 seconds to accomplish takes me a full minute (maybe more if the water is rough).

Since we needed storage space we bought a lock box for the dinghy which is tall enough that when we pull up to the side of the boat, I can, albeit on my tip-toes, hike one leg up over the side of the boat and then pull myself up. It's a win-win! Right?

No. The box is too tall and a bit too wide for the dinghy and so is probably going back to the store.

But I'm not quite ready to give up this really easy way for me to get on the boat, and my knees (especially the one that is currently messed up) just can't handle going up the transom ladder (which forces me onto my knees because the solar panel is also back there) and really it's just too much trouble going up the back platform.

I've looked at some ladders and it seems most that go over the side are not built for sailboats, or aren't tall enough.

I can't be the only person dealing with this issue, can I?
So I come to you, and ask ... What's a girl to do? :confused:
 
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#2 ·
Let us know what boat you're on... sounds like relatively high freeboard, which is always a challenge, esp on an older boat without a stern platform of some sort.

So model and year would let us get a mental picture of what you're describing...
 
#11 ·
Looking at older posts CChelle was looking at a Pan Oceanic 43. Don't know if thats what they bought but the PO43 has some pretty serious freeboard.



I reckon those fender steps are the go or a boarding ladder with solid steps not a rope steup.
 
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#4 ·
A couple of suggestions. First, try tying the dinghy to the boat by it's middle seat. The line should be just long enough so the boat will neither roll down nor swing away. Second, a rope ladder with wide wooden rungs that will lie against the hull should be pretty stable. The lowest rung should be at the height of the dinghy.
 
#7 ·
Most swim ladders have 1" round rungs, hard with shoes, painful if barefoot! You may notice your companion way ladder is more like stairs? Treads! (Why stairs are easier) Also making it difficult, from your description, the ladder is just too short. It should be in the water or lower. A fold down swim platform next to the ladder could be helpful so your not going from one moving object to another. A fabricator and or welder could extend your ladder, weld supports for treads, and also extend the little feet that rest against the transom, because the reverse angle ladders hang at also makes them hard to climb.

Another thing making it difficult is the dingy itself, most people will never ever trust a dingy from "tipping" Because you are somewhat disabled; At the very least a safety line and or harness should be used and you should not be trying to climb up alone.
 
#9 ·
I can't be the only person dealing with this issue, can I?
So I come to you, and ask ... What's a girl to do? :confused:
Three words: Big, Strong, Boyfriend (or Girlfriend, we don't judge around here)
 
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#10 ·
sometime you just have to make your own ladder, like I had to for the side of my boat for shorter people to even get onto the boat for the launch due to the high freeboard
 
#12 ·
Most swim ladders have 1" round rungs, hard with shoes, painful if barefoot Denise O30
We attached teak steps to our ss ladder to make the footing safer. We also have a fenderstep and love it. You can attach that to the bottom rung of your transome ss ladder so your first step out of the dinghy is not so dramatic. That is the most import step anyway as you move from one fairly wobbly dinghy to one moving large mass of boat.

Dave
 
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#13 ·
That is a tall step... they may have to consider something like the 'side stairs' linked below.. These are a bit heavy duty (probably costly) but something might be fabbed up that would do a similar job and fold alongside the rails midships...

Side stairs by Hydromar
 
#14 ·
I second the Fender Step (or two), I think this would solve your problem. If you can get one foot on deck without a step the FS will make it a snap (our dog even uses it). The only drawback I have found with the FS is that they can trap sand between the fender and the boat so you need to rinse it down often or hang a towel over the side to protect the hull. Hope your knee gets better.
 
#15 ·
Having tried a rope ladder on my Catalina 27 I can assure you that they are for very young, strong kids--not older adults, and especially one with a bum knee. FORGET THE ROPE LADDER!

Now, In my case, I have a folding SS ladder that has stand-offs that keep the ladder about 6 inches from the hull. It goes about 18 inches beneath the water and makes it fairly easy for this 71-year-old to climb aboard. (Yes, I'm an old fart.) My wife, on the other hand, could never handle the ladder because she is in horrible, physical condition, has some really bad knees that will soon be replaced, and even after the replacement I sincerely don't believe she could climb safely from the inflatable. I'm seriously thinking about making a modified ladder that has handrails, will attach firmly to the gunwale, and the steps will be similar to those I have going into my attic. I think this is also a solution for us older folks climbing aboard from a floating dock that is just six inches higher than the water, which can also present a problem when you confront a higher free-board boat. I think I can design it in such a way that everything would fold fairly flat and the stairs could be stored much in the manner of any other boarding ladder.

Just another project to think about,

Gary :cool:
 
#16 ·
The Boat

Here's a picture of a boat that's similar: http://www.theyachtmarket.com/boatImages/2011/5/19/11205692.jpg

And here's a picture I just put up on facebook of the boat: Sovereign Adventures | Facebook (since it's public, I don't think you have to have an account just to view it)

And to give you some scope, when pulled up to the side of the boat and I stand on the floor of the dinghy, the side rail is at the top of my head. Because I'm flexible, when I stand on my tip-toes, on the new tall seat (which is too tall so has to go back) I can get one leg up over the rail & then pull myself up.

Thanks for all the replies, you guys are great & have some great advice! :)
 
#22 · (Edited)
It may be hookey or unsafe but I can picture an 8ft step ladder (without the front legs) mounted on welded up brackets and hinges or hooks so it stays put. and it angles sideways on the transom and is low enough to step onto a platform also on the transom that folds out. Allot of work but it seems you really need a solution.
 
#23 ·
Double ender, Denise.. makes any kind of transom platform a bit of a challenge...
 
#24 ·
Mystic Stainless...

I have enjoyed reading all the communication on this post. Beautiful vessel you have but I am a bit confused if you are trying to board from the side or the canoe stern. It would seem to me that you could tie your dink along side with the dink now laying alongside of the mother ship. One thing sort of stable...

Mystic Stainless makes a ladder that mounts to your rail and folds down, in a zigzag fashion extending as far as you need. There are hold offs for the ladder itself so its sits out from the hull. When folded up, the ladder can be tied or attached to the lifelines so it is tidy and out of the way. Since it is always attached to the rail, it is fairly easy to extend and pull back up. It seems to me that you could let is hang down when away from the boat by dink for your return since it seems that you would not be able to reach up to pull it down once down in the dinghy.

Mystic Stainless has a nice web site where you can view their products. They are not inexpensive but the product is of high quality and can be put on either side of your vessel. The fender step is a sweet, easy solution but seems too short for your needs.

Good luck in your problem solving. That is one of the things that make boating so much fun. :)

Leslie

s/v Tango, Cabo Rico 34
On the hard, Lankford Bay Marina
Chester River, MD
 
#25 ·
If a couple of those fender ladders don't do it, I would suggest that you get a good stainless ladder that goes low enough and has standoffs long enough to give you a comfortable angle. There are ready-made ones out there, but you may need to go custom to get it right.

An alternative solution--and I can't believe some of the smart arses here haven't suggested it--is to just never get off your boat :D
 
#26 ·
Narrowed it down to 2 options

Thank you all for all of your wonderful feedback!

I think I'm going to try the fender steps - my only concern would be if they're slippery when wet? To those that suggested/have used them - are they? If so, did you just apply some anti-skid tape?

The other option is this ladder: 5-Step Rail Mounted Boat Ladder - Norestar - which 1) is not a swinging ladder 2) braces up against the side of the boat 3) is nearly 5 feet tall and so should meet at the side of the dinghy when pulled up to the boat and 4) keeps me away from that short, swinging, transom ladder (which puts me on my knees on the back platform = NOT a good thing with a crushed kneecap!!).

And the best part is both options are under $100! Woohoo!

Thanks again - you guys/gals are wonderful and have such great advice! :)
 
#27 · (Edited)
I know the canoe (double ender) stern might give a problem but you still should be able to get a fold able SS stand of ladder mounted somewhere on the rear quarter side of the boat. and when long enough (two steps below water level) you can use it for swimming also. I have a set-up like that on my stern but my stern is flat. See my avatar
 
#29 ·
CChelle - You should board at the lowest point on the side of the boat. A rigid ladder that is comfortable and safe for you to climb can be made from Stainless Steel, but there are wooden versions which may be less costly to acquire or build. What you are looking for is a ladder that form fits the curvature of the boat and extends out at the bottom enough to allow you lean in as you climb up. It should also have a bottom section that will fold down below the water so your foot can reach the bottom step while you are in the water. Usually the ladder is removable and hooks over a toe rail. A pattern of the ladder sides can be drawn up and cut out of cardboard. The pattern can then be used to trace the ladder configuration on the wood. Special custom equipment like this will soon make her your boat. Good Luck.
 
#30 ·
" my only concern would be if they're slippery when wet? "
We've never slipped on ours, even here in the soggy PNW (snow or ice we don't use it). Keep it inflated well, not tight but firm. Your boat is a Brewer design isn't it?
 
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