Dink to the Deck? Perils of Reboarding

[Kings Gambit]

Little problems often become big ones if not solved early. Reboarding the yacht from our RIB along side, never all that great to begin with, is increasingly hazardous it seems. Lots of little issues. I think what’s needed is a rigid frame of a two-step ladder that can be removably fixed to the gunwale, with a fixed post or stanchion at the gate that we can grab to pull while stepping onto the deck. We do, and have done, a lot of boarding from the dink after dark (and alcohol) in lumpy seas and wind, etc., and I’m becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the safety of how we’re still doing it as two septuargenarians.

I imagine this might require a custom job. But I wonder what others have settled on; any satisfaction with existing boarding products? (Think reboarding at nighttime in 15 kt of wind in the lee of a lonely island 45n.mi. from shore; potentially damp to wet conditions.)

KG
To get away from it all, you must go where the other people aren’t. Farther, rougher, wetter, colder!!

 

[Michael Davis]

We always reboard over the stern. We have a boarding ladder there and the tumble home gives a better angle to board. Bev and I are in our 80’s and use this method to board from the kayaks as well.

 

[Kings Gambit]

We always reboard over the stern. We have a boarding ladder there and the tumble home gives a better angle to board. Bev and I are in our 80’s and use this method to board from the kayaks as well.

We used to board from the stern. But because of back issues had to relocate to amidships to step up vertically. Stern-transom not a vertical rise, must lean in. When the boat is pitching, even slightly, the mid-ship stanchion gate works better overall so we’ve focused on optimizing that.

 

[dmax]

It looks like your boat has a swim step - I always board from the stern: I cleat the dinghy's painter to the port sterm cleat (at a previously determined length), turn the engine to starboard, give it some gas and the dinghy spins counterclockwise and comes right up to the stern athwartships. I have a short line tied to the stern of the dinghy on the starboard side that I then tie to the ladder base. Bingo, the dinghy is super stable, out of the wind and waves and it is really easy to just walk onto the swim step. People are always impressed when I do it, quick and easy. May not be vertical enough for you, give it a try sometime.

 

[dLj]

I board from both stern and side. When the water is flat, I come up the stern since I have a boarding ladder and aft platform. Once you start getting any notable wave action and that becomes untenable.

While in Europe I found an inflatable two step ladder that works much better than id expected from looking at it. I just tried to find it here and only find something similar out of Canada - I think..

https://defender.com/en_us/plastimo-multifunction-ladder-fender?srsltid=AfmBOoopYI07bc8_BxEG6oh7JCGVU8sisDhKSX-l_at9qKl78XkWB_gconY&gQT=1#76=14&615=24468

This works as both a fender and a boarding ladder. I found 2 steps for the amount of freeboard on my boat to be good, but I might try to find one with 3 steps eventually. My boat has a lot of freeboard...

These allow you to position them anywhere that is convenient along the side for boarding.

dj

 

[Kings Gambit]

It looks like your boat has a swim step - I always board from the stern: I cleat the dinghy's painter to the port sterm cleat (at a previously determined length), turn the engine to starboard, give it some gas and the dinghy spins counterclockwise and comes right up to the stern athwartships. I have a short line tied to the stern of the dinghy on the starboard side that I then tie to the ladder base. Bingo, the dinghy is super stable, out of the wind and waves and it is really easy to just walk onto the swim step. People are always impressed when I do it, quick and easy. May not be vertical enough for you, give it a try sometime.

Once you are onto the swim step you must then step up over the transom and then down to the cockpit sole, and get past the helm wheel, etc. Tight spaces if you must also duck under the Bimini. All of this while holding on to something, and contorting. The swim step access is OK if you are returning from a swim, but not debarking the dinghy. A walk through transom would work better for that, but no have.

 

[jssailem]

I have been looking at ladders.

Finding ways to secure the ladder and get it to project from the side of the boat is relevant to making boarding easier and safer.

I cannot find the image right now, but I saw a New Zealand boat owner who had built a ladder that folds lengthwise and rests along the stanchions when sailing. It folded down and could be deployed from the water. It intrigued me.

 

[jssailem]

Perhaps a foldable platform to use as a seat or step off the transom would be a viable solution.

 

[Benny17441]

How about looking for an answer on how to go over the transom from the swim step. The swim step seems to provide a firm surface to step unto with a good hand hold. It seems it would be safer than stepping from a moving RIB unto a flexing ladder, The steering wheel can be an inconvenience but should not present a safety hazard.

 

[Alan Gomes]

The steering wheel can be an inconvenience but should not present a safety hazard.

Might it help and be worth it to invest in a folding wheel? Or set it up for quick disconnect and removal?

 

[Terry Cox]

Made our mid ship boarding for our current boat when we took possession in 2002. Works great, sturdy, stable, easy to make. Hunter 42 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

 

[shemandr]

One thing I can add is, that to be usable for those with mobility or balance issues, the boarder needs something well above deck level to hold onto while boarding. Otherwise he/she will be "in space" with nothing to support them as they step up - a very vulnerable position.
While boarding from a dock I use the shrouds to maintain balance. Stanchions and life lines can do in a pinch but the boat owner will not be pleased when the hardware has to be re-bedded.
I think a side ladder needs high loops on its sides for that reason. People who design these boarding ladders should be made to use them before foisting them on the boating public. Those flimsy plastic ladders wouldn't exist in that case.

 

[thinwater]

I added transom extensions to my cat primarily for reboarding. My parents were older ad my wife had some mobility problems. They really helped. But that is a multihull thing; the motion is different. And it was not a small project.

Interestingly, we did not board the dingy off the back of the extension -swim platform, but rather brought the dinghy to the side inboard and cleated it to the extension. One of the reasons was that the dinghy davit tackle was then over the dinghy, which made a VERY handy hand hold. I wonder if some manner of hand hold that extended outwards a short distance would help, so that you are pulling up and not pushing the dinghy out. Just food for thought.

 

[MachZ]

If your boat has an extruded stair rail, this might work for you...
I modified a cheap step ladder. It is secured to the rail with pip pins and has positive floatation glued under the steps. It folds flat and is stowed between the top life line and toe rail when not in use. Remember to stow it prior to any docking maneuvers! I'll try to get better pics for you.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I would imagine adding some handholds, a cleat or two and possibly davits to the stern would be the way to go. With those three you'd have something to help you stand up in the dingy, the cleats would prevent the dinghy from moving and the handholds would provide support from the dinghy all the way to boarding. They would have to be kinda big

 

[MachZ]

More pics as requested...

 

[MachZ]

...and a few more...

 

[MachZ]

For the sharp eye, these additional pictures are of the current rendition (rev.3.0). Hence the warning on the ladder.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Might it help and be worth it to invest in a folding wheel? Or set it up for quick disconnect and removal?

We’ve considered that. A functional approach to one part of the overall “problem.” As with others here, after 35 yr of cruising in sailboats, owned and chartered, with others aboard or as companion boaters, we’ve seen and done many variations of reboarding from the dink. Most, it seems, do reboard from the stern. There are many variations depending on the size of the yacht and its features; e.g., drop down swim platform with boarding ladder on one side, to “up the transom-mounted ladder” and then leg over the rail, etc. We see comparatively many fewer variations of boarding amidships. Some yacht models do not have a fixed midship stanchion gate to pass through. Without one for grasping, boarding amidship is probably less secure (IMO) than at the transom.

I appreciate the creative ideas offered here. A stable two-step ladder at our midship stanchion gate I believe is the correct method for us. We gotten some good ideas. Thanks.

View midship stanchion gates, port & starboard. (Port San Luis, CA, June 2019)
KG

 

[Kings Gambit]

Just found this Yaemarine product at a company, Desertcart, in Oman. Appears a viable option; $190. Might have modify it some for deck articulation.