Another way to bring someone back on board, would be to attach a line from a midship cleat or toe rail and to a winch drop the line over the side have the MOB stand on the line (or sit on it) and winch it up. this will get the MOB up to the level needed to climb on board. This was part of our MOB drill for the MAC races on lake Huron.
M.O.B. SF Bay
- Thread starter Napa Ed
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If Clasky's idea doesn't work and the jib idea doesn't
work, and no ladder or swim step and no life sling, I have been taught to put the halyard on the main, take the sail/luff off the mast and put it overboard. Have the MOB straddle the sail, with a leg over the luff and a leg over the leach and then haul up/in with the halyard winch.
I changed out the mail halyard a month ago, and went with a longer length, so I could have the shackle in the water and still have the end on the winch.
work, and no ladder or swim step and no life sling, I have been taught to put the halyard on the main, take the sail/luff off the mast and put it overboard. Have the MOB straddle the sail, with a leg over the luff and a leg over the leach and then haul up/in with the halyard winch.
I changed out the mail halyard a month ago, and went with a longer length, so I could have the shackle in the water and still have the end on the winch.
Good Stuff:
Since we're sharing personal opinions: I never leave the dock without wearing my inflatable pfd. It is light and comfortable. I realize I'm in the minority with this view but at least they won't have any trouble finding my body.
Every spring I take the time to practice crewoverboard procedures with my regular crew. We have some laughs and get some experience deploying the lifesling and other flotation devices. I realize that after a long sedentary winter I doubt I could survive long in the 50 degree water.
I put together a one page briefing sheet tailored to my boat that I ask anyone who sails with me to read before arriving at the dock. I don't want to scare them off, but I want them to take water safety seriously.
Here's my example: http://h260.com/safety/safety1.html
About this time each year I also spend time re-reading the following crew overboard case histories from the US sailing website:
http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/lifesling_history.htm
The Crewoverboard Rescue Symposium mentioned was held in San Francisco Bay August 9-12, 2005, some 400 tests were conducted of 40 items of gear and numerous rescue methods by 115 volunteers in 15 sail and powerboats of many types, including multihulls, cruisers, and racers. Conditions ranged from a light wind and flat sea to a 35- knot blow and steep chop.
Go to: http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/COB.pdf
Since we're sharing personal opinions: I never leave the dock without wearing my inflatable pfd. It is light and comfortable. I realize I'm in the minority with this view but at least they won't have any trouble finding my body.
Every spring I take the time to practice crewoverboard procedures with my regular crew. We have some laughs and get some experience deploying the lifesling and other flotation devices. I realize that after a long sedentary winter I doubt I could survive long in the 50 degree water.
I put together a one page briefing sheet tailored to my boat that I ask anyone who sails with me to read before arriving at the dock. I don't want to scare them off, but I want them to take water safety seriously.
Here's my example: http://h260.com/safety/safety1.html
About this time each year I also spend time re-reading the following crew overboard case histories from the US sailing website:
http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/lifesling_history.htm
The Crewoverboard Rescue Symposium mentioned was held in San Francisco Bay August 9-12, 2005, some 400 tests were conducted of 40 items of gear and numerous rescue methods by 115 volunteers in 15 sail and powerboats of many types, including multihulls, cruisers, and racers. Conditions ranged from a light wind and flat sea to a 35- knot blow and steep chop.
Go to: http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/COB.pdf
i'm new to sailing the s.f. bay (new to sailing period) but cannot fathom not wearing pdf's. i suppose in warm weather/water maybe, but in the frigid waters here it seems just plain stupid. i've taken ppl. out in my 24 footer and some have questioned weather they need to wear one, and my answer has always been a firm yes.
i'm with you, ed. your set-up is prudent, and safety and security go a long way in my book to ensruign a pleasurable time out on the water.
pat
i'm with you, ed. your set-up is prudent, and safety and security go a long way in my book to ensruign a pleasurable time out on the water.
pat
Thanks for the replies and suggestions. I could have used Claskey's or Seattle Scott's suggestions if I'd had the presence of mind. I almost wish I could find another MOB to try them out. GeorgeH260; thanks for the links. The ..studies/COB.pdf write up is copied to my harddrive.
Great job Ed!
I have been tossed overboard 10 miles off the coast of Monterey CA in 7-9 ft seas with 30 knot winds. The One Design 35 was plowing through every third wave and bucking like a bronco. I had a harness and tether on but had not yet fastened onto the boat. I was exchanging positions on all fours from the helm at the stern to a more foreward position when a wave tossed me right over the side near the the winch and under the lifeline. I grabbed the lifeline which was under water but it was ripped out of my hand and wrenched my shoulder pretty badly. The stantion I went in front of then wrenched my knee as I was twisted by the force of the water when I left the boat. My next concern was my infaltabile going off too quickly possibly causing me to be hit by the passing stern of the boat. It was a very close miss. A clock began in my head as to how long I would be able to assist in my own rescue as hypothermia was going to be an issue. As the boat sailed away I was spotted and could see one of the 4 remaining crew pointing at me. During the ensuing 12 minutes there were time I could not see the boat at all. Three attempts were made to return to me with great difficulty. On the third attempt the boat came close to me and then the bow swung down toward me at a great rate in the heavy seas. I ducked the bow and swam as best you can in an inflated vest towards the windward side of the boat knowing it was going to drift away very quickly. The crew had lost sight of me thinking I was on the lee side but one person saw me and began to gather excess lifesling line to throw at me into the wind. On the second attempt the line came within 3-4 feet and I had to think about trying to swim to it. I was very tired and my blood pressure medicine was obviously slowing my heart rate and sapping my energy along with the cold. I decided to go for the line with all I had left and managed to grab the line. I used to water ski a lot so I knew to throw the line over my head and get on the inside of the line as the boat drifted rapidly away. I began to squeeze down on the line and let the boat began to pull me. I fed the line through my hands gradually until the lifesling reached me. Then I could not get the lifesling over my infalted lifevest. Turns out it was still fastened shut at the mouth but in my hypothermic state that was too difficult to figure out. I threw my arms through the center of the ring and held on tight as the crew began to drag me to the boat. The open sled type of the stern came up to me bouncing up and down severly. On a downward motion two 6 foot tall young men grabbed each of my arms and tried to pull me aboard without luck. I weigh roughly 170 lbs and only had jeans, golf shirt, a polartec vest and foul weather pants and jacket on. It took a third man and an extreme effort on my part to get a knee up that stern where that third man grabbed my leg and rolled me onto the stern sled area. I spent 5 hours in ER being warmed back up. Yes, I know how lucky I am.
Never assume anyone can do a MOB recovery especially in the open sea. Always wear a life jacket and clip in when conditions begin to get a little rough. Think about and practice getting a person out of the water especially in rough conditions. Tethers should never reach the stern of the boat when in the water. The stern could kill you, you cant call for help and be heard and climbing aboard may not be possible. You should end up along the side of the cockpit where you can be monitored, communicate and brought aboard. One of our YC members died this way being towed at the stern while crew had no idea he was a MOB.
Bill
I have been tossed overboard 10 miles off the coast of Monterey CA in 7-9 ft seas with 30 knot winds. The One Design 35 was plowing through every third wave and bucking like a bronco. I had a harness and tether on but had not yet fastened onto the boat. I was exchanging positions on all fours from the helm at the stern to a more foreward position when a wave tossed me right over the side near the the winch and under the lifeline. I grabbed the lifeline which was under water but it was ripped out of my hand and wrenched my shoulder pretty badly. The stantion I went in front of then wrenched my knee as I was twisted by the force of the water when I left the boat. My next concern was my infaltabile going off too quickly possibly causing me to be hit by the passing stern of the boat. It was a very close miss. A clock began in my head as to how long I would be able to assist in my own rescue as hypothermia was going to be an issue. As the boat sailed away I was spotted and could see one of the 4 remaining crew pointing at me. During the ensuing 12 minutes there were time I could not see the boat at all. Three attempts were made to return to me with great difficulty. On the third attempt the boat came close to me and then the bow swung down toward me at a great rate in the heavy seas. I ducked the bow and swam as best you can in an inflated vest towards the windward side of the boat knowing it was going to drift away very quickly. The crew had lost sight of me thinking I was on the lee side but one person saw me and began to gather excess lifesling line to throw at me into the wind. On the second attempt the line came within 3-4 feet and I had to think about trying to swim to it. I was very tired and my blood pressure medicine was obviously slowing my heart rate and sapping my energy along with the cold. I decided to go for the line with all I had left and managed to grab the line. I used to water ski a lot so I knew to throw the line over my head and get on the inside of the line as the boat drifted rapidly away. I began to squeeze down on the line and let the boat began to pull me. I fed the line through my hands gradually until the lifesling reached me. Then I could not get the lifesling over my infalted lifevest. Turns out it was still fastened shut at the mouth but in my hypothermic state that was too difficult to figure out. I threw my arms through the center of the ring and held on tight as the crew began to drag me to the boat. The open sled type of the stern came up to me bouncing up and down severly. On a downward motion two 6 foot tall young men grabbed each of my arms and tried to pull me aboard without luck. I weigh roughly 170 lbs and only had jeans, golf shirt, a polartec vest and foul weather pants and jacket on. It took a third man and an extreme effort on my part to get a knee up that stern where that third man grabbed my leg and rolled me onto the stern sled area. I spent 5 hours in ER being warmed back up. Yes, I know how lucky I am.
Never assume anyone can do a MOB recovery especially in the open sea. Always wear a life jacket and clip in when conditions begin to get a little rough. Think about and practice getting a person out of the water especially in rough conditions. Tethers should never reach the stern of the boat when in the water. The stern could kill you, you cant call for help and be heard and climbing aboard may not be possible. You should end up along the side of the cockpit where you can be monitored, communicate and brought aboard. One of our YC members died this way being towed at the stern while crew had no idea he was a MOB.
Bill
Good job NapaEd, getting a MOB back on board is harder than you think. For the last 5 years our Mac crew practices it with a live crew member before the race. The crew member jumps overboard when no one is looking and we have to recover him quickly. Usually it goes pretty well but not always. One year the volunteer was 300lbs. We made a sling out of some lines and hauled him up with great difficulty. This is with a crew of 12 mostly fit men in relatively flat water. 2 years ago it was blowing 25 knots. It was very hard to get the lifesling near enough. It took 2 passes and our volunteer swallowed a little water. Bottom line. This is a skill we all should practice yearly. You never know when it might come in handy and save a life.
Napa Ed - I agree 100%
Read your post and I can share a personal experience when I went overboard!
This happened about 8 years ago.
It was a Wednesday night race out of the Bristol Yacht Club on Narrangansett bay in RI and I was crewing on a Pearson 26. The crew had raced together for quite a few years so we were all comfortable with our roles and responsibilities. The weather was sunny, and the temperature was in the 70's
My position is to trim the jib and in preparation for the start I usually sit on the lee side to keep an eye on who or what is under us. On this particular night the 5 minute warning gun had just sounded and we were in race mode the 150 jib was raised and we were healing 20 degrees as we positioned ourselves near the line. The Captain is on the high side and asks me to check where we are relative to some other boats. I had to lean out to see under the sail and did what I always do - lent on the life line .... The next thing I knew I was in the water being dragged by the boat holding on for dear life to the lifeline.
Long story short - someone had not secured the pelican after we all boarded and as I put my weight onto the life line the pelican hook snapped open and I launched myself into the bay.
Of course as soon as I went over they left the jib go, headed into the wind and the boat came to a near stop. I was perfectly okay, a few bruises and a small cut but nothing to worry about. My crewmates lent over the side and grabbed my arms and then proceeded to pull my arms out of my sockets as they tried to pull me back into the boat. What a mistake. It was impossible and once I got my breath I told them to ease up and I pulled myself to the stern and climbed up using the outboard as a step.
Once on board, once we had stopped laughing, I toweled myself off and we jumped back into race mode and went for the start.
The lesson I learned was that, in a MOB situation you cannot pull anyone on board - the lifesling or some other technique must be used. I have a ladder on my boat which I have used to climb aboard - but my boat is an O'Day 23 and the freeboard is small compared to some of the larger boats.
My sailing buddy and I talk about MOB drills and what we would do..... More about that in another post on this subject.
Best advice I can give anyone is Try it - Practice practice practice. It can be easy and fun when the sun is shining but it will prepare you and you will learn more about your boat than you would imagine. I'll post another missive on an exercise I did last summer.
The benefit of the practise for me is that I might remember the details when it really matters - even though I pray I will never need to test myself in a real situation.
The weather is warming in the northeast and the boat is calling my name.
Fairwinds
James
Read your post and I can share a personal experience when I went overboard!
This happened about 8 years ago.
It was a Wednesday night race out of the Bristol Yacht Club on Narrangansett bay in RI and I was crewing on a Pearson 26. The crew had raced together for quite a few years so we were all comfortable with our roles and responsibilities. The weather was sunny, and the temperature was in the 70's
My position is to trim the jib and in preparation for the start I usually sit on the lee side to keep an eye on who or what is under us. On this particular night the 5 minute warning gun had just sounded and we were in race mode the 150 jib was raised and we were healing 20 degrees as we positioned ourselves near the line. The Captain is on the high side and asks me to check where we are relative to some other boats. I had to lean out to see under the sail and did what I always do - lent on the life line .... The next thing I knew I was in the water being dragged by the boat holding on for dear life to the lifeline.
Long story short - someone had not secured the pelican after we all boarded and as I put my weight onto the life line the pelican hook snapped open and I launched myself into the bay.
Of course as soon as I went over they left the jib go, headed into the wind and the boat came to a near stop. I was perfectly okay, a few bruises and a small cut but nothing to worry about. My crewmates lent over the side and grabbed my arms and then proceeded to pull my arms out of my sockets as they tried to pull me back into the boat. What a mistake. It was impossible and once I got my breath I told them to ease up and I pulled myself to the stern and climbed up using the outboard as a step.
Once on board, once we had stopped laughing, I toweled myself off and we jumped back into race mode and went for the start.
The lesson I learned was that, in a MOB situation you cannot pull anyone on board - the lifesling or some other technique must be used. I have a ladder on my boat which I have used to climb aboard - but my boat is an O'Day 23 and the freeboard is small compared to some of the larger boats.
My sailing buddy and I talk about MOB drills and what we would do..... More about that in another post on this subject.
Best advice I can give anyone is Try it - Practice practice practice. It can be easy and fun when the sun is shining but it will prepare you and you will learn more about your boat than you would imagine. I'll post another missive on an exercise I did last summer.
The benefit of the practise for me is that I might remember the details when it really matters - even though I pray I will never need to test myself in a real situation.
The weather is warming in the northeast and the boat is calling my name.
Fairwinds
James
I have had two MOBs. Both on a 24 footer with low freeboard. One was in rough conditions and getting that guy on board was tough. When I listen to these stories it makes me realize, as a single hander, there is probably no getting back aboard even if tethered. If it was this tough with people on the boat........... I have made this point before on this board regarding single handers.
One thing I'd point out, is that most MOB drills are great for practicing getting back to the MOB but horrible at getting you any real practice at hauling an MOB back aboard. One sailing instructor I know does his MOB drills with a weighted dummy... which weighs about 125 lbs. The first time I tried to haul that sucker aboard was eye-opening. 
Most of the people who try are really surprised at how difficult it is. He also tosses coconuts overboard for MOB practice... brightly colored cushions are nice and all, but highly unrealistic. A coconut, a large one anyways, is about the size and shape of a human head and about as hard to spot.
Unless your boat has extremely low freeboard, having some form of lifting or hoisting gear is absolutely necessary. One other point, having some way to bring the person aboard in the horizontal position may also be a good idea. If the water is fairly cold, and the person is suffering from hypothermia, bringing them aboard upright is not generally recommended.
Most of the people who try are really surprised at how difficult it is. He also tosses coconuts overboard for MOB practice... brightly colored cushions are nice and all, but highly unrealistic. A coconut, a large one anyways, is about the size and shape of a human head and about as hard to spot. Unless your boat has extremely low freeboard, having some form of lifting or hoisting gear is absolutely necessary. One other point, having some way to bring the person aboard in the horizontal position may also be a good idea. If the water is fairly cold, and the person is suffering from hypothermia, bringing them aboard upright is not generally recommended.
The best defense is a good offense, or.....
Preparation in advance.
A few thoughts:
1. Pipe railing: Like what has been mentioned, staying on-board is the best solution to a MOB situation. To this end, on bigger boats, what I'd like to see is a replacement for "life lines." A one-inch stainless pipe railing.
Some of the older Taiwan-built boats had pipe railings but most sailboats just use plain old plastic-coated "life-line" cable. There are several problems with the cable such as flexibility and strength in the system, to name two. I would feel much more confident with a solid pipe railing.
2. Better hand-holds or swim step: Another area that could stand improvement is in the stern ladder boarding area. For example, our boat has the walk-though transom with a drop-down boarding ladder. However, the transom is sloped so that it could be difficult to make the transition between the ladder when it is in the down-and-deployed position and being inside the walk-though portion. What is needed are some handholds for the in-between area, or perhaps better yet, and in addition, a drop-down or fold-down "swim step" (as they call it on powerboats).
3. Lifting system: Lifting a wet and water-logged person on board over the toe rail is difficult at best. One problem is a person can slip out of some harnesses. What is needed is something more like a climbing harness which is more difficult to slip out of and which keeps the lower part of the body down low if it is connected to a lifting device. I carry a bosuns chair along which could be useful for a person without injury problems and who can get into it.
Preventer: Another thing helpful is a block and tackle with quick releases, such as used for a preventer. This connected to a climbing harness and tailed to a winch could lift quite a load. I use a large Shaffer preventer connected to the main halyard to ship a 115 lb Avon dingy with ease. The downside it that it takes time to set up and deploy. It's one thing to do use this in a calm anchorage but another to do it under adverse conditions. However, it's just another item in the "bag of tools".
Having surfed while holding on a line being towed by a sailing boat, even at only a few knots, I can attest to the fact that a person in the water holding onto a line of a moving boat receives huge forces. This could be really damaging to hands and arms if the boat is moving any more than even walking speed.
You folks in warm-water areas are fortunate. The Northwest water is so cold that you get cold-water shock right away and it's all downhill from there. Hypothermic conditions start setting in after a matter of several minutes.
Preparation in advance.
A few thoughts:
1. Pipe railing: Like what has been mentioned, staying on-board is the best solution to a MOB situation. To this end, on bigger boats, what I'd like to see is a replacement for "life lines." A one-inch stainless pipe railing.
Some of the older Taiwan-built boats had pipe railings but most sailboats just use plain old plastic-coated "life-line" cable. There are several problems with the cable such as flexibility and strength in the system, to name two. I would feel much more confident with a solid pipe railing.
2. Better hand-holds or swim step: Another area that could stand improvement is in the stern ladder boarding area. For example, our boat has the walk-though transom with a drop-down boarding ladder. However, the transom is sloped so that it could be difficult to make the transition between the ladder when it is in the down-and-deployed position and being inside the walk-though portion. What is needed are some handholds for the in-between area, or perhaps better yet, and in addition, a drop-down or fold-down "swim step" (as they call it on powerboats).
3. Lifting system: Lifting a wet and water-logged person on board over the toe rail is difficult at best. One problem is a person can slip out of some harnesses. What is needed is something more like a climbing harness which is more difficult to slip out of and which keeps the lower part of the body down low if it is connected to a lifting device. I carry a bosuns chair along which could be useful for a person without injury problems and who can get into it.
Preventer: Another thing helpful is a block and tackle with quick releases, such as used for a preventer. This connected to a climbing harness and tailed to a winch could lift quite a load. I use a large Shaffer preventer connected to the main halyard to ship a 115 lb Avon dingy with ease. The downside it that it takes time to set up and deploy. It's one thing to do use this in a calm anchorage but another to do it under adverse conditions. However, it's just another item in the "bag of tools".
Having surfed while holding on a line being towed by a sailing boat, even at only a few knots, I can attest to the fact that a person in the water holding onto a line of a moving boat receives huge forces. This could be really damaging to hands and arms if the boat is moving any more than even walking speed.
You folks in warm-water areas are fortunate. The Northwest water is so cold that you get cold-water shock right away and it's all downhill from there. Hypothermic conditions start setting in after a matter of several minutes.
Not really feasible on many boats.
Hard points to tie a tether into would also be useful.
I use my old 6:1 main sheet for this. I don't think a bosun's chair is all that useful, since getting a person who was unconscious into it would require someone going in the water. A sling of some sort is far more useful.
I don't think it is possible to hold on for any significant period of time if the boat is moving at more than a knot or two.
Much the same problem in the Northeast, and generally any MOB that's been in the water for more than a few minutes is going to be unable to assist in their rescue to any significant degree.
I'm glad these post come up from time to time because it causes me to take inventory. As a solo sailor I think my only hope of getting back into the boat is with the stern ladder. As far as a tether is concerned I have a web strap that runs down the center of the boat that I hook, a short tether, to and not the life lines. I have a snap hook on the tether that came with it and it has always concerned me that it would be difficult to unhook under load. Thanks to this post I will change it out to a snap shackle with a short release lanyard. I remember a video a few years ago of a solo sailor who was tethered to his boat with about a 6 ft line. The boat got caught in the surf and rolled. The guy fell out of the boat but was whipped back in when the boat uprighted.I couldn't believe it when the guy immediately stood up in the cockpit like nothing happened. I don't think that I would want to try that.
As far as getting back into the boat there was a French cruiser who took baths (no kidding), by jumping off the bow and catching a line at the stern as the boat sailed by this was in calm waters. I have always assumed that the boat will round up if it wasn't on autopilot allowing me to swim to it am I under the wrong assumption? Once a boat rounds up how fast does it drift? I think Novelman and I are in some serious need of MOB drills. Last time I lost my hat after three passes it nearly drowned.
As far as getting back into the boat there was a French cruiser who took baths (no kidding), by jumping off the bow and catching a line at the stern as the boat sailed by this was in calm waters. I have always assumed that the boat will round up if it wasn't on autopilot allowing me to swim to it am I under the wrong assumption? Once a boat rounds up how fast does it drift? I think Novelman and I are in some serious need of MOB drills. Last time I lost my hat after three passes it nearly drowned.
I was emptying ther boat in the fall in the marina and fell between dock and boat when I lost control of a box I was transferring from boat to dock
My boat has a walk thru transom step which was folded down OVER the swim ladder
No way I could raise the seat high enough from in the water to open the ladder
Fortunately my wife was below and was able to lower the ladder
It was early November and the water was not too cold yet
I never thought I was in danger until I later reflected on how I would get out if no ladder was available. To pull yourself up fully clothed and wet is almost imposible. I'd like to think I would be able to strip and get out but quite frankly in the moment I probably would eventually sink fully clothed! If I had been in cold water good chance I do not get out alone. IN THE MARINA! What an embarrasing epitaph
I never work on the boat alone now without dropping the ladder in first and I advise others to do likewise. Dangerous stuff that water
My boat has a walk thru transom step which was folded down OVER the swim ladder
No way I could raise the seat high enough from in the water to open the ladder
Fortunately my wife was below and was able to lower the ladder
It was early November and the water was not too cold yet
I never thought I was in danger until I later reflected on how I would get out if no ladder was available. To pull yourself up fully clothed and wet is almost imposible. I'd like to think I would be able to strip and get out but quite frankly in the moment I probably would eventually sink fully clothed! If I had been in cold water good chance I do not get out alone. IN THE MARINA! What an embarrasing epitaph
I never work on the boat alone now without dropping the ladder in first and I advise others to do likewise. Dangerous stuff that water
noprob2, aren't there any ladders on the docks in your marina? If not, there should be. At the very least either pay for one yourself or go in with a couple of slip-mates to buy one. A couple years ago the marina in my condo development added more ladders, but I don't know if that was a state-mandated requirement.
Unfortunately, I've seen lots of marinas with no way to get out of the water if you fall off the docks.
while solo-ing i am wondering if the following two ideas have merit: one would be a sturdy rope knotted every foot or so trailed maybe 30-50 feet behind the boat while under way. i understand the difficulty in holding on while moving, but i might prefer this to the alternative - no way at all to get back to the boat. the second thing i have been thinking about is a swim ladder made from rope which could be tied off somewhere (possibly to the mast - i'm not sure about this - maybe to two well-secured stanchions) and deployed the whole while under way.
sounds whacky i'm sure but i have been thinking while reading this thread how to get back and in as a MOB solo-ist.
sounds whacky i'm sure but i have been thinking while reading this thread how to get back and in as a MOB solo-ist.
Unless the rope is attached to the mainsheet or tiller and can cause the boat to head up , head to wind, this generally won't do you much good. If the boat is going more than a knot, you won't be able to pull yourself up the rope to the boat. If it is going more than two or three knots, you won't be able to hold on to the rope for very long.
Having a rope or line that allows you to release and deploy the swim ladder is a very good idea.
Having a rope or line that allows you to release and deploy the swim ladder is a very good idea.
Patsheridan, a rope ladder is really difficult to use. They tend to swing under the boat making it nearly impossible (for me anyway) to ascend. Then they lay flat against the side of the boat with no clearance for your toes. I had the same problems with my stern ladder until I blocked it so that it stayed vertical instead of swinging under. I also had to allow for more toe clearance. Now that it is set up with the ladder telescoping a couple of feet below the water line it is much easier to get back in the boat.
Winching aboard
When I got my Mac/Venture 25' it had a solid, one piece rudder. To sail the lakes in Arizona, I needed a split, kick up rudder. I redid everything starting with a rudder post made from 2" tube; welded on the connections to the transom and added a doubler to the transom brackets. I added a 1-1/2 square tube inside the 2" rudder post to hold up the mast and it also extends to use for mast raising. Next I built the mast raising gin pole out of the same 1-1/2 square tube and added a 1500# brake winch. After reading this thread, I went out and checked - sure enough, it fits into the rudder and with the reinforced transom (inside) and doubled brackets (outside) I can let out the 20' web strap and lift anything up to 1500# that the system is designed for. I would not have thought of that use until I read this. It works! Now I hope I won't have to use it, but will carry it on board.
When I got my Mac/Venture 25' it had a solid, one piece rudder. To sail the lakes in Arizona, I needed a split, kick up rudder. I redid everything starting with a rudder post made from 2" tube; welded on the connections to the transom and added a doubler to the transom brackets. I added a 1-1/2 square tube inside the 2" rudder post to hold up the mast and it also extends to use for mast raising. Next I built the mast raising gin pole out of the same 1-1/2 square tube and added a 1500# brake winch. After reading this thread, I went out and checked - sure enough, it fits into the rudder and with the reinforced transom (inside) and doubled brackets (outside) I can let out the 20' web strap and lift anything up to 1500# that the system is designed for. I would not have thought of that use until I read this. It works! Now I hope I won't have to use it, but will carry it on board.
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