Boarding the dinghy

Ross · Aug 23, 2009

Snug the boats together fore and aft and climb down or up maintaining three points of contact all the time. Don't jump!

SanderO · Aug 23, 2009

You need to find a solution that is workable. Our boat has a sturdy drop down swim ladder with teak treads on the transom which is quite handy.

We land the dink beam to the steps and can tie a dinghy stern line and the bow painter to the ladder quite easily. It stays snug against the stern. If the seas are rough and the boat is hoppy horsing (rare) this is not a good approach.

We have two small dogs which we need to get on and off. Getting them onto the boat is a matter of lifting them and putting them on the deck or into the cockpit. Getting them aboard I usually drop them one at a time, gently onto the bow of the inflatable.

The dink is used a lot since we are always anchor or moored. So it's important that it all works easily. Ours is a rib and quite stable if you stand on the tubes, unlike a rigid boat.

If it fits, get a good drop down swim ladder with real treads. That should do the trick.

Stu Jackson · Aug 23, 2009

60's??? That's still young

Stern ladders even with good treads are difficult at best. Good ladders side tied work great unless you raft up a lot.

Some have dropped their stern ladders, lower left three pictures: http://www.c34.org/projects/kindred-spirit/upgrades_pics2.html

Here's a way to build foot rungs: http://www.c34.org/projects/kindred-spirit/ladder_rungs.html

zeehag · Aug 23, 2009

i use the waist of my boat and i sit on my bulwarks then slide into the dink which i have tied off well and securely and i am in the dink safely--kayak same thing--my freeboard is waaayyy high--formosa 41---LOL...havent fallen in yet....been doing this for many many years.........goood luck--i donot enter dink from stern as that part of the boat has most movement----waist has least movement....gooood luck.....

RAD · Aug 23, 2009

My Stearn ladder drops down and I bring the dink sideways to the Stearn and drop the ladder into the dink and it holds the dink snug to the boat while you climb up or down and this method seems to work well with the 6 year old

WeeZerNeek6052 · Aug 23, 2009

Most Pearsons came with stern drop down ladder as ours did. We found that adding an extra handhold/step attached to the hull was needed to improve the step spacing. We have thought about splitting the backstay, but keeping it as is offers another handhold. We are about your age and find the stern boarding is as easy as anything. If considering a side mount ladder, give careful thought as to where your handholds will be for entering and exiting your dinghy. A side mounted ladder would have to be stowed while underway while the stern mount just pivots up.

Royal Flush · Aug 24, 2009

Re: 60's??? That's still young

Awsome Ladder system you have there!!! Thanks to people like you, we're all getting some really useful ideas and systems shared between the group!

AlwaysFORSAIL · Aug 24, 2009

Geoff, The easiest way I have found to board to/from a dinghy is the "one step". Tom 'what's his name' who writes for a few sailing rags designed it &/or marketed it, two hooks with rope and a foot step. It clips on to my toe rail, anywhere along the beam, and when not in use can be flipped up over the life line. I typically tie my dinghy off to the midship cleat then back over the lifelines and down to the dinghy. Make sure that when you place your first foot on the dinghy that you are pushing inward or your dink may dunk you or you will be hanging from the lifeline. West Marine sells the One Step for $20 or so.

Stern boarding with a stern ladder, which I have, or a swim platform is difficult at best. The One Step takes a little practice and faith in your lifelines as well as your ability to take a long step. I do it with bad knees, and my wife does it as well. We are old young folks too.

Bruce Harten · Aug 24, 2009

tube ladder

Geoff K said:
I could find no mention of this topic in the forum and thus suspect it's an obvious thing that I'm missing. What's the easiest/safest way to get into the dinghy from the boat? We just got an inflatable (haven't inflated it yet) and hope to do some Lake Superior cruising next year. We'll need to get to shore at the islands and have 2 small dogs.

I look at the 4 foot freeboard and the wobbly rope ladder now used for an emergency boarding ladder and think of a moving and flexible small platform to get into and wonder if I should ask Worlds Funniest Videos to stand by.

Any suggestions? Bear in mind we are in our mid 60s and not as lithe and limber as we "should" be.

Geoff

Geoff...get a 10 ft stick of schedule 80 white pvc, cut ft holes 16 inches apart similar to factory whistle openings....employ a good line loop over a cleat @ 3ft mark even with deck..then you have four ft of freeboard covered to the water...3 ft imersed for bottom stability and 3ft above the deck. other accoutrements for stability can be added and you can store spinacher pole inside .asajuice5@hotmail.com,,,,best wishes bruce

Bruce Harten · Aug 24, 2009

tube ladder

Geoff K said:
I could find no mention of this topic in the forum and thus suspect it's an obvious thing that I'm missing. What's the easiest/safest way to get into the dinghy from the boat? We just got an inflatable (haven't inflated it yet) and hope to do some Lake Superior cruising next year. We'll need to get to shore at the islands and have 2 small dogs.

I look at the 4 foot freeboard and the wobbly rope ladder now used for an emergency boarding ladder and think of a moving and flexible small platform to get into and wonder if I should ask Worlds Funniest Videos to stand by.

Any suggestions? Bear in mind we are in our mid 60s and not as lithe and limber as we "should" be.

Geoff

Geoff...get a 10 ft stick of schedule 80 white 4 inch pvc, cut ft holes 16 inches apart similar to factory whistle openings....employ a good line loop over a cleat @ 3ft mark even with deck..then you have four ft of freeboard covered to the water...3 ft imersed for bottom stability and 3ft above the deck. other accoutrements for stability can be added and you can store spinacher pole inside .asajuice5@hotmail.com,,,,best wishes bruce

Napa Ed · Aug 24, 2009

Boarding Step

I also use a one step over the side on a boat with 3+ feet of freeboard. Available at the SBO chandlery.

http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?group=216

wetankles · Aug 24, 2009

QuickStep by Doyle Marine - great boarding choice!

AlwaysFORSAIL said:
Geoff, The easiest way I have found to board to/from a dinghy is the "one step". Tom 'what's his name' who writes for a few sailing rags designed it &/or marketed it, two hooks with rope and a foot step. It clips on to my toe rail, anywhere along the beam, and when not in use can be flipped up over the life line. I typically tie my dinghy off to the midship cleat then back over the lifelines and down to the dinghy. Make sure that when you place your first foot on the dinghy that you are pushing inward or your dink may dunk you or you will be hanging from the lifeline. West Marine sells the One Step for $20 or so.

Stern boarding with a stern ladder, which I have, or a swim platform is difficult at best. The One Step takes a little practice and faith in your lifelines as well as your ability to take a long step. I do it with bad knees, and my wife does it as well. We are old young folks too.

Tom Neale used to give these away in a promotion that I did with him. I am the manufacturer of the QuickStep that is for some reason often referred to as the one-step.

If you have high freeboard you may wish to order a two step version.

These steps have several advantages to a rigid step system:
If you are in rough conditions these steps generally stay aligned with the surface of the water while the boat bobs fore and aft.
They come with large stainless clips that affix at a single point or at two points. If you have a Catalina as an example, you can clip them onto a single stancion or between them.

Check out the step on this site:
http://shop.catalinaowners.com/detail.htm?group=223

Their are so many uses for these steps that Tom enjoyed recommending them as "essential cruising gear". The Pardee's have been recommending them at their seminars!

Fair winds!

David Doyle
Doyle Marine

soggysocks · Aug 24, 2009

Geoff K said:
I could find no mention of this topic in the forum and thus suspect it's an obvious thing that I'm missing. What's the easiest/safest way to get into the dinghy from the boat? We just got an inflatable (haven't inflated it yet) and hope to do some Lake Superior cruising next year. We'll need to get to shore at the islands and have 2 small dogs.

I look at the 4 foot freeboard and the wobbly rope ladder now used for an emergency boarding ladder and think of a moving and flexible small platform to get into and wonder if I should ask Worlds Funniest Videos to stand by.

Any suggestions? Bear in mind we are in our mid 60s and not as lithe and limber as we "should" be.

Geoff

The QuickStep by Doyle Marine is the "one step" referred to in several of the comments. It has been a favorite of cruisers for many years now and recommended by some of the best known cruisers. The Pardee's have been recommending them at their seminars and Tom Neale used to promote them at his seminars.

The large snaps clip onto toe-rail and a host of other convenient places including the base wires of most stancions.

The two step version shown is affixed to a 45' Hunter.
Ed & Dorthy use this step whenever they are away from home port aboard "Dakota" - its a good way to board from the dock and is a frequent topic of interest on yacht club visits.

Sold at SailboatOwners:
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?group=223

Seattle Scott · Aug 24, 2009

I made a platform

Geoff, I have an 80 lb dog so needed a platform. I hang a approx 2 x 2 ft plywood platform from the toe rail, with "arms" that fold up when no in use. The outer end is suspended from cables that clip to the toe rail. the platform is big enough that oyu can get a knee down on it. Very stable and works with the dog. We have an inflatable.

SanderO · Aug 24, 2009

Boarding from the side of the boat requires a gate in the life lines. If you don't have one this is quite a project to install.

We have 2 - 20# dogs which I often board from the side by placing them on the deck under the life lines, then I board from the stern using our sturdy stern board ladder. It's a snap in almost all seas except when the boat is really hobby horsing, which steep chop. But board from the beam would be equally dangerous.

In addition, we have the back stay as a strong hand hold which you wouldn't have with a side boarding. At best you have the rather low life lines, fine for reaching up but not as secure as you step onto the deck.

Randyonr3 · Aug 24, 2009

What I've found that works, I use a fender from the boat, attach a line to the other side and run both lines through a 2x6 that I have drilled a couple holes in.. you stand in the 2x6 and its supported by the fender.. the 2x6 sets off the boat a couple inches due to the 8 inch fender.. I use the same unit when going up the mast.. works great for a seat.. and when tied to a wall, I use the wood lashed to 2 fenders (wood against the wall)

critt424 · Aug 24, 2009

On my Newport 30 I didn't have a boarding ladder(maybe should have) but in order for us to get on and off our dinghy, I swung the boom out about past the boat's edge(not very far) and secured the boom so it wouldn't sway too much. I then tied a strong 1" line to the boom with several knots the length of the line. I had to work a little but it did the job.

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