Simple Dinghy Boarding Ladder/Device?

[Steve L22188]

We're headed to the BVIs next month (can't wait) for our second trip in three years. One of the "challenges" on the first trip was how to reboard the dinghy after snorkeling.

I finally got semi-proficient at climbing over the back of the dinghy using the outboard motor's fins and protuberances as leverage points to get back on board. It wasn't safe - and it sure wasn't pretty!

Does anyone have a simple contraption to make it easier to reboard a dinghy? I'm thinking a length of rope with a simple short board in the middle with a knot on each end of the board...does that make sense?

I figure someone on this forum has encountered this before and developed a good, simple solution I can stick into my bag and carry to the Islands.

Thanks, as always, in advance for the good ideas to come.

Steve

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Steve-
A few years back when I took my first trip to the BVI's I found a device similar to what you describe online. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the company I bought it from but I had found them on www.traveltalkonline on the BVI Charters forum. Anyway it had a loop of webbing that hung down in the water and you attached it to a point inside the dinghy. The trick is to have that first step down in the water far enough that you can get into but not so far that you get no leverage. I hope that makes sense. You might also try searching this forum because I have a vague memory that this was dicussed before but I could be wrong.

 

[dscribner]

Steve,

We used something similar to Princess's suggestsion to get back on out boat, but the foot holds were solid. What I found was that when I applies weight to the strap, I swung under the boat and couldn't get up anyway. Maybe it was the distance I has to drop it into the water and my soft chine. Don't know. Something to consider.

 

[harquah]

Steve-
A few years back when I took my first trip to the BVI's I found a device similar to what you describe online. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the company I bought it from but I had found them on www.traveltalkonline on the BVI Charters forum. Anyway it had a loop of webbing that hung down in the water and you attached it to a point inside the dinghy. The trick is to have that first step down in the water far enough that you can get into but not so far that you get no leverage. I hope that makes sense. You might also try searching this forum because I have a vague memory that this was dicussed before but I could be wrong.

It's called a Sea Step and works quite well.

 

[Sailm8]

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/Findings/findings44/page5.asp

See the test results

 

[Joe]

http://www.boatus.com/foundation/Findings/findings44/page5.asp

See the test results

I would choose device #3 in the boatus blog.

 

[Slim pickins]

Whatever side you do put the steps on, put a line attached to the opposite side to give yourself a hand hold and some pulling power with your arms as you come out of the water, but be careful as you could capsize the dinghy this way too.

 

[thinwater]

Is boarding over the side difficult?

Grab the line on the gunnel, duck under water, and give a dolphin kick. Up in 1/2 second with very little strain. MUCH easier than any of the steps AND safe in a swell, which the steps may not be.

Practice.

 

[sailcruiser]

If I were to buy one tomorrow it would be one of these:

http://www.davit.com/ladders.html

I have a crane by this company and really like it. SC

 

[CarlN]

It's not cheap but this is the only one I've ever liked. When extended, it's rigid so that your feet don't go under the dinghy as you do with a rope ladder type. Folded, it's small enough that you could easily pack in your luggage.

http://www.up-n-out.com/dinghy-ladders/

Carl

 

[Gunni]

Is boarding over the side difficult?

Grab the line on the gunnel, duck under water, and give a dolphin kick. Up in 1/2 second with very little strain. MUCH easier than any of the steps AND safe in a swell, which the steps may not be.

Practice.

Exactly. The fix you are looking for is already on your feet - flippers. Kick and pull in a single, coordinated move and you will come up over the side and onto the tube. Splash some water on the inflatable tube to slide better.

 

[Cest La Vie]

I have the "up and out" already referenced-got mine at the Annapolis Boat Show. After trying rope loops, web straps and a host of other concepts, the "up and out" mode is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The notion of using fins to kick up and pull yourself in is great if you are slim and fit. Those with less/little/no upper body strength generally provide significant entertainment for all the other boaters in the area.

 

[thinwater]

I have the "up and out" already referenced-got mine at the Annapolis Boat Show. After trying rope loops, web straps and a host of other concepts, the "up and out" mode is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The notion of using fins to kick up and pull yourself in is great if you are slim and fit. Those with less/little/no upper body strength generally provide significant entertainment for all the other boaters in the area.

Honestly, it's not upper body strength, it's method. As a child I learned to launch myself from pools this way, straight to my feet. And there is nothing wrong with ending in a belly flop; in any kind of rough water I plan on a belly flop, like reboarding a kayak, as it is safer.

I would also add, that if you ever need to enter a life raft, this is a good skill. Fins not required. As basic for a boater as learning to swim or to don a PFD in the water. Compared to a ladder, there is less tendency to flip the boat; consider a ladder on a canoe to understand the point.

 

[wgkenney]

I had a similar issue.

We did not secure the dinghy well one evening and I ended up swimming out about 30 yards while we were at anchor to grab it. Realized that I really could not get into it so had to "tow" it back myself (dead calm, no wind).

So I made my own ladder. About $20 at home depot. Works great. We just leave it in the dink and it is there when we need it. I'm about 6'0" and 179lbs and it holds me fine. Some PVC pipe, rope, and some rings. I can always grab the loose end with the knot to get the ladder out. Then use that to pull me up with the steps.

Glenn

 

[CHARLIE STAGE]

I affirm the homemade device as described, I made two very similar devices over the past 20 years or so and the first was popular enough to have been borrowed by someone I did not know and have not gotten it back yet????? I have only had to replace the rope in my second one as the edges of the pipe wore through it until they rounded out.l

 

[Cayennita]

I made a similar one as the PVC one except that i used a broom stick cut into four wrungs. Drilled holes at both ends and ran lines through them with over hand knots at both upper and lower of each one. Also the rope was long enough to reach opposite side to create a good hand hold. It's 12 years old now and I still use it.

 

[Ken Cross]

without an aid to get in the dinghy it is still a mater of technique. We used to have a canoe and when my kids were small they weren't allowed to take the canoe out themselves until they could jump out and reboard without swamping it with no help. they all managed easily once I demonstrated it to them. I could even do it and the canoe was so light if a 50 pounder just tried to climb in it would capsize.

Here's the trick: swim up to the boat with your feet on top of the water away from the boat. grab the rail and pull the boat under you (in one smooth motion) but don't stop there or it will swamp. Once you are half way over the rail, roll your body onto your back inside the boat and onto the floor. It will right itself as soon as you hit the floor. This sounds acrobatic but it's not. Believe me I'm no acrobat. when I do this on a really light canoe about a gallon of water comes in with me and re-boarding takes less than 5 seconds. Practice and you will should find it pretty easy.

I'm not sure if my description is clear, but all of us who use light dinghies should know how to do this.

Ken

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Seems to me if you are wearing flippers you can kick like hell and pull/push your way over the side of the dinghy and into the boat. I have been doing this for years. But, there also is a dinghy ladder for inflatables made by Scandia Products (same people who make Color Wheels). They will have a booth at the Chicago Strickly Sail Show coming up in a couple of weeks.
They also are usually at the annapolis show and I believe Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and St. Pete. But you can find them on line with something like Scandia marine products.