Safety / the little extras / Pic

[Mike Pennington]

Last month, my friend Lars and I discussed getting back aboard the Vacationer if someone were to accidently or purposely goe in the water. Stable boat, but high side. Cold water, how long before one looses their energy before hypothermia sets in? A good boarding ladder is the solution. Hung ready to be grabbed from the water if single handing. I added a trailing tail to this one, I will find a smaller float in a day or two. Six rungs for easy assent, close together and one up over the rail. Now all the mermaids can go for a swim and come back :wink:

[Frank Hagan]

Good idea! I know some sailors toss a 50' polypropylene line out behind them when singlehanding ... the poly rope floats, so you can usually find it.

You might take a look at using one of the "pool noodles" or "swim noodles" as a float for your line. Easy to tie in place, and it doesn't take much room to stow!

[Simon]

I'd be intersted to see a mermaid climb up that one

Good idea though - I'm thinking along similar lines.

[Andrew]

has anyone ever tried 'lounging' on a net behind a W/E or vacationer? I remember that the tourists in Cairns used to sit on a net being towed behind the boat.

It was said to be fairly relaxing at low speed, but quite scary if things really got going!!

[Dave R1]

I recall reading about a fellow who was towing a line while singlehanding. He decided to give it a try a jumped overboard while sailing at a pretty good clip. If I remember, the first couple of times he tried it, he did just fine but eventually he got tired enough that he had no strength left to pull himself to the boat. Since he had locked his helm, all he could do was hang on until the boat grounded somewhere.

I like your ladder, Mike. How did you attach it to the deck? Can it be deployed on either side of the boat? If you have a man overboard situation with someone still in control, being able to deploy it on either side could be handy when (if? :wink: ) you circle back to get them.

[Mike Pennington]

I thought that anchoring it low would be best. Since I use a tiller, my lazzerett is open at the bottom. I used a 2x8 for the bottom stern gusset :roll: standered Penn overkill. Anyway, I thought that would be a good place to start, then I can go to one side or the other.

Almost ready for the road trip, packing, loading, going over the check list. How much more can a Vacationer hold?

Sure wish I had time to install that forward hatch that I have been neglecting.

[Mike Pennington]

This stern wake is on a light day, I am a good swimmer, but I would be hard pressed to catch Wolfy if she didn't come up into the wind on her own.

[T. Nelson Surbrook]

The key to survival is wearing your life jacket. The water temp. will effect how long you can stay alive. The 50-50 rule says, a fifty year old man in 50 degree water can swim 50 yards. In cold water you won't last very long at all. The more energy you use the faster hypothermia will set in. With the new inflatable life jackets like the Sospenders there is very little argument for not playing it smart and wearing the life jacket. The truth is that life jackets save lives. The Coast Guard's recommendation on this is based on real life experience.

[Knut]

Man overboard can be a nasty situation, no doubt. The Norwegian Prime Minister (some years back) Gro Harlem Brundtland was out sailing with her husband (about 30' coastal cruiser) and he fell in the water, which held about 65 F. She was not strong enough to pull him in and he did not have any ladder or similar to help himself. After a lot of trying, he got more and more exhausted and cold and they had to give it up. She got a rope below his arms and started towing him to the shore and trying to get help. Her husband almost lost his life to hypothermia before they finally got help.

The two of them made at least two major mistakes (after the situation was there):

1. The sailboat boom with the main sheet can be used as a crane boom with a 4x rope pully. She could have lifted her husband into the boat quite easily. One of the jibsheet winches (if they had such) could probably also have been used.

2. It would alternatively be quite simple to produce a rope with loops at about a foot distance and a weight at the end. This could be used as a stepladder and her husband would have had small problems getting into the boat by himself.

Lesson to learn: If you have not thought about it and prepared for it in advance, the stress of the situation may make you overlook pretty simple and 'obvious' solutions.

Safety first is actually a good rule!

[Phil Gowans]

Mike, Thanks for showing your ladder. I have wanted to build one that I can use when singlehanding so I can go swimming if I want. I did some testing and found the boat was so light (and I'm so heavy) that I was afraid that the boat might tip over. I was attaching it to the grab rails. I considered the using the taff rail, but that didn't seem to want to work.

Attaching low, that's the idea. Now for some more testing. I'd just about given up on the idea. Thanks again.

[Craig]

Mike have you ever used a rope ladder? Watch your toes. People with little upper body strength may not be able to use that ladder. The problem with them is that you have to climb out as well as up as the boat heels and the shoulder and upper arm stress is very large.

[Barry Pyeatt]

When sailing alone I have always dragged a long poly rope with a couple floats on it behind me. Common sense issue in my mind. I also wear a flotation vest all the time when sailing alone. We always practice "man-overboard drills with the kids and new sailing buddies. You never know when you are going to need it.

I've always had a problem with rope ladders as they would just go under the boat when I was trying to use them. I found that they did little other than give me something to hang onto while I pulled myself out with my arms. :oops:

As a result I have had to rethink that issue. I've played with attaching two side wings with non-skid on either side of the bottom of the rudder box. :idea: That would allow me to stand on the rudder box and come up over the transom. But if the taff rail isn't that secure or strong, then I would hate to have it just pull off. :shock: :oops: :shock:

Coming over the side on a Weekender when alone might be an issue for those of us that are on the ballast side of trim. :? :roll:

So I rationalized that incorporating one of the stainless steel tub grab bars onto the rear deck as a horse for the boom could also double as the grab bar to help pull me out. :idea:

I had my son take a 36" "assisted living" Stainless tub bar to work and bend it to match the curve of the transom and the rear deck. That was a simple task for them. (Also any muffler shop.) I already had the reinforced sides of the deck at the transom for the steering modification. The bar will mount just infront of the taff rail and extends above it enough that it is easy to reach and grab. It will thru bolt to the aft portion of the deck. The Stainless Steel ring for the horse (literally horse tack from a bridle) will go on before mounting it. It will slide from side to side as the boom moves.

I am thinking about installing a fold down three step ladder on the starboard side of the transom. It will lie flush with the transom and lock in place when not in use. When you need it, it will swing down and brace against the bottom so you can step up and onto the rear deck. This can be fabricated from Electrical conduit and have nice wooden treads so it looks nice and the conduit can be polished easily. It doesn't have to be much wider than the width of your foot. By extending down below the waterline and coming over the stern, I think there will be more stability and it will be much easier to use. Also there when you need it the most. Not stowed inside the cabin or in a locker.

[T. Nelson Surbrook]

Barry I used a piece of 1/2" 316 ss rod bent and threaded with fender washers and nuts on each side of the deck for my horse and it makes a fine and very sturdy grab rail. When boarding a Weekender from the water you must enter over the transom.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Thanks! I bet it would. My son and I tossed the idea around for quite awhile and we considered solid rod. But in the end I think the fact that we already had this and it was very heavy duty and not suitable for bath use anymore, we decided to see how it would bend and if it would look OK. Schools still out on that until it gets in the water and used for awhile.

[Mike Pennington]

Well, I must admit it has been awhile since I climbed out of the water on a rope ladder. I always prefered the fancy folding ones for comfort. I built the ladder for the Mermaids, they keep jumping over board, then wanting back on deck. So they can do the blonde on the bow thing. :roll:

Lord I hope I don't ever have to actually use it.

But to be plain and simply smart, I go with the PFD. My favorite of coarse is the flotation coat. I also have a sterns flotation vest and a variety of others for Guests. Comfort, has a lot to do with getting every one to keeping them on. I'm kind of picky about crew obeying orders, I read them the Articles before we leave port.

I miss this boat, but I still got the coat.

I was checking out the nice survival suits on line, for crazy off shore and bay hoppers, they are not really priced all that bad.

[Florin {VACATIONER}]

That is a nice boarding ladder. I am planning on making one too, we have a few mermaids as well and I don't really feel like hoisting them up in the boat (with my arms) every time they're done swimming. I'm still looking for a good design of a boarding plank to be used mainly by my 100lb dog when the boat is beached. I really am not looking forward to lifting the bugger up on board from the water, besides he gets really offended when someone tries to pick him up and he growls pretty ugly. I think it has to do with the alpha dog male pride or something, but he's not very happy.

Do chime in if you have any ideas other than the boom-crane deal I've heard before.

Thanks