Could you get back in the boat after falling overboard?

[WillieC]

Exactly what I have, Kerry. A nice upgrade from nothing.

[DesertAlbin736]

I'd like to have a folding swim ladder like Capt Brad's. Problem is on my boat as on all A25's, the transom is curved. And in my case in particular the swim platform is not deep enough, only 13 inches at the center. This photo was taken when it was set up for Weaver Snap Davits which have since been removed & was a study on dimensions for adding the lift davits that are on there now.

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This was my prior solution, a rope ladder that could be clipped onto the end of the swim platform & with an added grab handle. Not easy to use, but doable. As can be seen carrying the dinghy on snap davits blocked access when the dinghy was stowed, and now the lift davits block the ends of the platform. What I could do is attach this rope ladder to the stern of the dinghy & board the dinghy that way, IF there were crew available who could lower the dinghy in a MOB situation.

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Otherwise no suitable replacement solution has been found so far, other than climbing onto the dinghy or being lifted by crew using one of the davit falls as mentioned in an earlier post. So for now the rule is never go out single handed. And of course take all precautions to prevent falling overboard in the first place, including wearing PFD's on deck & tethering in while up on the foredeck in rough weather.

[DCatSea]

Just did due diligence on the SOS MOB Recovery System. This is an Australian device available from US distributors. It looks interesting enough to warrant a trip to Annapolis to have a look/see, to determine whether or not to put it on the boat's inventory. Not cheap, but if it means getting back onboard without assistance from above then it's probably worth the $$$$.

One big advantage of beam re-entry is that you don't have to contend with the swim platform trying to beat your brains out as you deploy the ladder, bearing in mind Murphy's Sea Law which states that if you are in the water when you didn't intend it, the boat is probably bouncing around a bit..

Big question is if you can deploy it (or perhaps rig to deploy) from the floating position.

http://www.sosmarine.com/product/sos-recovery-ladder/

[DCatSea]

Earlier this year I fitted a 4-rung pullout ladder under the swim step, which made a big difference to actually being able to remount. Recently I saw (somewhere - AOG?) an idea for an extension made out of 2 carabiners, a length of rope and a pipe, which it is now completed and tested, in and out. It provides an adjustable and very handy extra rung some ways below the bottom rung of the metal ladder, which allows my old bones to get on to the ladder without the contortions. I think it could also be attached to sides in an emergency remount, via port and starboard cleats. The pull-out ladder actually extends out further from the swim step and drops down at a slight angle, which further helps getting back in. For info: the pipe/step is on my dock.
Note: Knowing me, I'll probably give the pipe a galvanizing primer and paint it dayglo orange.

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