Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

[esobofh]

Folks.. i'm a fan of multi-use and for that reason, figured an open utility is best for my family when it comes to our normal outings (fishing, camping, crabbing, toolin about..)

Now that it's summer, I find we're in the water as much as we're in the boat.. but getting back in is a major hassle. Kids can clamber up without much hassle.. but how does a fat lazy adult reboard a light aluminum boat?

I've been using the outboard as a sort of step into the boat, but i feel like i'm going to do some damage.. any suggestions?

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

easy
buy a portable swim ladder
you just hook them along the side of the boat and are held on by the boat.
works like a charm and just take it off when youre done
something just like this
http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_010933_imageset_08?$main-Large$

 

[109jb]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

You can also attach boarding ladder or swim platform with ladder to the transom.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

and I wouldn't worry about damaging the outboard. The force it exerts propelling your boat is much greater than whatever you're putting on it coming back into the boat. (unless we're talking about like a 4HP here)

 

[Splat]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

My small aluminum 16ft I normally don't jump in and get wet unless its beached and in waist high water. However being a big boy, at almost 280# I've often thought about what if I went over board in an area that I couldn't reach the bottom, pulling myself over the side of a tinny could present its own challenges for several reasons, including a bad shoulder injury from several years ago.

My solution was in my opinion a novel one, but may or may not work for everybody. The most stable way to enter the boat is over the bow, so I leave my dock line attached to the forward cleat but inside the boat. I would practice this next part, its easy for me but your mileage may vary. Basicall I secure the other end of the line to the opposite cleat so it loops down around the front of the bow. Just put your foot on top and use your legs to assist getting over the gunnel and boom your in.

The hard part here is what makes it hard to climp a roap ladder. When you step on the rope, if the loop is too long you will simply push it under the bow and it will make it impossiable to get in. If this happens just shorten it and away you go.

Its no perfect but in a small tinny where a space is at a premium it works for me.

Bill

 

[esobofh]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

Funny.. i'm 280# as well, hence my concern over the transom.

i had considered the swim ladder, but didn't think it would work to well on the side, and my transom won't fit it (as a simple hang over the edge).

...over the bow might work though, and would be quite stable i think.

thanks guys!

 

[dwhite1031]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

My small aluminum 16ft I normally don't jump in and get wet unless its beached and in waist high water. However being a big boy, at almost 280#

Splat, I too have that classic "Calvin Klein Male Model" physique you speak of. I've also noticed that my aluminum bass boat tends to "tip" more to the side when I move toward the port or starboard side, especially on the front flipping deck. I can lean over to get another rod and it darned near throws me overboard. My grown son is right at 170 and it does him the same way. I assume it's the nature of the lighter aluminum boats.​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boarding an Aluminum Boat from the water

we had a big ole boy for a friend, when he went to get in the boat up the side ladder, everyone in the boat would go to the ladder side, this lower the ladder for him. he would grab on, with his foot on the bottom step. we would count to 3, everyone ran to the other side while he put his weight on the step. it would sort of catapult him into the boat.