Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

[Richard Petersen]

How many of us seniors have anchored our boat in 8 to 10' of water jumped in, with no life jacket and tried to get in by your self ? Do the same thing with a life jacket ? YES you should have a young strong guy in the boat, if you can't do it on your own. Now do it with the boat the boat not anchored. That is why WE always go out with someone else or stay in a yelling distance of others.---------------------------------------------------------DO as I say. I do not always do as I know I should. Still, I do try. It's my butt on the line.

 

[JB]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

Boat topic.

 

[bruffcorn]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

JB - I'm sorry to ask a stupid question but what does your reply mean?

 

[one more cast]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

bruffcorn, JB is a iboats moderator and he moved the post to a boat category.

 

[bruffcorn]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

Thanks OMC - just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing somthing.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

No problem and welcome to iboats. This is a pretty friendly and very closely watched site. Unlike a lot of other sites that get way out of control.

 

[gspig]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

You seniors aren't the only ones that have problems. I have a 21' cuddy, that has a 3 step boarding ladder built onto the back. The bottom step swings up to clear the water. When I try to get on from the water, its nearly impossible. I guess I just need to get a better boarding ladder.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

sorry, didn't mean to be a hijacker. I'm 46 years old but have trouble getting in and out of boats from shore. I've had to get rid of a few boats because of it. I have a jon style boat now so I can just step up on.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

I climb in over the outboard using the anticavitation plate as a first step. I still got a few years before I can join AARP. <br /><br />Similar thread on my fishing forum, some of the members mentioned having a tilt switch at the stern; they climb on and tilt themselves up to the deck.

 

[rayjay]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

I have also used the outboard. Just be VERY careful. A slip and you could end up with a life threatening gash on some part of your body from the prop.<br /><br />We recently bought a small houseboat with one of those 3 rung collapsible ladders and I can tell it's not going to work out. Too short, too verticle and no hand rail. Bad knees all around. I'll have to make something ingenious

 

[Mark42]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

If you leave a length of rope with a loop in the end within reach, you can pull into the water what you need then tie it off to a cleat. Put your foot or feet in the loop, grab the gunnel, and stand yourself up. Then in one graceful maneuver, lean over the gunnel, and fall flat on your face into the boat. <br /><br />Be sure to wiggle your legs in the air while inverted in the boat so people know you're ok. Then stand up, brush yourself off, and pretend nothing happened.<br /><br />I guess with a little patience a rope with two or three foot loops could be tied and act as a ladder. I bet you would look real sophisticated using that contraption. Probably the envy of all the yacht owner within sight. Assuming they haven't all collapsed on the floor in fits of hysterical laughter after watching you try to heave your bulk into the boat.<br /><br />Could work, ya know?<br /><br />

 

[Solittle]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

I have a small transom platform on one side of my twin outboards (23' CC). It came with a single fold down step that was worse than climbing up the back of the motors. I was bit&ching about it to a neighbor who was a welder. He fabricated a deep three step fold down ladder out of stainless steel tube that works just great. It has three tubes welded together for steps and is easy on the feet. It sticks up quite a bit above the transom when it is folded up but is better for us AARP folks than anything I have seen short of what they use on dive boats. Without it my wife would not get into the water.

 

[allen.st]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

Richard, you may want to check out a dive ladder, it is one upright with the horizontal rungs, they neat thing is the mounting of it. They mount on a pair of shoulder bolts so it is easy to slide on and off. to store it you can turn it over and slide it back onto the mount and let it stick up in the air, Looks like a funny TV antena that way. Most also will float<br /><br />Down side is PRICE

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

This might sound weird, but you can actually shift your weight balance point to help with an inadequate ladder. Hard to describe, but put your foot on the bottom rung, hands on the platform/ rail, and just visualize your balance point rising to a higher position on your body. Slowly you'll feel it shift; it's almost as if someone gave you a boost onto the step. Don't try to pull yourself up until you feel the shift. <br /><br />I know this might sound crazy, but give it a try; works wonders for me.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

...just visualize your balance point rising to a higher position on your body. Slowly you'll feel it shift....

Wait, wait, wait.... Don't tell me... Mind over Water, right?!<br /><br />

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

Me?<br />As I get near my boat, I just walk on water. It's been done before.<br /><br />Seriously, the idea of using the outboard tilt switch sounds great - kinda like your own personal elevator. Always wondered what that switch was for.<br /><br />Fortunately, they all tilt slowly. Now if someone was to supercharge the tilt . . . . . .

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

Originally posted by Mark42:<br />

...just visualize your balance point rising to a higher position on your body. Slowly you'll feel it shift....

Wait, wait, wait.... Don't tell me... Mind over Water, right?!<br />

No, it's physical . Don't know how it works, but got the concept of switching your balance point from a demonstration by an Aikido black belt during a business seminar (I know, even that sounds weird, but his concepts were actually useful and applicable to the business setting). Obviously his demo didn't apply to water, but I remembered the concept and tried it with my boat ladder. Voila, it actually worked! <br /><br />Try it while lying on the floor and trying to get up without using your hands. Kind of like doing a half sit up (hands behind your head), then holding it while concentrating on shifting your balance point forward. Don't force it and you may find that slowly you'll rock forward to a sitting position without any extra effort. I know it sounds weird, but give it a try and let us know if anyone else can get it to work.<br /><br /> stillfishing: I haven't aspired to trying to walk on water yet, I'm still at the level of trying to keep my boat floating on the water .

 

[rwidman]

Re: Getting back into a drifting boat - ALONE

Originally posted by Richard Petersen:<br /> How many of us seniors have anchored our boat in 8 to 10' of water jumped in, with no life jacket and tried to get in by your self ? Do the same thing with a life jacket ? YES you should have a young strong guy in the boat, if you can't do it on your own. Now do it with the boat the boat not anchored. That is why WE always go out with someone else or stay in a yelling distance of others.

Having thought of this potential problem in advance (a good thing), why not install a ladder or swim step on the boat and test it before you need it. Marine stores and catalogs have many different styles of ladders, one will surely fit your needs.