While removing gear from my NS 22 (3 years ago) during a 40 mph wind and 40 degree temperature, I slipped off the finger dock and into the drink. No one else was in the neighborhood at the time. Although I had boats all around me none had an available ladder for me to use. Most were locked in up position and with crossed stern lines. As I felt all of my warm clothes filling up with cold water and my inability to pull myself on deck I sort of got a tad concerned. On the other side of my dock was a large cabin cruiser with a swim platform. By now my hands were painfully cold and I was losing energy. I worked my way under the dock (low tide) and onto the swim platform of the cabin cruiser. As of this point my hands were useless and I had to climb on the swim platform and then the finger dock using my elbows. Of course, I lived. Before I get a lot of lectures and there is a lot more to this story to be told over a few beers, I evaluated all of the wrongs, especially mine. I encouraged the marina to install ladders at the end of the docks (there’s not enough, but it’s a start). I now know where every water exit point is on my dock and watch the changes as the seasons move forward. I know, I should wear some type of PFD while on the docks. I don’t and most of you don’t either.
Now, I own NS 30, #196. As with most Nonsuches without a swim platform but equipped with a center position stern ladder there is no reasonable way to access and use the ladder if one finds themselves in the drink. I decided to solve this and it took a couple of refreshment sessions and a friend to help. Using two stainless large cotter pins (gift from Ed Bahniuk NS 30, #503), some 80 pound stainless fishing leader line, some small stuff line, unused key fob and a fairlead the problem is solved. The pictures should show what I did. All one has to do when in the water is to pull the yellow key fob gently, the gates lift and the ladder falls. Watch your head though. I used the boy scout knot to secure the leader line. A touch of epoxy might be added for insurance. I am sure there is a better way but if this mailing can lead to an improvement to the idea I encourage the input
Butch,
I have a somewhat similar setup. The difference is my lanyard is attached to only one of the latches and the other latch is kept open. My boat lives on a mooring making unassisted access from the water essential. A single closed latch has kept the ladder in position without failure.
Bob D
30 C #170
I have been meaning to do this safety improvement for some time, but have not because I wanted to have the metal rods (cotter pins in Butch’s system) brazed to the latches. Since I do not braze, the task does not get done. Time to simplify and just lash the rods/cotter pins on.
A few years ago I tried several modifications to allow deployment of my boarding ladder from the water but was not satisfied with the results. 95% reliability is not good enough. I ended up buying a purpose built rope ladder with plastic steps contained in a bag which is hung from the deck. A loop hangs down and it can easily be grabbed from the water. I have found it easy to use. Unfortunately I forget the name of the product.
One of my motivators was the lack of ladders in many marinas and yacht clubs. Since then I have read about the prevalence of stray electrical currents and the increased risk of drowning near docks. Another reason to exit the water ASAP.
The solution on Whiskers looks more reliable than any of my initial efforts.
I believe you are referring to the Plastimo Safety Ladder. It does require strong upper body musculature because you are basically climbing on your back while your feet are pushing not up, but inward under the curvature of the hull. At least that's my experience.
I’ve kept out of this discussion, but one of the reasons to get the swim platform and installed on our new-to-us NS26C was for the boarding ladder, deployable when in the water.
Have not used it yet - getting the middle step mounted on the transom has now bubbled up to “top of list” so do expect to test it in the next week or so.
It’s another solution, but an expensive one.
I applaud the discussions on safety - thanks to all for the discussions on this important topic.
Without implying endorsement for products or purchasing source, simply trying to add information about alternatives, here’s a list of off-the-shelf pulldown ladders I got by querying Defender for man overboard ladders (https://search.defender.com/?expression=man+overboard+ladder&x=0&y=0):
I have jumped into the water a few times without deploying the swim ladder. Luckily my cheap homemade PVC extension allowed easy deployment from the water. https://biankablog.blogspot.com/2007/01/boarding-ladder-extension.html
Because the extension is attached to the metal boarding ladder with line it can be used to push up against the metal clips securing the metal boarding ladder allowing it to be deployed to the water.
This was one of the main reasons I purchased the Nonsuch swim platform. It has a stainless extendable ladder stored below the platform that pulls out and drops easily. With no ladders on our docks I want to exit the water quickly for all of the obvious reasons.
Brian McCuaig. NS30u
Whitby, Ontario
“Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
I’ve never, knock on wood, had to re-board our Nonsuch in an emergency but the integrated ladder on the swim platform would certainly make that maneuver significantly more likely to happen. Haven’t had much luck with any of the add-on boarding ladders we had on previous boats. Even in my long-gone twenties and thirties they were hard to negotiate.
Not to belabor the swim platform aspect but our platform also really helps us getting into and out of our dinghy.
Mike’s story reminded me of an experience I had on our first boat. Everyone on board jumped in the water to cool off on a calm hot summer day. We had no boarding ladder, thought we could just reach up and pull ourselves on deck but as we found that was easier said than done, even on the 26” keel centerboard boat we then had. It was a bit worrisome for awhile. We finally managed to boost one of our number back onboard. Not quite a Darwin Award opportunity but close.
While removing gear from my NS 22 (3 years ago) during a 40 mph wind and 40 degree temperature, I slipped off the finger dock and into the drink. No one else was in the neighborhood at the time. Although I had boats all around me none had an available ladder for me to use. Most were locked in up position and with crossed stern lines. As I felt all of my warm clothes filling up with cold water and my inability to pull myself on deck I sort of got a tad concerned. On the other side of my dock was a large cabin cruiser with a swim platform. By now my hands were painfully cold and I was losing energy. I worked my way under the dock (low tide) and onto the swim platform of the cabin cruiser. As of this point my hands were useless and I had to climb on the swim platform and then the finger dock using my elbows. Of course, I lived. Before I get a lot of lectures and there is a lot more to this story to be told over a few beers, I evaluated all of the wrongs, especially mine. I encouraged the marina to install ladders at the end of the docks (there’s not enough, but it’s a start). I now know where every water exit point is on my dock and watch the changes as the seasons move forward. I know, I should wear some type of PFD while on the docks. I don’t and most of you don’t either.
Now, I own NS 30, #196. As with most Nonsuches without a swim platform but equipped with a center position stern ladder there is no reasonable way to access and use the ladder if one finds themselves in the drink. I decided to solve this and it took a couple of refreshment sessions and a friend to help. Using two stainless large cotter pins (gift from Ed Bahniuk NS 30, #503), some 80 pound stainless fishing leader line, some small stuff line, unused key fob and a fairlead the problem is solved. The pictures should show what I did. All one has to do when in the water is to pull the yellow key fob gently, the gates lift and the ladder falls. Watch your head though. I used the boy scout knot to secure the leader line. A touch of epoxy might be added for insurance. I am sure there is a better way but if this mailing can lead to an improvement to the idea I encourage the input
Although there has been at least two members who have initiated group discussions on this issue in the past ( Captain Mike on 9/22/09 and me on 6/23/17 ) resulting in at least one solution similar to yours, your experience opened more eyes and attention than either of our discussions. As you mentioned, perhaps an engineer among us can propose a solution that is Reliable ( your tape and my velcro might not be considered foolproof ), Simple and Affordable.
I appreciate your input. If everyone could discipline themselves to lower the ladder each time they board and raise it when they leave would certainly help. But, what are the odds of us doing that? The other concern is what if one goes into the drink before they board or upon leaving. I probably should not fess up to this as I don’t want to be called captain klutz, but a year ago September I tripped, while stepping off the boat on the line that aids in pulling the boat closer to the finger dock, causing a mid-air 360 somersault breaking my leg on the sharp edge of the finger dock. Both legs were in the water but I was able to grasp part of the finger dock. Should I have gone in completely the ladder would not have been there using the disciplined method of dropping and raising the ladder for only while I am on the boat. In both my cases, I did not fall of the boat, I had trouble staying on the finger dock.
The swim platform sounds like the safest answer but probably not affordable by all. But it just might be worth sacrificing something else for the safety benefit. With my luck, I’ll probably fall off the boat and break my head on the swim platform.
I encourage what Jim Falcon just mentioned and encourage our engineering type folks to design a ladder release system for the existing ladders.
If my wife saw your post my boat would be for sale immediately, as she does sail, and has little sympathy for us old kultzes. Your experience is close to unbelievable, amazing.
Perhaps I am missing something? One of the objections to a swim platform is that it adds to the mooring fees. Why not have it on hinges so it can fold up yet still be pulled down by someone in the water? If I had one I would want it to fold up for fitting in tight anchorages and reducing weight hanging over the stern. Our boats tend to squat so keeping as little weight as possible aft helps.
