Swimming Ladder/Platform

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Wanderer

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C Dory Year
2004
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Wanderer
We ordered our boat with the swim platform. Under the platform two steps slide aft and down to act as a ladder. Yesterday, I decided to give the ladder a try. Since I was skeptical of its functionality, I anchored over the edge of a sandbar. In addition, I tied a line so I would have something to pull on. It was difficult getting on board, even when standing in three feet of water. It would have been very difficult if I had been swimming. Had I fallen over board when fully dressed for cool weather, I may not have been able to get back on board using the ladder. I think climbing up the motor would be easier.

How do you get on board when swimming?
 
George,
I found the ladder attached to the swim platform marginal as the swim platform overhangs the ladder making the combined ladder and platform akward to use. A grab handle attached in the right place would help.
Mike 'Levity'
 
I've been planning to install a grab bar on the step or in the splash well to provide a handhold. The grab bar on each side of the cabin bulkhead appear to be just the right size and are a stock item.

Exactly where to put the bar(s) I've not yet worked out.

-- Chuck
 
See photo 4 of 38 under the Trim Tab/Hydrofoil section, for the location of the grab bar over the swim platform. To be sure the location is right for you, deploy the ladder, put on a life jacket, bend your legs to simulate your approximate level in the water at the ladder, and reach up with your right hand. It should hit the bar, without too much effort. Adjust as necessary for body size differences in intended users.

If you have rubberized non-skid paint, put some on the rail before mounting, and be sure to mount it securely. I used epoxy to seat the bolt shafts and nuts in place. Use lots of masking tape to be sure you don't scratch the gel coat while figuring out where you want to drill the mounting holes.

I went overboard in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay last summer, and the ladder deployed just fine, and I was able to reach the bar and climb right up, even with a fully inflated life jacket on. Worked for me, and should for you, if ever needed.

It doesn't hurt to practice deploying the ladder, but make darn sure your trailering checklist includes being sure the ladder has been secured in the up position. I haven't made that mistake, and don't want to.
 
ALMA: Sorry about your trip into the bay.... but you got out. Noticed on your life jacket it "inflated"... did you have the self inflating or the gas operated model? Do you like that vest? I too have went overboard while trolling alone at night...Thankfully, an ol' blow boating friend of mine suggested a long (200') piece of nylon cord with a fender on the end as to alow me to "catch" the boat. Worked great...and saved a good 1.5 mile swim...if I wanted to swim to where my boat was going to end up rather than about 1/2 mile directly to shore... A must for me when just cruising along alone. There is a 3 step ladder that is used on the TomCat and CD25s that makes that "initial" step onto the ladder much nicer, but still not as nice as the 4 step ladder made by Garlick (sp?) with the attachment brackets used on the side of the boat as to allow you to use the handles on the rear bulkhead. But then....that ladder will not be out if you simply fall overboard... go for the 3 step version... and remember...GRAVITY ALWAYS WINS...
 
FreeByrd:

Your overboard experience sounds a lot more interesting than mine, parrticularly since my motor was in neutral. I'm not sure how much fun it would have been to reboard if the prop had been turning. Thank goodness for your friend's advice to drag a rope.

As to the inflation, I use the three-way vest: blow on the tube, pull the handle to activate the CO2, or automatic activation of the CO2. Here, the vest inflated automatically, via the CO2 cartridge. The operation was almost immediate upon immersion, and very sudden. Darn near lost my glasses.

The suddenness and extent of inflation of the vest underscores the manufacturer's caution to not wear any clothing over the vest. If you have a jacket on over the vest, and it inflates, you aren't going to have any time at all to unzip, and are probably going to have a severe, and possibly terminal, breathing problem.

The other thing which surprised me was how difficult it was to bleed any of the CO2 out. The vests are designed to keep your face out of the water, and do so by inflating to a greater extent whan I had anticipated. Once you figure out that you are conscious, you want to let a little of the gas out to make it easier to swim, deploy the ladder, and climb back on board. Although I'd unpacked the vest several times, and plaid with it a little, I wasn't able to bleed it, either while in the water, or for a while back on the boat. Then I finally figured out what to do, and it's simple. The bottom line is, practice, practice, practice. It doesn't hurt to open these vests up a couple of times a year, inflate them by blowing on the inflate tube, and then deflate and repack.
 
:arrow: Levity
The grab rail makes sense. Keep us posted if you find a better solution. The next time the boat comes out of the water, I will investigate the three step telescoping under platform ladder shown in the West Marine catalog.

:arrow: Amelia Anne,
Let us know what you work out.

:arrow: Alma’s Only
The photo was a help. Your ladder looks like the one I have. Mine deploys under the platform and rakes slightly forward. Do you know if they can be readily adjusted? Tomorrow I hope to install a grab bar and may take Wanderer to my favorite sandbar and try the ladder again. The first consideration is for emergency use. It may work for that purpose. I’m trying to solve for going in and out of the boat from the water while snorkeling and swimming without carrying a four or five step ladder mounted on the gunnels.
D4732%20Sandbar.jpg

Favorite Sandbar - 6 18 inches with stern in 6 feet

:arrow: Brydman,
Do you carry the four step ladder when cruising?
 
I'll be sure to post photos and notes, but we don't even come out of the barn until early April :( .

Doubtful I'll be able to get in the water to determine just where that grab rail should until a month or so after that. Falling in is one thing. Jumping is is something else!

-- Chuck
 
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