Getting back into the boat...

"PJ" <noname@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:vVmBc.14136$MW4.181@nwrdny03.gnilink.net...
> I have a small Boston Whaler 130 that I'm going to use as a dive boat off
of
> my cruising boat. For a small boat like this, what suggestions would you
> have to a ladder to get back into the boat from the water? There are some
> small swim ladders available but they don't seem large or strong enough.
> Are there other ways to tackle this problem?

A common solution is one of the small dive platforms. Another is one of the
Armstrong ladders. They are sturdy enough and are easily removed. If you
get one, tie a line to it and to a cleat. They have a habit of coming lose
and drifting away.

If you're going to dive from a 13 foot Whaler, I suggest you attach a line
for holding your equipment while you exit. Whalers that small don't have a
lot of freeboard and the more weight you put in a single place, the more
likely you are to swamp the boat. Whaler's are unsinkable, but that doesn't
mean you want yours filled with water every time you get out of the water.

Lee

In article <swrBc.20410$Y3.889@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.n et>, Lee
Bell <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote:

> "PJ" <noname@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:vVmBc.14136$MW4.181@nwrdny03.gnilink.net...
> > I have a small Boston Whaler 130 that I'm going to use as a dive boat off
> of
> > my cruising boat. For a small boat like this, what suggestions would you
> > have to a ladder to get back into the boat from the water? There are some
> > small swim ladders available but they don't seem large or strong enough.
> > Are there other ways to tackle this problem?
>
> A common solution is one of the small dive platforms. Another is one of the
> Armstrong ladders. They are sturdy enough and are easily removed. If you
> get one, tie a line to it and to a cleat. They have a habit of coming lose
> and drifting away.
>

Lee, is Armstrong a brand or a style of ladder. I didn't see anything
in my recent West Marine catalog, and I'd like to find a something that
might work better than the stern ladder I presently have (it's a
sailboat, so anything is going to be a compromise).

Alan

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:00:11 GMT, "PJ" <noname@nowhere.com> wrote:

>I have a small Boston Whaler 130 that I'm going to use as a dive boat off of
>my cruising boat. For a small boat like this, what suggestions would you
>have to a ladder to get back into the boat from the water? There are some
>small swim ladders available but they don't seem large or strong enough.
>Are there other ways to tackle this problem?

For my buddy's 13ft and Revenge 22, I put my right foot on the
outboard and lift myself in.
If you remove your tank and weights while still in the water, the
little portable swim ladders are plenty strong.


--- Rich
http://richlockyer.tripod.com/

In article <ut1dd0dkg7s5vg21n6ep5egehifigqhkbm@4ax.com>,
Rich Lockyer <rlockyer@linkline.DONTSPAMME.com> writes:
>On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:00:11 GMT, "PJ" <noname@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>>I have a small Boston Whaler 130 that I'm going to use as a dive boat off of
>>my cruising boat. For a small boat like this, what suggestions would you
>>have to a ladder to get back into the boat from the water? ...
...
>If you remove your tank and weights while still in the water, the
>little portable swim ladders are plenty strong.

That's the key.
Rig a line so that you can remove your SCUBA and weights and tie them off.
Climb in -- then lift you gear in.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Thanks for all of the information - really great stuff...good ideas....I'm
glad I stopped by...

Cheers!

In article <MXzBc.8711$bs4.6638@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink. net>, Lee
Bell <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote:

> > Lee, is Armstrong a brand or a style of ladder. I didn't see anything
> > in my recent West Marine catalog, and I'd like to find a something that
> > might work better than the stern ladder I presently have (it's a
> > sailboat, so anything is going to be a compromise).
>
> Yes, it's a brand name. Here's a link to their website.
> http://www.armstrongnautical.com/Ladders.htm
>
> Several people I know use Armstrong ladders. They tend to be strong enough
> to get the job done well and, since they can be removed and stored easily,
> they are convenient for those that use their boats for more than just
> diving. There are only a couple of disadvantages I know of:
> 1. If you fall overboard, a ladder that is stowed isn't going to help you
> get back into the boat.
> 2. Since they're designed to float, wave action sometimes floats them out of
> the bracket, which is why I suggested a line tied to the ladder. There's a
> ring that rotates to keep the ladders from floating up and out, but I'm not
> yet convinced that it's reliable enough to trust when it's important.
>
> The fold up model addresses both issues, but isn't designed to stow like the
> others.
>

Thanks, Lee. In my case, the fold up model might be perfect. I have a
typical mid-80's tapered stern, and I already have a fold-up ladder
back there. The Armstrong looks like a better ladder that could take
the place of what's already installed.

Alan

> Thanks, Lee. In my case, the fold up model might be perfect. I have a
> typical mid-80's tapered stern, and I already have a fold-up ladder
> back there. The Armstrong looks like a better ladder that could take
> the place of what's already installed.
> Alan

Glad I could help.

I just had the pleasant experience of buying a ladder from a place called
General Designs in Lake Worth, FL. I got the Heavy Duty deluxe Dive ladder.
It really is heavy duty. I dive with doubles and drysuits in the northeast.
I love this ladder! The best is that the base that replaces the swim
platform articulates to match the angle of the transom. This is a bit
expensive but nicely machined and executed. They do have Armstrong
replacements. Many people will do fine with less substantial products but
for what I do this is one of the best I have seen. The guys there answered
my repeated questions about mounting and were quite helpful. This is a
really nice product.
Tom Walek
"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:yuTBc.9620$bs4.5822@newsread3.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> > Thanks, Lee. In my case, the fold up model might be perfect. I have a
> > typical mid-80's tapered stern, and I already have a fold-up ladder
> > back there. The Armstrong looks like a better ladder that could take
> > the place of what's already installed.
> > Alan
>
> Glad I could help.
>
>

I have a small Boston Whaler 130 that I'm going to use as a dive boat off of
my cruising boat. For a small boat like this, what suggestions would you
have to a ladder to get back into the boat from the water? There are some
small swim ladders available but they don't seem large or strong enough.
Are there other ways to tackle this problem?

Thanks!

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:00:11 GMT, "PJ" <noname@nowhere.com> wrote:

>I have a small Boston Whaler 130 that I'm going to use as a dive boat off of
>my cruising boat. For a small boat like this, what suggestions would you
>have to a ladder to get back into the boat from the water? There are some
>small swim ladders available but they don't seem large or strong enough.
>Are there other ways to tackle this problem?

For my buddy's 13ft and Revenge 22, I put my right foot on the
outboard and lift myself in.
If you remove your tank and weights while still in the water, the
little portable swim ladders are plenty strong.


--- Rich
http://richlockyer.tripod.com/