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Getting back on the dock

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/17/2009 : 20:22:31

I don't think this is a very rare event at most Marinas - today I took an unplanned swim.

I was washing the boat and tried to swing it around from starboard to port to wash the other side (I'm on the end), and wouldn't you know it? I was pulling one way, but the wind was pulling harder the other. And I lost my balance and OOOOOOOPS! Kersplash.

The water was 50F degrees (10C), and I realized that I had only a little time to get out of the water. Surprisingly, I did not experience cold shcck -- the involuntary gasping for breath -- when I hit the water. I went under for a moment, then popped up.

I've been a paddler for years, so I knew exactly what would be happening in what sequence - cold shock, loss of dexterity, loss of judgment, then hypothermia. So I knew I had to get out of the water and pronto!

I was not even wearing a PFD, I was ON THE DOCK for cryin' out loud!

I was near enough to the dock in the water, so I swam over and grabbed the top lip. But there was nothing to get a foot-hold on, nothing to help me get up out of the water. The dock was a good 15" out of the water, so I could not even swing an ankle over the lip and hoist myself up.

I looked all along the dock, but there was nothing, nada to step up on.

My next door neighbor heard the unmistakeable sound of a person hitting the water, and instictively, she ran over. I'm 220# and she's about 110#, so I knew she would not be pulling me up onto the dock.

I'd been in the water for about 5 minutes, and so I'm getting concerned about loss of manual dexterity. I had a bucket of docklines soaking, so I asked her to cleat one onto the dock, and I tied a bowline on the end. I was able to get my foot into the loop, then I scrambled up the side.

I was completely soaked, but the adrenaline prevented me from feeling cold. Air temp was in the high 50s. I got myself over to the marina showers, warmed up and dried off.

So I got together with my dockmates afterward and we put our heads together. If no-one was around, what could happen -- what's the plan Stan? Currents are about 4kts peak in the area, so there's a real danger of swimmers being overpowered.

Each of us now plan to loop a line down off the dock between boats to provide a basic foot-hold. We plan to talk it over with the marina yard manager to supply something on each finger, just in case.

Have any members had this happen? Hopefully only with a good outcome. But in spring, up north, you really don't want to go for a swim until about the 4th of July.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2009 : 20:34:56

My condo added ladders at the two ends of our main dock for just such an eventuality. Our tide currents only reach maybe one knot, and the depth is only about 5', but we want somebody to be able to get out of the water, especially in May-June temps.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2009 : 20:41:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 I don't think this is a very rare event at most Marinas - today I took an unplanned swim.

I was washing the boat and tried to swing it around from starboard to port to wash the other side (I'm on the end), and wouldn't you know it? I was pulling one way, but the wind was pulling harder the other. And I lost my balance and OOOOOOOPS! Kersplash.

The water was 50F degrees (10C), and I realized that I had only a little time to get out of the water. Surprisingly, I did not experience cold shcck -- the involuntary gasping for breath -- when I hit the water. I went under for a moment, then popped up.

I've been a paddler for years, so I knew exactly what would be happening in what sequence - cold shock, loss of dexterity, loss of judgment, then hypothermia. So I knew I had to get out of the water and pronto!

I was not even wearing a PFD, I was ON THE DOCK for cryin' out loud!

I was near enough to the dock in the water, so I swam over and grabbed the top lip. But there was nothing to get a foot-hold on, nothing to help me get up out of the water. The dock was a good 15" out of the water, so I could not even swing an ankle over the lip and hoist myself up.

I looked all along the dock, but there was nothing, nada to step up on.

My next door neighbor heard the unmistakeable sound of a person hitting the water, and instictively, she ran over. I'm 220# and she's about 110#, so I knew she would not be pulling me up onto the dock.

I'd been in the water for about 5 minutes, and so I'm getting concerned about loss of manual dexterity. I had a bucket of docklines soaking, so I asked her to cleat one onto the dock, and I tied a bowline on the end. I was able to get my foot into the loop, then I scrambled up the side.

I was completely soaked, but the adrenaline prevented me from feeling cold. Air temp was in the high 50s. I got myself over to the marina showers, warmed up and dried off.

So I got together with my dockmates afterward and we put our heads together. If no-one was around, what could happen -- what's the plan Stan? Currents are about 4kts peak in the area, so there's a real danger of swimmers being overpowered.

Each of us now plan to loop a line down off the dock between boats to provide a basic foot-hold. We plan to talk it over with the marina yard manager to supply something on each finger, just in case.

Have any members had this happen? Hopefully only with a good outcome. But in spring, up north, you really don't want to go for a swim until about the 4th of July.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bruce,

I'm glad things worked out for you and you're OK! Thank goodness there was someone else on the dock!

As I mentioned in another email the other day, my wife took an unexpected swim the first time I showed her the boat before I bought it. She tried to step off the boat onto the dock while facing into the cockpit and her foot missed the dock when the boat moved. It was early October and still relatively warm so we didn't have the same issues as you but it took me a couple of minutes to figure out how to get her out of the water. I finally realized there was a ladder on the back of the boat so I untied it and lowered it so she could climb out. Since that time I make sure the ladder is secured down low so if I go overboard and manage to get back to the boat I can at least release it and get myself back in the boat.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2009 : 21:01:48

Gary -
I thought about the ladder. I've tied the ladder in the up position, but it's tied using a "shoelace bow" knot.

All you have to do is pull the loose end of the string, the bow will untie, and it will allow the ladder to drop. I did not want to risk swimming out away from the dock to get to the ladder though, because you never know!

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2009 : 21:06:40

Bruce,
Glad you're OK, we have similar water temps here, even in late summer, so this is something I've thought about more than once. Our marina has emergency ladders in 2x4 frames that stick up about 4' out of the water. If you go in, you swim over to the ladder & pull outwards and it drops into a long slot in frame and down into the water. Also, we have our swim ladder rigged so you can open the gate from the water by tugging on a loop of line.

Yesterday was the closest I've come to falling in the water. We had a marina working party & the USCG Auxiliary was there to do boat inspections. I got the inspector onto SL and went to get on myself, as I did, my right foot slipped & I fell sort of half into the cockpit, half out, scraping my knee on the non-skid. Fortunately I had my hand on the port split backstay and was able to pull myself in.

If you'd like, I can take pictures of the framed ladders next time I'm down at the marina. They look like they could be built out of about 5 8' 2x4's.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 02:36:18

Docks should be equipped with ladders. At my former lake, there were no ladders, so many of us left our swim ladders down while our boats were in their slips, so that anyone who fell in could use them to climb out.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 05:48:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I did not want to risk swimming out away from the dock to get to the ladder though, because you never know! <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Bruce, I'm not sure I understand. How far away was the boat? Was there huge currents? I think I would have immediately swam to the ladder and saved the extra 5 minutes in the 50 degree water.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 06:52:11

Why not swim to shore and walk out? We used to buy removable boarding ladders and hang them on the end of the fingers for the season, if a skipper wanted one on his finger he bought one.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 07:02:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DaveR
 ...Was there huge currents? I think I would have immediately swam to the ladder and saved the extra 5 minutes in the 50 degree water.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I've seen the Housatonic River where Bruce keeps Passage at the end of a dock. The current can be ferocious--up to four knots (river plus tide)--I don't know whether Michael Phelps can swim that fast! He could end up half a mile out in Long Island Sound.

I think my condo's insurance carrier insisted on our ladders. I know one guy who used one after getting into trouble with his kayak.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 05/18/2009 07:03:58

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 07:04:30

Sadly this occurance happens all to frequently and even experienced sailors have perished as a result of not having readily available solutions. As the resident safety curmudgeon, I will tell you that trying to climb into even a dinghy is very difficult without systems. Go out and try it - seriously. Nearly impossible.

On my C25, I rigged a quick release latch for the ladder with a cord that goes to the waterline. On Lysistrata, we have an emergency ladder that can be deployed just by pulling on the rip cord. On the dink, there is a home made three rung rope ladder. Not perfect, as the rope will swing under the dinghy, kinda leaving you hanging there. A collapsible rigid ladder works best. If you are going to be alone on the boat for any period of time, lower or install your ladder. Your life depends on it.

sten

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 09:27:32

This happened 9/24/2008.....

The other night I came up on deck looking for a wrench and this guy in the water called to me to help him. His boat was at the next dock over so it took a few minutes to get over there. He asked me to lower his swim ladder so he could get out of the water.
What an eye opener of something I knew...... but failed to act on.
The new Catalinas have revised their swim ladder locaton.
I'm going to do the same.

paulj

http://picasaweb.google.com/1dbpaul/SWIMLADDER?authkey=Gv1sRgCICv45zbpYj1JA#

paulj

Edited by - on

jimhart
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 09:32:00

If you fall in at my dock it's not the water temp. that is a problem.
It's our resident alligators.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 09:37:29

Paul,
Looking at your stern, I don't see a grab handle to help you over the lip of your swim step. Is there something there that you can easily grab to steady yourself as you come out of the water? Seems like it'd be a good idea if not.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 12:06:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 I was not even wearing a PFD, I was ON THE DOCK for cryin' out loud!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If one hasn't fell in the water at the dock themselves, they know of a few that have. Statistically, you are probably better off wearing a PFD in the marina than out in open water. My brother won't allow his kids anywhere near a dock without their lifejackets on.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 12:23:20

Just went on Google Earth and checked out the Housatonic River, you can tell the pics were taken at low tide and that the river has a ferocious tidal flow. I understand now and you definitely don't want to mess with that!
So even an inflatable is tough, huh Sten? I haven't tried it and will take your word for it. Thanks for the heads up and I've got a rope ladder I was wondering what to do with .......... now I know

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 12:49:57

I have fallen in at the dock. I used the docklines for leverage to get out. Another time (yes, I fell in AGAIN!

) I used the outboard for footing in order to reach up and release the ladder. It didn't help that the Admiral was laughing her ass off and I felt like the Michelin man with my inflated PFD.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 05/18/2009 12:52:09

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 13:48:23

The trick we use for the rope ladder on the inflatable, is to make it long enough so that you can tie it to one side. Then lay it across the dink, and have it go into the water on the opposite side it’s tied to. As you ascend your legs will tend to go under to inflatable, but you will be using your arms to pull you up. This works for us, but to make this easier we have put rigid tubing over the rungs. Guess that’s cheating!

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 14:54:35

delliottg

Thanks a very good thought....
I will try it out next month at Desolation Sound, BC where the water is warmer.
But until then..... not here in Anacortes.

paulj

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 16:00:34

I've always had to use the boat's boarding ladder. After reading this thread, I'm going to male sure I can lower it from the water, should the need arise. Does anyone simply leave their ladder down when sailing alone?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 17:38:17

I didn't need to fasten the ladder up--it leaned against the sternrail with just barely enough friction to stay there. It might have unexpectedly ended up in the water twice--not a big problem.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 20:06:42

A few notes on all the wonderful comments.

1. Leave your swim ladder down, or make sure you can tug on a line to make it drop down.
2. David - the 2x4 ladder sounds a great idea, I will talk to the yard manager about installing them.
3. At least a set of "foot loops" would be a minimum safety precaution.
4. The reason I did not swim for my boat ladder is that I was rotating Passage around from starboard to port along the dock, and the boat was stuck in the "TEE" position, with the bow pointing toward the dock. I would have had to swim out toward the open river to get to the ladder. I thought better of that.
5. The current was about 3 knots when I fell in. You can swim at about 3 knots so I headed perpendicular to the current, towards the dock.
6. My dock is about 80 yards from a 10 foot high bulk-head along the shore. There is a boat launch two docks over, but it's a long swim (against the current)

Here's a picture of the marina. My boat is located on the Tee End of the dock located second from the top of the photo. In the photo, my spot is on the far left, but in this photo, there is no boat there.

My kayak safety training was extremely handy at that time.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 20:38:54

Bruce... Regarding 2x4 ladders and such, I suspect you also have to consider a several-ton ice flow hitting your dock at 3-4 knots in the winter. I've witnessed such things up close, at 1-2 knots, and it's pretty impressive!

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 20:49:17

I'm thinking pretzels, the ladder will look like one after that!

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2009 : 20:59:37

Bruce,
Yoiks, looking at your situation you were in far graver trouble than I realized. You were way out in the current, and a single misstep on your part could have resulted in a long swim at best, and disaster at worst. Fortunately you were able to get yourself out with the assistance of your neighbor and some quick thinking.

Regarding the 2x4 ladders, they're up on top of the docks until deployed, so they're out of the water completely. I'm sure if the ice was substantial enough it could scour them off the end of a pier, but if it was that high, the pier would be damaged as well.

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2009 : 06:06:54

("I've always had to use the boat's boarding ladder. After reading this thread, I'm going to male sure I can lower it from the water, should the need arise. Does anyone simply leave their ladder down when sailing alone?")

David I do not use my harness and safety line all the time, but when I go on deck at night or during high winds, I connect the safety line to the mid section on the life line. This allows the line to slide back and forth between the two mid stanchions. I can reach the bow without any problems, but should I fall off the length of the safety line hooked to my SOS harness will bring me to the stern within reaching distance of the swim ladder. I have a lanyard on the ladder so I can deploy it from the water. Small note, if you do this never hook the safety line to the side of the boat that your motor is on.

Edited by - on

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