Boat swim hitch

[bunn]

Went for a brief swim from the boat yesterday - upstream, because it was windy out to sea, so photo is from the middle Cleddau, still a wide tidal river, but a good way upstream.  Getting out was easy.  Getting back in was hard.  I had to shin up the outboard motor by standing on the... fin things in the end. 

Lesson from this is that getting into a boat even when there's someone on board to pull you is really difficult (at least now I am old and fat), and we should have a ladder in case of accidental de-boating, because even standing on the outboard, I didn't really have the upper body strength to pull myself back in fully (and anyway, you might not always be in a situation where turning the engine off was a comfortable option). 

We had picked a spot where we could moor to a buoy to experiment and I was pretty sure I could swim to the bank behind us if worst came to worst.  Also I have this very robust inflatable bag/buoy that has a waist strap, which usually I use so I don't need to leave my wallet phone and car keys behind me on the beach, but is also generally good and visible and also gives me something to rest on if for any reason I had to swim further than expected.  Yes, I am a bit hyper-careful! 

Comments

[wellinghall]

I have read of the difficulty of getting into boats in a different context; that of WW2 naval battles.

[bunn]

I imagine it would be a hundred times worse under fire or fully clothed with kit! Though I was swimming in about 18 meters of water, so definitely no putting my feet on the floor :-D

[hhimring]

I think your bag/buoy sounds like excellent planning!

[bunn]

I'm really pleased with it, it takes away the worry of leaving things on the beach, and is super-visible!

[rabbitica]

There is no such thing as too much water safety!!!

[bunn]

SO TRUE

[chainmailmaiden]

When I mentioned to Bethran just now you had gone for a brief swim from the boat his immediate question was "Deliberate or accidental?" :D

He says a rope ladder does make it easier to get back in, so definitely something to consider having.

I remember getting back into the boat when scuba diving was mostly achieved by someone in the boat hauling you while someone behind pushed you up in what would have been a very intimate manner if not for the 8mm wet suit! The last person just got hauled in by everyone else. Even then when I was fitter it was still very difficult getting back in without assistance :)

[bunn]

Ooooh! Deliberate OF COURSE :-P

I seem to remember getting back into sailing dinghies being easier when I was young, but then I wasn't carrying anything heavy (including myself :-D )

I've bought a lightweight aluminium one, I'm hoping it will be easier to climb than a rope one since it can't bend around and go underneath the boat.