[C320-list] C320 MKII ladder & safety

[crashley at gte.net]

What's all this nonsense about deploying the ladder from in the water. Just
climb up on the swim step and climb over the stern rail, or deploy the
ladder once you're up there if you want to. The older boats had no swim step
and then you were really screwed, but that's a different story. (I'm sure
this will generate a lot of static.)

CRA 
Rosebud #882


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Andrew
Santangelo
Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:38 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Cc: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] C320 MKII ladder & safety

Yes OD!

Do not count on the ladder if you are alone and fallen in the water.

* If sails are up say bye bye to the vessel.
* If motor is running say bye bye to the vessel and maybe something else!
* If you are in steep seas and you can miraculously stay with the boat, good
luck boarding a ladder that is acting like a spear if down.  Heck - try to
lower a ladder even in 2' seas.

Good things about the ladder:
* Nice for fun and swimming
* If calm or light winds, and someone falls overboard AND you have a crew it
makes boarding easy.
* Great gate way for boarding a dingy
* I use it in the winter to get up on the boat when the boat is in the
cradle.
* Easy access and boarding for rafting up.
* Also good and wide for SCUBA and Snorkeling - one of the original reasons
I loved this ladder!
...add your favorite reasons.

Best Regards,
Andrew
C320 "Dawn Treader"
#333




On Jan 26, 2009, at 9:39 AM, Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com wrote:

> I'm assuming all of this talk about grabbing a ladder while single 
> handing presupposes that the boat will be standing still and not 
> moving either under sail or power... :)
>
> If you're sailing alone and fall overboard, good luck in trying to 
> lower any ladder..
>
> My strategery has always been to stay IN the boat.. :)
>
> OD
>