Ladder in small fishing boat

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Anyone keep a ladder in their fishing boat in case they fall overboard?

I was a newbie last year and it occured to me I wonder if I could climb
back in if I fell out? This year I'm going to try it and see.

Their are ladders that don't take up a lot of space when stowed but
if I fall overboard I'm in the water and the ladder is in the boat!!!
The first thing I thought of was a rope ladder but my marina guy said
they don't work too well.

I've never seen a ladder permanently attached to a small boat.

Just wondering....

 

[tdrudd87]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

In my 14' jon I can clamber over the 20 on the back and curse the hooks I put on the transom shelf, or drag myself up over the side and almost flip the boat.

A ladder would be nice, but I can get back in if I have to.
Terry

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

if you have a gander mountain nearby, go check out what they have for ladders. i bought a 3 step folding collapsable hook ladder for 27 bucks, orig 109...

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

Yah...on my 12' tinny, I'd have to climb over the transom. Going up over the side would doubtless swamp the boat. My plans are to never fall out of the boat, though. I think that's the best idea of all.

Last year, I got broadsided by the wake from a 15-barge tow on the Mississippi. I was so busy with a very large catfish that I didn't notice it going by upstream. That little 12-footer just bobbed over the wake waves like a cork, although I had to grab both gunwales to feel safe. And I did land that catfish, too. A 25-pounder.

Normally, I quarter into them, and I keep my little 6hp idling in neutral at all times while on the river. I just missed that one.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

Some of the newer bass boats have a built in ladder. If i were ever to fall out of the boat this is how i would get back in. With the motor off straddle the lower unit placing your feet on the fins above the prop, then use the trim switch on the side of the motor to raise yourself out of the water and step over onto the boat. I would only do it this way because theres no way i could pull my fat butt back in the boat.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

I will agree that the rope-style ladders are USELESS on a bass boat. The problem is that there isn't enough height on the gunwhales to make the ladder stay straight. You end up with your feet on the ladder rung underneathe the boat, lol. We looked into this for my grandfather on his bass boat as he was getting less steady on his feet.

Truth be told, I'm not sure that he could pull himself up on a fixed ladder, much less a rope ladder.

The best way we've always used if you are in deep water and aren't strong/young enough to simply hoist yourself out is to bear hug the outboard motor. You can usually stand on the cavitation plate while hugging the motorhead.

I DO like the design of the ladder on the newer Nitro bass boats with the single-step arm on the back quarter of the boat, but I haven't seen many aftermarket ladders like it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

hook over the side ladder, but keep it stowed where you can reach it, such as along the gunwale. I do this with a 19' carolina skiff; its sides are very high and this is especially important when we are duck hunting and other cold water use--think heavy bulky clothes, hip boots, etc.. in cold water you quickly lose the use of extremeties so you won't be able to untie or unhook something.
I immediately put a swim ladder on my 21' primarily for my safety, and my wife's, as neither of us could climb up the side even in good weather/light clothes.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

That's why you have a bow line/rope...make a loop with it under the bow and over the gunwhales and tie it off. Swim up to the bow, get your feet on the rope, pull the bow down a little and up and in you go...Bob's your uncle. Climbing in over the outboard is dangerous to what makes Bob your uncle...props are sharp.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

The outboard method, even using the tilt, is indeed dangerous but good to know about in a survival situation.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

That's why you have a bow line/rope...make a loop with it under the bow and over the gunwhales and tie it off. Swim up to the bow, get your feet on the rope, pull the bow down a little and up and in you go...Bob's your uncle. Climbing in over the outboard is dangerous to what makes Bob your uncle...props are sharp.

I am trying to picture what you're talking about with the bow line, but I can't seem to figure it out or how it helps you get in the boat. I also don't recommend standing on the prop, just the cavitation plate. I'm 27 and still in decent shape; I can honestly say that with a life jacket on, it can be pretty difficult for me to pull myself up over the bow, rope or not. I'd find it hard to believe a 250+lbs guy in his 40's is going to be able to get himself into a boat from the water with a simple toe-loop. There may be a difference which would allow it to work with a Boston Whaler-type hull/gunwhales as opposed to the bass rockets like Nitros, Tritons, Champions, etc., I dunno.

I don't see how climbing up the outboard is dangerous in any way unless it is still running.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

I bought one of these last year, as I often boat alone. Even with someone along, it would be difficult to get back in. Yes, got it from iboats.

Folds up small, have it secured with a velcro strap on the side of the splashwell, secured to the cleat just above it. Its pretty heavy duty, but still a rope ladder. Long enough to get down where my feet are, as I sure can't get my feet up to the waterline.

Easy to grab and pull over the gunnel.
Better than hanging on the edge of the boat until you are too exhausted to care.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

If the cavitation plate breaks, and they do, while you are climbing up the outboard, your family jewels and other parts can be damaged. As for the bowline...no, not a toe loop. I used to do this when I was 225 lbs. and younger...take the bowline, run it back down one gunwhale to a cleat, take a wrap around the cleat and then swim around the bow to the other gunwhale leaving the rope trail in the water, attach the line to a cleat on the other gunwhale. Now you have a line/rope that would dangle under the boat like a loop if the boat/bow were out of the water. Go to the bow, get both feet on the rope/line, grab the bow and your weight pushes the bow down and you can lift yourself over the bow into the boat...you just have to experiment a little to get the line length right. Don't know if this would work with today's modern bass rockets...but it works well with my small tinny...gets all of my 6'3" 260 lbs. back in the boat.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Ladder in small fishing boat

All are good ideas. I've been climbing up the anti-cavitation plates since I was 8. Now at 6' 3" and 235, it still works like a champ. Never had one break. Of course, I was smart enough to put a small swim step with ladder on the back of the 21' for the wife and kids. If Momma's happy, everyones happy.

If you have a line tied off to a cleat (which you always should), there is an easier way to get aboard. Simply pull the line into the water and tie a 1' loop into the line. Make this loop just under the water line. Put your foot in and hold on to the gunwale of the boat and use it as a step. Pull yourself up. Keeping the loop just under the water line means your foot will touch the side of the boat and not just go under. Two loops together at the same point makes it a little easier on a bare foot.

Better yet, hold on and don't fall in.