Getting back on board

The story about righting a boat always seems to finish just before people get back on board.
I don't always manage this part of the exercise with dignity. Any good ideas for a high sided boat?
I saw this handle on a cat. Is it for getting back on board? what have I missed?

If you mean the long black tube with the rope through it, it's used to hold the daggarboards in position.

I usually climb back on from the front beam using the dolphin striker. The rear beam is lower to the water, but the rudder assembly can get in the way. I've climbed up over the side a couple of times by grabbing the trapeze handle, but this isn't possible in most conditions. I'm also a strong swimmer and still "relatively" young and nimble. I'm pretty full of myself, ain't I?
I think I saw a post from Rick or Mary that mentioned having a line with some warps tied into it that you could use as a step.
Here's another idea...
Tie about 6-8 feet of line in a loop around the mast base and thread a 6-inch section of 1/2-inch PVC pipe on it as a step. Tie some figure-8 knots to keep the PVC pipe steady and Shazam! you have a step. It should hang about a foot below the waterline when deployed. You could stow it with your righting line when not in use.

-Rob V.
Nacra 5.2
Panama City

if you've ever tried to get back on a boat with the equivalent of a "rope ladder"... its not as easy as it sounds. There is the added risk of getting tangled in the loop if the boat manages to get underway without anyone at the controls as well.

Thats a great looking boat mate. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The black thing you're looking at provides side force on the dagger boards and keeps them in location. Its been replaced on newer Tigers with a small shim.

I think I usually get a foot up onto the striker and then swing myself over the front beam.

I use the same technique as others have stated but I will add for me it works best if I am in one corner or the other of the hull and the front beam one hand on each. Push up and roll onto the tramp. My wife and son put a foot onto the striker from the same position. Whatever works!
Greg

Yes i do, thanks and how does it work?

One of my boats has no dolphin striker, hense the question. I am fifty, overweight and puffed.. full of yourself, I wish I could be. : )
Step at mast sounds good. I don'y like going down to the back in case the boats starts to get away... you know, that feeling of being towed..and geting tired.

Yes... As I said, the Hydra has no stricker and high sides so I am planning ahead for that.
I suppose I could just fit a step where the striker would be and flag the idea of the rope ladder pushing in under the tramp and crushing my foot and pride on something as the boat heads off into the sunset.

My Wave also has no dolphin striker, and it has too much freeboard for me to get back on by myself. And it also has no trapeze wire.

My solution was to screw a small eyestrap up a ways on the front of my mast and attach a length of line with some knots or loops in it that I can grab overhead, so I can support or lift my upper body, making it possible for me to get a leg or two up onto the hull and then roll gracefully onto the tramp. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

If you get the timing right.....

As the boat starts to come up you move forward and (at about 70 degrees) move under the pole (standing on what was the "low" hull, the boat then continues to right and you move back onto the tramp, grab the mainsheet and tiller and off you go.


if you get the timing right

I like that and will give it my best shot. I will get it right after a few times... but every now and then.. I will need the old mans (and womans) ladder.

My son gets back on the tramp this way. I've rolled a friends H16 a few times with him on board and on more than one occasion he has come out of the entire situation dry. He will stand on the lower hull right in front of the main beam. As the boat comes over, he grabs the mast and rolls over. I don't think you could do this by yourself though... you'd have to be pretty quick or have a lot of wind helping you right the boat.

-Rob V.
Nacra 5.2
Panama City

Easiest way I've found is to reach up and grab the trapeze handle (or the hoop), put my feet on the side of the hull and push out and then slide onto the tramp feet first. Not elegant (particularly if you get one foot either side of the shroud) but effective.

I've done it righting my Inter 17, Not every time, and sometimes only make it as far as having my feet on the hull, knees on the front beem and my hand on the base of the Spi pole / mounting at the base of the mast.

It's easier the windier it is as you don't have to put some much "lean back" into righting the boat and so it's easier to move around the pole.

When I get tired of climbing up over the front crossarm, I swim up to a bow instead. It isn't very difficult to push a bow down into the water and slide up on it. Then it's just a matter of moving aft back to the tramp.

-Eric