May save my life someday

[Captmikestarrett]

After three guys went down in a Parker two weeks ago I got to thinking how I could get back in my boat. Or rescue someone else in 35 degree water for that mater.

Did not want drill holes and have a boarding ladder get in the way of a new MD record blue cat so I searched and found an E-Ladder..


So now I need a longer motor mount bolt for the install.

Capt Mike

[Bassboss]

umm.. good looking doughnuts.....

what where we talking about? Oh ya, them ladders are a good idea, I'd hope to have one if I ever went over, that cold water like that.

[carolina-rig-01]

Not sure if Bryce has ordered his new boarding ladder or not but he might be interested in seeing this. Congrats on making a responsible decision, you are right that ladder may allow you to go home one day when you otherwise might not have made it. I didn't have a ladder on the Ranger I traded off, Britney always wanted me to add one but I didn't do it because I never wanted a ladder to be in the way. My Triton has the ResQ ladder which is perfect. It's out of the way unless you pull the pin to deploy it and then it serves it's purpose.

The E ladder is a great idea that I am seeing on a lot of boats now days, I am sure you will like it.

[nofearengineer]

I've seen them.

I'm not sure it will work for me, because I am so tall. I'm not sure it extends deep enough.

I also do not have anything at the back of my boat to grab onto. The back corners of my boat are slippery, curved aluminum. Without a handle, I'm not sure I could get back in with that.

However, it is something to look at. Cutting a hole in my deck to put a handle in might be easier than cutting a blind hole in the transom.

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

I've seen them.

I'm not sure it will work for me, because I am so tall. I'm not sure it extends deep enough.

I also do not have anything at the back of my boat to grab onto. The back corners of my boat are slippery, curved aluminum. Without a handle, I'm not sure I could get back in with that.

However, it is something to look at. Cutting a hole in my deck to put a handle in might be easier than cutting a blind hole in the transom.

If I remember right (it's been a while since I looked one of these things over at a boat dealership). But you pull the pin and it pivots to where what you are seeing as the top step in the picture actually goes down and becomes the bottom step. This would probably make it work for you. I mean your tall but not abnormally tall, and there are a lot of guys that are your height that are using these things. Ideally it would be mounted to a jackplate though, so it might give you an excuse to add a jackplate to your boat too lol.

[nofearengineer]

Originally Posted by carolina-rig-01

Ideally it would be mounted to a jackplate though, so it might give you an excuse to add a jackplate to your boat too lol.

Dear God....

I'm going to forget you said that.

[everettvet]

These ladders are great safety measures. My triton has the one like Kory was talking about. However, for the folks who do not have one, I have heard of people using their trolling motor to climb back in the boat or using the gas motor (obviously the motor is not running) to climb on and even using the trim button on the motor to help get them in the boat. I have been very lucky to never need any of these.....knock on wood!

[bassboogieman]

J A C K P L A T E, just in case you forgot. A manual JP isn't too expensive but knowing your penchant for going overboard - hence the need for the ladder - you wouldn't be happy with anything less than a hydralic JP. It's MONKEY TIME! I have the E-ladder on my boat, it's not a swim ladder but will do in an emergency.

[nofearengineer]

It doesn't have to be on a jackplate. Heck, the one in the picture is set up with the bracket for mounting it directly to the outboard bolts.

[carolina-rig-01]

Originally Posted by everettvet

These ladders are great safety measures. My triton has the one like Kory was talking about. However, for the folks who do not have one, I have heard of people using their trolling motor to climb back in the boat or using the gas motor (obviously the motor is not running) to climb on and even using the trim button on the motor to help get them in the boat. I have been very lucky to never need any of these.....knock on wood!

I have used the big motor and hit the trim button to take the elevator. I didn't fall in though, we were swimming and I wanted to see if it would work. It did work but it wasn't something that I am sure I could do everytime because it was really akward. I never thought about the trolling motor idea. It might work but knowing my luck I would accidently hit the button on the pedal while my foot was still on the prop and tear my foot to pieces lol.

[nofearengineer]

If anyone here has a good picture of an e-ladder deployed, I would appreciate it. I need to see if the ladder sticks out backwards much, vs. just sticks straight down. With no handles to grab, straight up and down isn't going to work. (Try to visualize climbing a ships ladder without using your hands.)

If it sticks out to the back slightly, you can lean forward, making is much easier.

[MississippiBoy]

You've probably already seen these pics, Bryce, but here ya go:
http://www.basscatstore.com/e-ladder.aspx

It doesn't really show you the angle, though.

[nofearengineer]

Yeah....looks like straight down. Still, it is interesting.....I'm going to take a hard look at my boat and see if it would work. It would sure be the easiest one to install.

[XIntel007]

Capt. Mike,
I had the same idea Friday before last when I went out on the Potomac. The temps outside were 72 deg but the water was 46 deg so the thought occured to me (as I jumped a 2ft wake from a barge) that a splashdown could result in rapid onset hypothermia. A ladder is the best and quickest way out. I will have to pick one up.

What is the incident you are refering to? I have not heard of an accident recently except for the one in the gulf where the deep sea fisher's boat capsized.

[Captmikestarrett]

Boat capsizes at ccnpp today - 3 men overboard
...and they were all lucky I was there to pull them out of the water.

If you do not think THE RIPS at CCNPP are dangerous - think again.

I arrived at Flag harbor today ay 7 AM and told my guest that I was very unsure we should even go. Even though the weatherman predicted NW winds, they were NE. Looking at the Bay it was white capping a bit, but my bigger concern was a NE wind at the Rips and standing waves. I told him we would give it a try, but if it was sloppy I was pulling the plug. We break ice to get out of the harbor.

We arrive at Rips at 7:45 and find one boat with a lone angler way, way back. At the head of the RIP was a another 18-19 ft CC with 3 anglers. Waves were not the worst I have seen so I try a drift in the upper 1/4. We start drifting into waves and I pull out thinking it is just to rough. I try another short drift, we each catch one. Then I look up at the other boat and can not believe my eyes!

The other boat (fellow Tidalfishers who shall remain un-named unless they choose to join in.) was listing badly after they tried a drift through the plume. Seconds later the boat has turtled. I immediatly radio a MAYDAY to Coast Guard, fire up boat then head over. USCG wants coordinates and wouldn't you know it, my GPS is non-functional. I try on 2 occasions to just tell them Calvert CLiffs Nuclear Power Plant. They still want coordinates.

I arrive at their boat about 15-20 seconds later, all 3 are standing near bow on bow rail that is 3 feet under the water. ( Thank God for their high bow rail). They are all wearing the Type III life jackets. We throw a life ring, winds blows it off course. I get next to them and now I have the danger of our boat beside theirs and the waves smashing the two boats together with them between them but there is no other way since they are stuck to their boat and not letting go in 38 degree water. Now they transfer over to my boat hanging on to my bow rail. (Inversely - Thank God for my low bow rail) With 5 people on one side of my boat I am now worried of getting caught in the standing waves and flipping. I work the guys one at a time from the bow of the boat to the stern where I have a swim ladder with step. The first guy says "Hey Dennis". I say, "Do I know you?" He says no, but he knows me from TidalFish. Now imangine trying to pull 200+ full grown men who are in shock, freezing to death and losing strength. One is panic struck begging us to hold onto them and not let them go. My guest is having a hard time dealing with one guy. I eventually get them in using every bit of strength I have and coaxing them to use whatever they have left. I tell them all that at this point to be thankful - they are alive. I radio Coast Guard telling them I have all 3 victims on board, no physical injuries, but I am sure they are hypothermic. All 3 swear they are not. I request medical assissitance at Flag Harbor.

The guy at the far end of the RIP has no idea what has happened, DOES NOT have Channel 16 on and is of no help.

We beat are way back in 15-20 MPH NE wind the whole while the USCG wants to talk to me and I have the problem of making time (engine noise) and communicating. We get back to Flag Harbor, ambulance crew is at far end by jetties despite seeing us come in on boat. (or did they) I use all the air I have from a air horn to signal our location. They are sitting in their heated "units" and never hear us. I need to call back to 911 to give my location, slip 120.

The men walk or crawl down the dock to the ambulance and are taken to Calvert Hospital. DNR is on hand for a report.

I visited them later, 2 were OK, one had his core temperature go down 3-4 degrees and was having a much harder time.

Lessons learned.

Monitor Channel 16 - always

The RIPS are dangerous in a NE wind.

The drift they made put the boat sideways in the waves, they took a wave in a boat with a cut out transom. I am not sure where they were standing. The boat also had an auxiallary kicker motor (more weight) Do not get sideways in the waves.

Have a plan for a man overboard drill - I always tell my people the drill before each trip.

Have your throw ring tied to a rope. (I though loose would be better but I wish now I had a tether on.)

You absolutely need a swim ladder - no way were these guys coming in w/o one.

And for all of you guys who ridicule me for having a low sided boat (it is more akin to a "bay boat"), there is no doubt that it helped save the lives of 3 guys who surely would have died if we were not ther and able to get them in.

Capt Dennis Flemming



In his own words..

Capt Mike