OK, any suggestions other than spending the winter in the gym...
I managed to capsize my Pacer today on (oh the shame - I didn't reckon this was really possible) Albert Park Lake. I'm not even really certain how I did it - an unexpected shift of the wind direction while we were running back to the boatsheds is what I'm going to blame!
So now I know that yep you can stand up in the middle of the lake. I also know that the boat floats really high, is easy to right (with no waves, anyway), but that I can't get in from a swimming position because I don't have the arm strength.
I need a way to make sure I can get myself back in if/when I go over in a more precarious place like off the beach. Was thinking of getting one of these:
www.whitworths.com.au/swim-stirrup-ladder
Has anyone used one? Do they make it easier? Any other suggestions?
I think I need to practice this, but next time I'll do it in cleaner water!
The gym is probably a good solution. Not only will you easily be able to climb in your dinghy (in any conditions). You would also look and feel better.
Maybe a silly question but are you trying to climb over the transom? I always found this is the easiest way of getting back in the boat after stacking it.
Cant commment on the swim ladder sorry.
Hi Tenar
Over the stern is the most stable way to get back aboard.
A line tied from the stern port quarter to the starboard quarter which loops down low enough to give you the purchase to hoist aboard would be the go. Practice in the shallows to get the length right.
You can use 30cm of electrical conduit for a bit of stability ( a knot tied at each end to keep it in place) like the Whitties job.
However I think it would end up being to slippery unless you are wearing booties.
Other than the swim. How is the boat to sail?
Did you sort out the cleats?
gary
I think the ladder is a awesome idea. I'd suggest shopping around. More steps the better I'd think.
a knotted line in a helpful position would assist too?
practice is helpful too.
seriously one the hardest things to do is pull yourself back into a boat especially if tired.
cheers
The joy of dingy sailing , righting bailing and reboarding. The issue with rope ladders is when you push down with your foot to lift yourself up the ladder rung tends to go under the vessel, which makes it difficult to climb aboard, it is better to wrap your leg around the ladder and put your heel on the rung as opposed to putting your toe on the rung from the front, if that makes sense ? Generally boarding a dingy from the water is a swim, kick, heave, scramble episode, submerging yourself and using your pfd to sort of help spring you up helps too. The transom is probably the best place to get back on from
Thought you were posting from in the water for a minute!
In canoes I use a strap, sewn into a loop, around a thwart and into the water long enough to give you a foot hold. Strap works better than line as it's much less uncomfortable! You would need something pretty long around the mast or a hiking strap, but it rolls up nicely and tucks into a lifejacket pocket.
Are you wearing a wetsuit? Makes you fair bit more buoyant, particularly in lower torso and legs. A well fitting vest PFD, ie not bulky and riding up obstructing you.
Push down a bit first and use bobbing back up momentum to help getting up over side.
Little things that might help.
I've had a lot of practice recovering from capsize back in my early years of laser sailing.
If there is a bit of breeze reach in for the mainsheet and haul it on. Hold the tiller extension and bear away at the same time. The boat should heel towards you as you are dragged along and then it's a matter of hauling yourself back into the cockpit.
No way steps or ladder, no way over transom. These folk want you to drown or drown trying. From the Windward side, boat on broad reach, grasp the gun whale with both hands and pull down, when healed sufficiently grab the toe strap with one hand and drag yourself over and into cockpit while giving a vigorous kick. When substantially aboard sheet on to pull the boat upright and sail away. Fast smooth and efficient is the go.
Select to expand quotefrant said..
No way steps or ladder, no way over transom. These folk want you to drown or drown trying. From the Windward side, boat on broad reach, grasp the gun whale with both hands and pull down, when healed sufficiently grab the toe strap with one hand and drag yourself over and into cockpit while giving a vigorous kick. When substantially aboard sheet on to pull the boat upright and sail away. Fast smooth and efficient is the go.
Agree with the above approach. The windward gunwale will sink a bit which makes boarding easier.
yoga i started dingy sailing again a few years ago and was surprised at my lack of fitness took up yoga twice a week now no problems and look forward to going after a hard race to stretch all the muscles out
Going to the gym seems like a good idea but I don't like the transom.
If you have a crew you can get them to help pull the windward gunwale down close to the water. Reduce freeboard by rolling the boat down towards you. Then you slither aboard with a big kick. Get down low as you enter and only stand up when you are back in the centre. So roll the boat to windward, this reduces freeboard and then pull yourself in hard. Do the same for the crew. The top video is pretty on the money but don't ever put the boat directly into the wind, about 30-60 degrees is best - never head to wind.
You can't reduce freeboard on the transom. I can't remember the last time I re entered a dinghy over the bum. Get your face down low and slip on in. Also get rid of any guff on you life jacket, use a sunshirt over all of you stuff to keep things to a minimum and for me, never wear shoes or a spray jacket - deadly things, you can't swim at all and they fill up with water. Stay slim and smooth and you stand a much better chance of reboarding. ( I hate shoes on a boat)One Laser nationals I watched a top competitor lose his boat because his boots and spray jacket meant he was so slow at swimming the Laser blew away faster than he could swim. In sea kayaking I have rescued a few guys who couldn't get back on board their kayaks with all the junk hanging off their jackets. Get your chest clear, your feet good for a few quick kicks and pull that windward gunwale down.
One other reason the transom is no good is because the boat wants to start sailing and you can't get back in with the drag pulling on your legs. I have had a few funny incidents getting a skiff skipper back in when the boat took off from the beach too fast. If you are holding the boat at the stays, it can't sail away but rounds up and everything stops. But hey - never get in from leeward.
I used to right my Laser in a big blow with the rig to windward. It would blow straight back over again but I held onto the board, went under the boat and would have a knee on the board and be on top as it flicked back over. Ready to heave her up quickly and get on my way. Good party trick.
Select to expand quoteNowandZen said..
Have any of you tried this? It may work if your dinghy weighs more than you, but I've tried it and all I got was a dinghy on my head and a dunked outboard..... 
I have an Aquila Eagle 2.7. Weighs just 28 Kilos, and the 3HP Johnson weighs about 15 Kilos I guess.
Anyone else had a go at it?
Re getting into a capsized and righted dinghy, Kankama has it right, as do the videos, but not the woman getting in the rubber dinghy..... 
Depending on the boat on a two person crew you can scoop one into the boat when righting it then they are onboard to help the second. Works well on Tasars etc.
I know this doesn't help single handers but this has been answered above by the brains trust 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll watch the videos and some practice is in order. I don't remember having trouble with this as a teenager, but, um, am fatter and less fit than then... So it goes.
Gary I have yet to sort out the cleats, but have done some really minor things like changing the jib sheet for something that's nicer to handle, etc. On my list is to sort out the cleats on the mast, change the main halyard, try to find the source of the leak in the self-bailer. One nice thing that happened before I capsized the other day was that I was actually going fast enough for the bailer to work to take water out: first time it didn't just let water in...
I'm having a whale of a time really :) Just knowing that I could choose to go for a sail on the weekend is lovely. I'm enjoying all the fiddling to get out and pack up (the latter is better when not sodden). It's the "messing about in boats" thing, isn't it. And the couple of times we've really gotten her going (by my standards, anyway) have been great. I'm very glad I bought her when I did: I haven't seen anything much else that would have suited since anyway, so we would have lost this summer for sailing.
Select to expand quotefrant said..
No way steps or ladder, no way over transom. These folk want you to drown or drown trying. From the Windward side, boat on broad reach, grasp the gun whale with both hands and pull down, when healed sufficiently grab the toe strap with one hand and drag yourself over and into cockpit while giving a vigorous kick. When substantially aboard sheet on to pull the boat upright and sail away. Fast smooth and efficient is the go.
Agree fully, WTG, but be careful if wearing a high vested racing buoyancy vest. They are designed for comfort while in the boat, not clambering back in over the side. The exposed ribs below the vest makes it easy to end up with a rolled rib. No you won't drown but it'll put you off the water at Albert Park lake for 6 weeks while it heels. High vested buoyancy vests are designed for the experienced younger skipper not the more senior in years one like myself as I nurse a rolled rib lol.
Select to expand quoteKankama said..
Going to the gym seems like a good idea but I don't like the transom.
If you have a crew you can get them to help pull the windward gunwale down close to the water. Reduce freeboard by rolling the boat down towards you. Then you slither aboard with a big kick. Get down low as you enter and only stand up when you are back in the centre. So roll the boat to windward, this reduces freeboard and then pull yourself in hard. Do the same for the crew. The top video is pretty on the money but don't ever put the boat directly into the wind, about 30-60 degrees is best - never head to wind.
You can't reduce freeboard on the transom. I can't remember the last time I re entered a dinghy over the bum. Get your face down low and slip on in. Also get rid of any guff on you life jacket, use a sunshirt over all of you stuff to keep things to a minimum and for me, never wear shoes or a spray jacket - deadly things, you can't swim at all and they fill up with water. Stay slim and smooth and you stand a much better chance of reboarding. ( I hate shoes on a boat)One Laser nationals I watched a top competitor lose his boat because his boots and spray jacket meant he was so slow at swimming the Laser blew away faster than he could swim. In sea kayaking I have rescued a few guys who couldn't get back on board their kayaks with all the junk hanging off their jackets. Get your chest clear, your feet good for a few quick kicks and pull that windward gunwale down.
One other reason the transom is no good is because the boat wants to start sailing and you can't get back in with the drag pulling on your legs. I have had a few funny incidents getting a skiff skipper back in when the boat took off from the beach too fast. If you are holding the boat at the stays, it can't sail away but rounds up and everything stops. But hey - never get in from leeward.
I used to right my Laser in a big blow with the rig to windward. It would blow straight back over again but I held onto the board, went under the boat and would have a knee on the board and be on top as it flicked back over. Ready to heave her up quickly and get on my way. Good party trick.
All good advice for a wide decked boat like Laser. On a non side decked boat like a Pacer be careful as it's easy to roll a rib getting back in over the side especially if wearing a high vested racing buoyancy vest where ribs are exposed below the vest which is often more bulky (think these are PFD type 3 European standard or level 50s)
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
Hi Tenar
Over the stern is the most stable way to get back aboard.
A line tied from the stern port quarter to the starboard quarter which loops down low enough to give you the purchase to hoist aboard would be the go. Practice in the shallows to get the length right.
You can use 30cm of electrical conduit for a bit of stability ( a knot tied at each end to keep it in place) like the Whitties job.
However I think it would end up being to slippery unless you are wearing booties.
Other than the swim. How is the boat to sail?
Did you sort out the cleats?
gary
Like he said, I know a few people who do try is with the transom of their inflatable tender for the same reason
Select to expand quoteGrumpyBoy said..Kankama said..
Going to the gym seems like a good idea but I don't like the transom.
If you have a crew you can get them to help pull the windward gunwale down close to the water. Reduce freeboard by rolling the boat down towards you. Then you slither aboard with a big kick. Get down low as you enter and only stand up when you are back in the centre. So roll the boat to windward, this reduces freeboard and then pull yourself in hard. Do the same for the crew. The top video is pretty on the money but don't ever put the boat directly into the wind, about 30-60 degrees is best - never head to wind.
You can't reduce freeboard on the transom. I can't remember the last time I re entered a dinghy over the bum. Get your face down low and slip on in. Also get rid of any guff on you life jacket, use a sunshirt over all of you stuff to keep things to a minimum and for me, never wear shoes or a spray jacket - deadly things, you can't swim at all and they fill up with water. Stay slim and smooth and you stand a much better chance of reboarding. ( I hate shoes on a boat)One Laser nationals I watched a top competitor lose his boat because his boots and spray jacket meant he was so slow at swimming the Laser blew away faster than he could swim. In sea kayaking I have rescued a few guys who couldn't get back on board their kayaks with all the junk hanging off their jackets. Get your chest clear, your feet good for a few quick kicks and pull that windward gunwale down.
One other reason the transom is no good is because the boat wants to start sailing and you can't get back in with the drag pulling on your legs. I have had a few funny incidents getting a skiff skipper back in when the boat took off from the beach too fast. If you are holding the boat at the stays, it can't sail away but rounds up and everything stops. But hey - never get in from leeward.
I used to right my Laser in a big blow with the rig to windward. It would blow straight back over again but I held onto the board, went under the boat and would have a knee on the board and be on top as it flicked back over. Ready to heave her up quickly and get on my way. Good party trick.
All good advice for a wide decked boat like Laser. On a non side decked boat like a Pacer be careful as it's easy to roll a rib getting back in over the side especially if wearing a high vested racing buoyancy vest where ribs are exposed below the vest which is often more bulky in order to comply with PFD 2 N50/50s buoyancy standard's.
Reach in a grab the ladder out. Secure it on the opposite side of the boat if you can. Ours is on a D ring on the inside of the transom. Make the segments loose so that you can twist it up for storage. For a rubber ducky anyway in case I fall out pulling cray pots. Use it a lot taking tender to snorkelling spots and anchoring.
