Just curious, how easy is it to tip over a 14' or 16' fiberglass boat?
Something with a 'V' hull, probably a small outboard motor, assume calm
water. When I say tip over I'm talking about someone trying to climb
back in one if they fell out. Would it tip over pretty easily or could
you heave yourself back into it over the side?

Thanks,

Mike V.

wrote:
Just curious, how easy is it to tip over a 14' or 16' fiberglass boat?
Something with a 'V' hull, probably a small outboard motor, assume calm
water. When I say tip over I'm talking about someone trying to climb
back in one if they fell out. Would it tip over pretty easily or could
you heave yourself back into it over the side?

Thanks,

Mike V.


Many variables in play.

Without a boarding ladder, most 16' boats are hard to climb into from
the water. I've always climbed up on the engine or outdrive.

Even my BIL at over 350 lbs. would not upset our 16' Glastron, 16'
Browning, or 16' Correct Craft to the point of "tipping" when
concentrating his weight on the gunwales.

He would have completely upset our 15' FeatherCraft(Aluminum), though.

Rob

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On 20 Oct 2005 20:50:10 -0700, wrote:


Just curious, how easy is it to tip over a 14' or 16' fiberglass boat?
Something with a 'V' hull, probably a small outboard motor, assume calm
water. When I say tip over I'm talking about someone trying to climb
back in one if they fell out. Would it tip over pretty easily or could
you heave yourself back into it over the side?


Unlikely, but it would be best to board at the stern and use a
boarding ladder as boats of this type are hard to enter from the water
without some kind of assistance.


Actually, in rough seas, it might be easier to enter at the beam.
When we had the Mirage 33 at our 'summer club', the mooring field was
open to prevaling winds. On very windy days the boat would be like a
bucking bronco as we tried to use the stern swim ladder.

Others have mentioned a boarding ladder, which is a great idea. But, don't
try and save storage space by getting the kind whose steps are attached to
lengths of rope. When you climb onto the first or second steps, which are
underwater, your weight pushes them under the boat, thereby making the whole
contraption useless. If you need proof of this, and will pay collect
shipping charges, I'd be happy to send you my rope ladder.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:25:32 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

Others have mentioned a boarding ladder, which is a great idea. But, don't
try and save storage space by getting the kind whose steps are attached to
lengths of rope. When you climb onto the first or second steps, which are
underwater, your weight pushes them under the boat, thereby making the
whole
contraption useless. If you need proof of this, and will pay collect
shipping charges, I'd be happy to send you my rope ladder.

I've never had a problem and I've...well, we'll just leave alone,
shall we?

I'm 6'2", 170 lbs, and can do 15-20 chinups when my $(!#_friggin shoulder's
not aching. Perhaps the performance of rope ladders depends on the design of
the boat.

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:18:58 GMT, Don White
wrote:


Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

On 20 Oct 2005 20:50:10 -0700, wrote:



Just curious, how easy is it to tip over a 14' or 16' fiberglass boat?
Something with a 'V' hull, probably a small outboard motor, assume calm
water. When I say tip over I'm talking about someone trying to climb
back in one if they fell out. Would it tip over pretty easily or could
you heave yourself back into it over the side?


Unlikely, but it would be best to board at the stern and use a
boarding ladder as boats of this type are hard to enter from the water
without some kind of assistance.

Actually, in rough seas, it might be easier to enter at the beam.
When we had the Mirage 33 at our 'summer club', the mooring field was
open to prevaling winds. On very windy days the boat would be like a
bucking bronco as we tried to use the stern swim ladder.


Good point.
On my modest Sandpiper 565, I installed a stainless steel 4 step transom
ladder this summer, but I'll keep the foldup hook type ladder that came
with the boat.

Harry Krause wrote:

Don White wrote:

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:18:58 GMT, Don White
wrote:


Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

On 20 Oct 2005 20:50:10 -0700, wrote:



Just curious, how easy is it to tip over a 14' or 16' fiberglass
boat?
Something with a 'V' hull, probably a small outboard motor, assume
calm
water. When I say tip over I'm talking about someone trying to climb
back in one if they fell out. Would it tip over pretty easily or
could
you heave yourself back into it over the side?


Unlikely, but it would be best to board at the stern and use a
boarding ladder as boats of this type are hard to enter from the water
without some kind of assistance.

Actually, in rough seas, it might be easier to enter at the beam.
When we had the Mirage 33 at our 'summer club', the mooring field
was open to prevaling winds. On very windy days the boat would be
like a bucking bronco as we tried to use the stern swim ladder.


Good point.

On my modest Sandpiper 565, I installed a stainless steel 4 step
transom ladder this summer, but I'll keep the foldup hook type ladder
that came with the boat.



My Parker came with an Armstrong boarding ladder. It's stainless and
attaches to a bracket on the side of the engine bracket. It came with
some holders that allow it to be affixed to the outside of the transom.
I've not done this yet, but I am planning to install them so that if I
slip overboard, I will be able to reach the ladder and slip it into its
bracket. There's no way to climb aboard the Parker if you fall into the
water. It's not easy to get up on the engine bracket when the boat is
still, because it is fairly high out of the water.


Climb up on the motor - assuming it's not running. I've done that
dozens of times.

Dan