Self-Rescue with a Re-boarding Device

If you accidentally fall out of your boat, the best thing is to have a way to get back in, especially if no one is in the boat to help you back in. Making a simple re-boarding device out of a 14-foot piece of rope that can be attached to your boat all season long so you have a way to get back into your boat. This is a very important part of self-rescue. Here is how you can prepare your re-boarding device ahead of time. To make a rope ladder re-boarding device you will need:

Between 11-14 feet (approximately 3-4 meters) of rope.

• Fold the rope in half (a), make a loop with a simple overhand knot (b). The loop has to be big enough to easily put your foot in (c).

• At each end of the rope, double a short length of rope over and make a similar knot to create a similar sized loop at each end.

• You will now have three identical sized loops, one at each end and one in the middle (d).

• Attach the loop at one end onto a secure part of your boat like a grab handle or a transom support (e). You can attach it by putting the loop through the support and thread the rest of the rope through it (f).

• The other two loops are foot holes, which you have already made and you are sure they are big enough to fit your boot in.

• Ensure that, if you were to fall overboard, you could reach up and grab the rope and pull it into the water so you can re-board (g).

• Once the rope ladder is attached to the boat, you can keep it inside the boat and ready to be used all season.

To attach your re-boarding device to the back-grab handle of your boat, see the graphic above:

• Notice how you can take one of the loops at either end and thread it up and through the grab handle and then pull the rest of the rope through that one loop. No extra knots required.