Swim ladder quick release?

[wes]

I discovered this weekend that when you're swimming in the water behind the 27, lowering the swim ladder by releasing the factory  retaining cable is just not humanly possible. Luckily I was at the marina at the time so there were other options for getting out, but if this had happened out on the water it would have been a dicey situation.

Has anyone rigged an effective quick release cord that can be actuated from a swimming position? If so please post a picture!

Wes

[Bristol14]

My '23 has Velcro straps on each side of the ladder to hold it up. On the boat when I bought it so don't know if its original. Seems to work fine.

[BobK]

Wes,

I tie a mooring hitch connecting the ladder to the stainless corner stanchion next to it above the closest rung to the deck.  The release line is just above the water.  The top of the ladder needs to stay outboard of the lifeline.  I can't copy and paste a picture to this reply so you can go to www.netknots.com to see how to tie it.  The other end of the line is tied to the ladder itself to assist in pulling it down once it is released.

BobK 

[SailingShadow]

I would make sure to put it down before going in the water.
When at sail and sitting at the helm it is part of the back rest because the life line is intertwined, that seems to work well.
Some of the lifeline latches are harder to open because they are spread too much to easy get latch over the bumps. I think that could be fixed with compression of a plier to change the spread.

[BobK]

The "mooring hitch" knot I use holds the ladder in place and allows me to use the ladder as a back rest but if I go overboard for some reason I can pull on the line by the water and the ladder will release and allow me an easy way to climb back up on the boat.

BobK

[wes]

Bob, that's an excellent suggestion - thanks. This is a real safety issue for singlehanders in a MOB situation. Looking up at that swim ladder from the water was truly terrifying. So near, yet so far.

Wes

[SteveA]

Have you tried to stand on the top of the rudder and pull yourself up to drop the ladder?  I think that would work but haven't tried that yet myself...Steve

[redfishnc]

All the more reasons to have a swim platform.  I have not given up on the idea.  Has anyone else installed one and if you have I would really like to see a pic.

[Reighnman]

You might email/call Compac and ask them about installing one. Their Launch boat has one that might fit onto a 27 with some modification.

[relamb]

I once sailed my CP27 straight offshore 100 miles, turned around and came back, singlehanded.  I had the same concern with falling overboard and not being able to get the ladder down.
I can't remember the exact routing now, but I tied a thin line around one of the stanchions and through somehow so that it hung in a loop down to the bottom of the ladder.  one end to the stanchion, the other end to the release latch on the pelican clip.   I was able to yank on the hanging loop and give it a jerk which pulled the catch on the pelican clip and pulled the lifeline down so that I could easily fold down the ladder.  Worked great, if you didn't mind the line flopping around back there.  I have also heard of people dragging a 200' floating line behind the boat, so if you fall off while sailing, you have a chance to grab the line before the boat sails off without you.   I just wear a harness and keep myself clipped to a jackline.