How to board your Mac from a Dinghy?

[rickbartholomew]

Here's a Dinghy question....

How (and where) is the best place to board/disembark from a Mac to a Dinghy (9' Zodiac)? Stern, sides? I'm thinking that the stern with the rudders (and motor) down is the best choice.

This season we're keeping our Mac on a mooring in our town's harbor. The mooring is a 24'x3' platform anchored at each end, and we simply tie off to one end and board the mooring (low free-board)...easy.

Things will be different when we anchor off shore some where, and try to dinghy in to some beach etc.


Thoughts?

Thanks,
Rick B

[Hardcrab]

I can't verify for an X, but in an M, we tuck the dinghy up tight at the stern, sit on the motor, rotate and into the dinghy.
It works well as the dinghy is floating higher than you would think.

The admiral, (not the athletic type) has an easy time of it as long as I go first and then keep the dinghy snugged in tightly.

[Sumner]

We don't have an X, but I can get into and out of the dinghy....



...when she is tied along side and usually do. I pull her just forward of the Bimini and climb in and out.

Ruth can't pull that off and for that reason she uses the swim ladder when it is in the.....



..... tow postion and works great as a boarding ladder....



.... for her or I to get into and out of the dinghy. Lots of good handholds while getting in and out. This might help someone with a S or D reading this post, but probably won't help you much.

I can tell you that we would rather be anchored out any day vs. tied up and hopefully you will also,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

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[Divecoz]

I prefer as does my wife.. Tying the dink along side of our M, towards the back , center so to speak with the helm post . I tie the dink , fore and aft . I use the rear cleat and the sheet winch..I built a Rope ladder with 2" PVC pipe for rungs.. Not all that happy with it, but it is , totally adjustable and its lowest rung/step is weighted, so it will submerge if desired. It can be used, anywhere from any position, to gain access to the boat..
She had issues a couple times getting into and out of the dink....Ahhhh but with me being known to go to ANY Length.... to get a laugh.. I stood on the Rail said this is how you enter a dink!! I did 2 pirouettes faked a couple stumbles and bumbles and then DOVE over the top of the dink into the bay.. Full Clothed!! Only minutes before we were to have ...dinked in, for dinner : ) It Did Make her LAUGH.. it was well worth my antics.: )

[paj637]

Nothing in my hands and stone cold sober!

[Russ]

Rudders and motor down off the stern works well. We have an M so the mast crutch makes for a good grab handle. It's not perfect and takes some balance, but the Mac has such a high freeboard, I can't think of coming over the side.

[Don T]

Hello,
I run the raft bow line through the fixed ladder rung so I can hold the raft tight to the transom as I step out. I welded extra railing loops at the back that work as holders for the bimini when it is down and handholds when boarding from the stern.

[dennisneal]

Leave it to Sumner to install all of the great gadgets. My hat's off to you!

Without installing a really neat swim ladder, my suggestions are:

On an "M", lift the captain's seat and lower the aluminum sail.

Snug the dinghy as close as possible to the transom, and, make sure it won't move. I learned this from a good dunking.

Attach a knotted line to an aft cleat to help you climb up into the boat.

Pull yourself onto the motor and swivel into the cockpit.

It takes a little practice to look elegant while doing this maneuver.

[NiceAft]

The 's opening where the motor is, is quite wide. Much wider than the same space on an . I can't imagine getting off of your dinghy, and boarding your from anywhere but that area.

A swim ladder to step on to would be nice to have.

Ray

[Chinook]

I agree with Nice Aft. We board our X from the dinghy frequently, and the stern opening works well. It's easiest with starboard rudder down, but can be managed even if it's up. Having the motor down does make it easier to get in and out, but even that isn't necessary. In stepping aboard, I usually grab the rudder cleat, which makes for a handy hand hold. We've boarded in some very rough sea conditions, and have never experienced a misstep (knock on wood).

[Catigale]

I installed a transom cleat almost at the water line of my to attach the dinghy and also use for towing. Advantage here is, as the dinghy is loaded from 0 to 6 people, the nearly horizontal line tension isn't changed, so attaching/detaching is a snap. At night, we do let the dinghy off on it's painter so it doesn't bump us all night.

[kitcat]

An interesting topic and I'm surprised it has never come up before...or has it?

On my M, my inflatable, the 'Flubber' has quite a long painter, I suppose it must be 9' or so, and as my boat is on a swinging mooring in the middle of a river, I always have to board from the water, so I come alongside the side of the cockpit, and pass the dinghy painter around the middle stanchion, then back around the cleat, then around a loop of rope on the dinghy engine and back to the cleat where I make it fast. I then undo the lifeline, step onto the side tube and just flop over the bimini frame [it's folded], not elegant but easy. I've even got my wife doing this with not too many complaints. There was a bit of muttering about it being 'not easy' so I made a rope ladder over the winter, but haven't actually used it yet as she has adapted to 'not easy and inelegant' quite well. As has been previously mentioned the trick is to secure the flubber tightly to the boat so there is no movement.

When I am towing, I just tie off on the rear stanchion and take the balance of the painter line around the cleat or one of the forward stanchions. Even with the motor on she seems to tow quite well, on the river at least, it may be another matter in a following sea

Paul

[Catigale]

Boarding one or two this works, but with more crew than this the painter will have to be tightened or eased as the load on the dinghy changes. One way to do this is leave it loose and have each boarder "pass the painter " on the left hand side ( name that obscure musical group)!!!

[DaveC426913]

This is an awesome thread - bang on one of the biggest trouble spots for us. I am at a 3-point morring.

Unfortunately, The Admiral's knees are pretty stiff. It is even difficult for her to board at a dock, let alone a dinghy. I row out alone and bring it into the dock. Then reverse the process coming back.

I've been thinking about that swim platform someone here designed. I'd build it out far enough to solidly attach the dinghy to it. But I don't think I want her trying to stand up in a dinghy anyway.

[c130king]

Boarding one or two this works, but with more crew than this the painter will have to be tightened or eased as the load on the dinghy changes. One way to do this is leave it loose and have each boarder "pass the painter " on the left hand side ( name that obscure musical group)!!!

Pass the Dutchie from the left hand side