If they go for a swim while we are at anchor, we want them to be able to self-rescue.
Since our boat has no swim platform, we braided some stiff, old, retired docklines [3/4” 3-strand nylon] into a feline crew ladder- which we always deploy when at anchor. [That crew has no free roaming deck privileges when underway…]
We left a loop at the top for hanging on a cleat, and clubbed the bottom. It extends about a foot below the water surface, so could never get caught up in the high speed underwater winch, but facilitates use by a swimming gato.
To introduce it to the crew when it was new, we temporarily fastened it to the mast and anointed it with catnip…
We made this hawse ladder several years ago, and it has held up well [and thankfully has yet to be used.]
We sometimes spend weeks at a time lying at anchor, so the underwater portion of the rope will invite some growth and creatures. It is easily cleaned when we forget to retrieve it while getting underway, and is ultimately dragged along in the water at 6-8 knots for a while…
Yes, we are occasionally asked by other boaters [a rare occurrence where we hang out…] what it is for…
No comments:
Post a Comment
Because of spammers, comments may be moderated [and 'Anonymous' are usually deleted...] so please be patient if they don't appear quickly... We are cuisers. Sometimes it may be days— even weeks— before we have internet access. Even Elon's... [Don't feel sorry for us... It's intentional...]