The virtue of Stayin' Alive
This
is an issue and it is the
insurer who really sets the bar for the compliance they want to see. The surveyor can only make
recommendations usually to cover him/her self..
One of my good friends, a customer as well, almost died because he could not get his ladder down! He fell off the dock securing his boat in a storm in FEBRUARY in MAINE!!
He got very, very, very lucky the dock hands heard his screams..... It was an Ericson 32-3 and the ladder was pinned up. He now leaves it unlocked at the dock and has a rope to pull it down which dangles off the transom.....
Maine Chef Survives Icy Plunge
Quite the narrative! Glad your friend survived.
I doubt that anyone would question the need for an apparatus like that, either.
We occasionally get some harsh winter storms here, but it's been over 30 years since a prolonged 20 degree thirty knot east wind froze up some of the moorages along the edge of the Columbia. I fully agree with the danger involved.
Upon reflection, I believe that one possible reason that this is not routinely handled by the vendors of boarding ladders might be the legal system for liability in the US. I recall talking to an attorney & boat owner up in Vancouver BC some years ago about this general issue and being told that in his country it very difficult to collect money for any sort of liability. The gist of it was that unless the injured person could prove intent to harm on the part of the host or vendor, there was no "reward" for being injured like exists in the US.
So if a company, trying to provide a safer ladder with in-water access, has someone injured or killed while using their product, they could be successfully sued into financial oblivion here. And, I can only start to imagine the
many ways that such a device could be rendered unusuable by a customer (and that would include some idiotic yard workers doing an improper install, too).
Most of us can conjure up a "Rube Goldberg" device to do this, but constant upkeep would be called for.
After decades, the very useful "Seattle Sling" (aka nowadays the LifeSling) is in general use, and old ones are rotting off of the stern rails of old sailboats everywhere... and I have no idea how potential product liability might be handled. These things are sold and re-sold at swap meets.
And them, my whole hypotheses might be in error, too.
Anyhow, great discussion.
Thanks everyone.
Loren