< When singlehanding, I keep a loop over the side at the stern with a foot strap at water level. The attachment for the harness brings me up short where I can get a foot in the strap and raise myself out of the water.>
Back in my younger days I was doing a lot of diving off my E27 before I found a boarding ladder that would fit on the boat. Didn't stop us, we just tied up special lines to the stern cleats that had both a large clip on the end for weight (so the line would sink) and to clip your tanks and weight belt to before reboarding It also had a loop to put your foot in. But be sure the loop is about 1 1/2' to 2' UNDER water level. You have to be very young, athletic, motivated, and flexible to put your foot into a loop at water level (which will be the same level as your head while you are in the water), then pull yourself up by that same line. Having it down deeper makes it infinitely easier. But of course too deep and you can't reach the rail/gunnel to pull yourself up. Really think about this folks and maybe do some experimenting on a nice warm day because that gunnel as a LONG way up there when you are looking at it from water level.
I also would put a crab pot float out with 100' of 1/4" floating poly line when we anchored for a dive and didn't have anyone left in the boat to pick us up. Only had to use it once when the tide picked up fast off Matts Matts Bay and we hadn't made it back yet. My buddy was too far off, knew it, and just inflated his BC figuring to swim for shore in an hour or two when he passed Oak Bay. I used every last ounce of strength I had to make the end of the float against about a 2kt current and eventually pulled myself back to the boat and headed off to pick up my buddy (would have been easier if I'd dropped the goody bag with about 20# of scallops in it, but hey you have to have priorities right?). Weren't in danger of our lives, but it sure would have been a long day and embarrassing to have to eventually swim to shore then find someone with a boat to run us back out to my boat.
Kevin Wright
E35 Hydro Therapy