On the North Sea and Baltic Sea and on the many inland waterways, it has so far been rather unusual to enter your boat via a plank - on the Mediterranean, on the other hand, it can be found on almost every boat and is a matter of course. The reason for the difference lies in the way that boats are moored in Mediterranean harbours. But even in the north, a gangway can be a useful aid when boarding: Boats are getting bigger and bigger here too, the sides are higher and the average age of sailors is increasing.
It can make sense to break with outdated habits and instead of climbing up to the bow using a wobbly anchor, simply moor stern-first and step over to the bathing platform via a gangway. Some charter companies on the Baltic Sea now use this method and only moor their boats at the jetty in this way. Sailors can then get on board comfortably, even with luggage.
In YACHT 10/2019, we show you what gangway variants are available, as well as practical tips and accessories. You can order the magazine here or download the article directly via the link below.
Downloads:
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik
