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The boats are growing, but the jetties and sailors are not. What can be done? The good news is that there are various ways to tackle the issue. The supposedly simplest, as demonstrated by Mediterranean sailors and charter companies on the Baltic coast, is to moor backwards. This is an ideal solution at the floating dock and even perfect if it is roughly level with the unfolded bathing platform. For boats without this most beautiful achievement of modern construction, however, clambering is also the order of the day. And: passers-by look directly into the cockpit and boat.
Opportunities to get on board
So bow to the jetty after all. A crate of beer on land or a simple folding step, possibly foldable to save space when stowing on board, can be enough to overcome an oversized height. Both are easy to carry and also help when lying alongside.
The rickety anchor, an overlong bowsprit and a lack of space for the feet make getting on and off the boat difficult.
In other words, a small ladder. This can be permanently installed at your own berth, subject to the approval of the harbour operator, but is then missing in foreign harbours. Therefore, an additional one is required on the ship. There are various options for customised solutions that you can build yourself. These range from rope ladders and bolted-on plates to lowerable bowsprits and foldable stainless steel solutions. The latter can be customised and manufactured by specialist companies such as Niro Petersen in Flensburg, Prasolux in Solingen or Edelstahl Haese near Berlin, which is both aesthetically pleasing and expensive, but makes sense in view of the added comfort.
The stainless steel fabricators can also modify existing bow baskets, for example by dividing closed bow baskets at the front for easier passage or extending them forwards if they are too short so that they can be reached from land and thus serve better as a climbing aid.
Equipment for retrofitting
A bow ladder and a forward-projecting pulpit, which was common on older boats but is increasingly disappearing today: good and effective. However, the optimum solution, especially for boats with a steep stem, looks more complex, as the long anchor gallows cause problems on these boats. A bow platform that encloses or even covers the anchor gallows, accommodates a telescopic ladder the length of the freeboard and then serves as a welcome attachment point for the code zero and gennaker. These platforms are available from shipyards such as Nordship, Nordborg, Saare and Schöchl.
And they can also be retrofitted. Båtsystem sells various models via the Hamburg-based company Gotthardt, including modern-looking models made of GRP. However, the retrofitted bow platform requires good planning and possibly adjustments to the boat. After all, it carries higher loads, must be designed for tension and compression and therefore requires a fixed water stay. The anchor gallows need to be integrated and may need to be adapted. In addition, the anchor and telescopic ladder must not interfere with each other. Welcome on board!
Interview with designer Torsten Conradi, Managing Director at Judel/Vrolijk and President of the German Boat and Shipbuilders' Association
Mr Conradi, why is it becoming increasingly difficult to get on board?
Torsten Conradi: Because the boats are getting bigger and bigger. The freeboards are growing disproportionately, namely around twelve per cent more than the average length. And the pontoons don't grow with them. Many modern yachts also have a narrow bowsprit, which also makes it more difficult to get on board.
So why did it prevail?
For technical reasons: Position lights and anchors can be wonderfully accommodated under the long "lugs". And at the front end, furling sails such as gennakers and Code Zero. That's why every metre is welcome. For individual constructions, however, we offer a bowsprit that can be folded down, for example. It is designed so that you have steps down from the deck. But this is of course an expensive solution that is not feasible for series-produced boats.
What is also very uncomfortable is that the bow pulpits on almost all newer boats are now set back so that you can no longer hold on to them when going up and down. Why is that?
Quite simply, the many furling headsails need space and should therefore be able to be placed on the bowsprit, which is why the baskets are moved to the rear. Not ideal, but actually practical if you need this space.
Have there ever been complaints about the comfort when getting on and off the Judel/Vrolijk?
Sometimes something is noticed, yes, but it has never happened that a boat is not bought because of it. People build all sorts of things to make it easier to get on and off the boat. Many moorings have interesting constructions because it simply wouldn't work otherwise. Beer crates or wooden steps.
An alternative would be to screw the anchor tightly ...
... that depends on the fittings. Of course that would be feasible, but then you have to loosen everything completely before every anchorage, which is not ideal either.
Many boats also have these incredibly long noses. When you're standing in front of it, you wonder how you're supposed to get on there on your own if you have bags with you.
Yes, that's true. You have to come up with solutions. There are folding ladders, or you can tie a halyard to it. Or neighbours can help. It's even more difficult when mooring, I agree. If you have a bow thruster, you're in a good position.
But a good sense of balance and jumping onto the footbridge are a must here, there's no other way.
As long as marina builders and jetty manufacturers have not yet adapted to the ever-increasing size of boats, mooring will unfortunately have to remain a jump. You always have to swallow a toad.
