USVI-On-Line

I do the rope loop trick some time you might have to have someone hang on to the other side of the boat so it doesn't flip if you are of a bigger size like me. I always get the tiller steering just so I can beach the boat it is so nice to have your cooler and other stuff on the beach with you

Answer from my uncle to my question - is there any way dignified way to get back into a dingy...

Hi Jac, we miss you too. Boarding a dinghy from the water is doable, but not easy. You must grasp the side of the dinghy , propel yourself from the water, and kick to thrust yourself from the water until you can balance your weight on the gunwhale or inflatable tube, then enter the dinghy. When we were snorkeling from our dinghy off of Marina Cay it came time to re-board using the above technique. Adam was able to do it gracefully, I was able to do it, but flopped in the dinghy like a dead fish, and Joanie was not able to do it at all. After several tries we decided to tow Joanie back to the boat in reverse so she wouldn't get caught in the prop. The best solution that I have seen is at up-n-out.com. It is a collapsable stainless steel ladder that is designed to maintain the correct angle of entry when boarding. We may get one of these when we finally get in some proper snorkeling water.

When are you guys going down ? Sorry we won't be able to meet you this trip. Maybe next time. I was just on the OPAL today, getting snow off the cover. This winter sucks.

BRY1105 wrote:

Muhaha wrote:Each beach has a set of green and red buoys. You enter the beach between these. They always lead to a sandy area, so no coral.

So between these buoys, either there is coral and the water is deep enough for you to go over it, or the water is shallow but there is no coral. Right?

Both. Plus dinghys ride very shallow and the prop only extends down about a foot.

jaq w-
Thanks for the info!
I went ahead and bought a rope ladder.
I'm thinking about simply tieing another rope to the bottom rung, and the other end to a handle on the opposite side of the boat. I'm thinking it should be stable enough if I do it closer to the rear (aft?) of the dinghy where the motor will have a little weight so's we don't flip it over!...
We'll be there 5/5-5/14,- can't wait!!!
Smiles-
MJ

Blaine and I might be interested in a dingy day with you and your beautiful Amy, Jim! We don't have our dates all set yet.
Could you PM me some details?
Sounds like fun! Blaine could bring some rope from Lowe's and someone must know how to tie knots. I can tie surgical knots...they may be useful!
So drop us a line with your dates and thougts!