Dinghy cruising: re-boarding a dinghy 2 - installing re-boarding straps

I took a leaf out of Joel Bergen's approach on his navigator and installed boarding loops; I also installed righting lines as well.

The approach was simple enough. The green webbing is a 20 inch loop which is attached to two stainless steel eye bolts under the side deck behind the coaming. The eye bolts were attached to two neighbouring bulkhead ribs. I drilled through the rib and added extra 10mm ply blocks either side to strengthen the rib. The eye bolt went through rib and both blocks and was secured with nuts. The webbing was whipped at each end and then secured to the eyes with bowlines. Each loop is stored in the plastic wallet on the coaming. 

After righting from a capsize, the theory is that I can reach over and pull the loop out. It will go over the coaming and side deck and hang just below the hull bottom. I put a foot in the loop and there should be enough leverage to get me up and over the side, back into the boat. 

The rope is 12mm diameter braid. With big knots every 8 - 10 inches - for cold hands! It is about 14 feet long and each one (port and starboard sides) is attached by a bowline to another stainless steel eye through a bulkhead rib with strengthening blocks.  They store behind the coaming under the side deck. The idea is when Arwen lies on her side after a capsize, I can reach into the submerged cockpit, find the rope, throw it up over the higher side, swim around and use it to pull myself up onto the centreboard whilst at same time start to pull the boat back upright.

Well that's the theory. As always, theory and practice don't always match up.