John, thanks so much for this great information! As a newbie M-15 owner (and sailor, for that matter), this is just the sort of knowledge I need. And yes, if not too much of an imposition for you, please do send that photo of your installation. Much appreciated! —Steve on Whidbey On Nov 2, 2007, at 10:50 AM, John R. Butler wrote:
Steve Pearse on Whidbey, I highly recommend the West Wight Potter 4- step ladder (because it saved my life!). My back has crumbled, and my balance system is AWOL, so I knew falling overboard is more a probability than possibility. There are no ladders on my marina's docks, and none on my "new" (just a year ago) "Rejoyce!", so I knew that I needed a means to escape from drowning, or dying of hypothermia, if I took the plunge. I installed mine on the starboard side of the transom, and put in a "slam hatch" from Defender on the aft end of the starboard cockpit seat to reach the necessary fastenings. Of course I learned of this excellent ladder from this Montgomery Forum, so I guess I owe my life to all of you good folk, too. And, also of course, I fell in from the dock last March (Beaver Lake rarely freezes over, but it was quite "cool"), but I managed to swim, with my soggy full-winter apparel, to the transom, pull the ladder down and climb aboard. Obviously I survived, as did my expensive hearing aids and cheap cell phone. Steve, I know your cruising grounds well, flew out of CGAS Port Angeles from '57 to '61, sailed the San Juans in a friend's sloop. Lovely area. I'll send you an e-mail photo of my installation if you like. Cheers, John .--.-. | ( ( )__ \ _ / (_, \ ) ,_) | -== (_) ==- -'--`--' /|\ / \ / | \ | ^^ / | \ / | \ ^^ /361| \ / | \ / | \ ^^ / | \ ___/____| \ ______|_ \ ___ _______/ ==== \___\___/ | “MONTGOMERY 15” / ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~^~~^=~^~~-=~^~^~=~^~=~~^~= ~^~=~~^=~^~~^~^=~^~-~^~~^~= ^~=~^~=~~^~~=~~=~^~=~~^~~^~^^
John Butler - First M15 was #264
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Steve Pearse sspearse@whidbey.com