Getting onboard from dinghy and dock
Tenders are just as their name describes – tippy. Always wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket before getting in one, and always step into the centre of the dinghy, never on the side. Let the rower position themselves amidships first before loading the bow and stern.
Never overload the dinghy. Make two trips if necessary, the first with people, and the second to carry the stores.
Always shine a light at night to alert other vessels to your position and carry a small anchor and line.
Modern motor cruisers invariably have a boarding/bathing platform at the stern, which makes it easier to get on and off the boat.
Secure the dinghy side-on to the stern using bow and stern lines, and always step out from the centre of the dinghy, and never the gunwale.
When there is a swell running, the gunwale of the dinghy can become trapped under the transom, so moor the dinghy alongside and not at the stern.
Boarding vessels without a bathing platform or transom step is made easier by using removable steps or fender step that hang down over the gunwale.
Never pull yourself up on the lifelines or stanchion posts because your weight can loosen the fastenings and lead to leaks. When stepping aboard from the dock, use the bathing platform at the stern. If there is no platform, step across the gunwale into the aft cockpit gate.
If the vessel has lifelines running around the gunwale, climb on board through the ‘gate’ by opening the pelican hooks, and steady yourself with your hands on the reinforced stanchions. Replace the gate lines and secure the pelican hooks once on board.