What is the best way to board a 26X from a Dinghy?

[GART]

With the rudder, engine and boarding ladder raised, it is difficult to board from the stern port hand side, with kicker and steering rods plus the other rudder it is difficult to board from stern Starboard.
With Horseshoe life ring and strobe attached to rear starboard push pit. Boarding there is not possible. I have tried different “steps” which work to a degree, but I need something to hold on to while I climb onboard. The mid- rails are not accessible due to the spray hood is clipped onto the outside of the rail.
What do other people do?

[Bleakco]

when leaving my X via dingy I loop the port rudder up line around the cleat and tie to the folded ladder ..upon return I loose the rudder let it down and lower the ladder and up the ladder to regain the X...it works for the skipper and me..bob

[Catigale]

40 USD boarding ladder from West Marine over the cockpit coaming is what we do on Catigale on anchor for a week. Piece of cake.

[Craig LaForce]

I use the factory boarding ladder (added plastic treads to it). Plus I leave the motor down and clip a heavy strap with 2 tied loops on it to a padeye I installed where the seatback hinge used to be.
Left foot on the ladder, right hand on top of the motor and the left hand grabs the strap. Super easy.

[curtiss]

We use the Doyle Quick Step 2 portable ladder, West Marine part #2673820 . It is cheap, easy to store and my wife and I love it for getting into the dinghy and onto the dock.

Curtiss on LaVida

[Boblee]

With the big wide access I would have thought the was much easier than the which is not a problem on land or water but then I'm only 63 and 98kg mind you I wouldn't want to be doing it a hundred times a day.

[Rick Westlake]

When I first tried out using my old Sevylor Tahiti blow-up kayak as a tender for Bossa Nova, I used a ladder over the side to board and debark. Bossa Nova's P.O. had gotten a clip-mounted SS ladder to get down into the cabin, and I added a two-rung Marlinespike Sailor rope ladder to the end of it. Some interesting gymnastics!

Then I got my KaBoat inflatable, and I found out I could board it easily from the transom steps of Bossa Nova. Of course I'm a little smaller and younger than Boblee, at 56 and 90 kg.

[Boblee]

[GART]

Thanks for the replies, I am currently trying what they call a "fender step" which is two runs moulded into a fender, that I climb up, however it is finding something to hold onto while I get over the lifeline. If I leave the mast support in place I can hold that, but I do not usually have it in position. I will be looking at a quick release catch for the Lifelines which would make it easier.

[K9Kampers]

What is the best way to board a 26X from a Dinghy?

Vewwy, vewwy, cahfuwwy!
(I woke up with Elmer Fudd in my head!)

I have no problems boarding from the transom or from over the side at the midships cockpit stanchion. But then, I'm 46 & 75kg!!
BTW- I can also climb out of the water at the bow! (A good pirate must be able to board enemy craft undetected!)

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

For years we boarded through the transom, always with the motor and the port side rudder down. You can get the dinghy pretty close in this configuration. We have since added a lot of stuff to our transom arch which makes it more difficult to use that route without moving a bunch of things first.

We have switched to the side of the boat using a "Fender Step". This has proved to be an easy route for everyone to enter and leave the dinghy while it is securely tied along side the boat. The fender step is also very useful when tied to low docks. We secure one side to the mid pulpit and the other to a sliding U fitting that goes on the genoa track.

[Gary N]

We have our 26X moored in a bay all year and have to use an inflatable tender. What we have found to be the best way is to fit a 3 step ladder fender which hangs from one of the rear push pits on one side. We tie it to the forward of the two parts of the rear push pit just a bit forward of the rear cleat. It hangs down to just above water level and has proved an easy to use and sturdy way of getting on and off the boat.

Like this one http://www.force4.co.uk/3793/Force-4-Fe ... White.html