Slipped off the swim platform...Again!

This very dangerous and serious problem. Many have been killed by slipping and hitting their head in this manner (falling into the water unconscious).
 
I went with the beige color and plan on doing the steps as well. Like what was mentioned, there are already margins there to follow so it should be pretty simple.

As for spilling my drink, oddly enough I have never slipped while having an adult beverage. I'm not sure if that is good or bad!

This recent slip was right after taking the dog for a walk.
 
As you roll the stuff out, take into account the "aggessiveness" of the non-skid (the "peaks", so to say). If it's too aggressive, it can be uncomfortable on bare feet or knees. It also gets harder to keep clean as it becomes more aggressive. Just something to keep in mind, in case you weren't already aware.
 
I put Flexiteak in my boat and on the swim platform. Some pretty complex cuts. It looks great and no way to slip on it. Where in Florida are you? I am in Longboat Key. The installer came up from Ft Myers I believe. Did a great job. Three years into it and it looks great, cleans up easily unless you get engine grease on it
 
I very recently slipped off the swim platform, too, and hit my back on the floating dock, couldn't move without excruciating pain for about a week. Thankfully no kidney damage from the whack to my floating rib. Humongous bruise, though. Decided to have my swim platform moved up nearly level with the transom door. The old 89 340 EC's 2ft platform isn't wide enough for safety and my vertically challenged stature doesn't help. Wish I could replace with one of those 3 foot ones but too pricey so until I can save up my pension pennies for awhile I will need to use extreme caution. Maybe a grab rail just to the right of the transom door might be a solution. I also might try some gritty tape where I step aboard until I can replace that inadequately sized platform. Could have killed my stupid self. I was surprised to note the relative warmth of the Halifax River in March.
 
I'm embarrassed to say that I tripped on a stern line when stepping off of our friend's boat a couple of weeks ago. It was late evening on a very dark dock and I was looking up at my husband who was carrying our dog off of the boat instead of down at my feet and all I remember was that I was vertical one minute and the next I was fully horizontal and I hit the dock *hard*. I bruised my right elbow pretty badly as well as my right thigh/hip. I was pretty rattled and my back and neck were hurting for days. I'm fine now but I'm annoyed with myself for falling in the first place. I know better than to not be paying full attention when stepping off of someone else's boat at night. Thank goodness I hadn't had anything to drink that night or it could have been much worse.

I had a scare when we had our 30' boat in Roche Harbor in 2001 (new boaters). We were leaving the dock and I stepped from the dock to our stern (in flip flops!) as I untied the stern line. I slipped on the wet swim platform and fell straight into the water between our boat, the boat we were stern-tied next to and the dock and...our engines were running. My husband quickly turned off the engines and ran to the stern and somehow he reached out for my up-stretched hand and pulled me out of the harbor like superman. I'm so lucky that I knew not to flail around with my arms or legs. I just reached up and stayed as straight as possible. I'm also so lucky that my husband immediately turned off our engines and the man from the boat next to us was able to grab our rail and hold our boat until I was safely back onboard.

Lessons learned - always be standing on your own boat before untying the stern line. Always have proper boating shoes on when running lines and never get distracted when boarding your boat or getting off your boat or someone else's. Stay safe out there!
 
i think all boaters have or will slip or trip while on or around a boat....it may be their boat or someone else's boat.....

I haven't spoken about this on the forum before but this thread presents a good opportunity for others to hopefully learn from my unpleasant experience....

about a year ago I was sitting in a chair on my swim platform one evening...there were several people sitting around on the dock and neighboring boats....we were just socializing and having a good time....I had a couple drinks by this time but was in no way impaired....when I stood up and started walking toward the transom door my shoe caught on a thick rug we keep on the swim platform in front of the transom door.....next thing I knew I fell head first into the dock hitting my head hard on the side of the dock....I was knocked unconscious and fell into the water between my boat and the dock....two younger guys saw what happened and immediately dove in to save me....they had trouble locating me at first but finally found me under the dock several feet from where I fell in....the next thing I remember I was sitting on my swim platform shivering from the cold water and I was probably in shock...luckily there was a nurse there and she looked me over and didn't think I had a concussion...I ended up with a nasty bump and scrape on my head and a cut under my left eye from hitting the dock and a sore shoulder from guys on the dock pulling me out of the water...a Dr. later confirmed no concussion.....

but I could have very easily drowned had it not been for the two guys that saved me.....

this proved to be very mentally traumatic for me....it took several weeks for me to 'sort of' get past it...to this day when I think about what could have happened I still get a little sick to my stomach....

boats and docks are very dangerous places....there are wet slippery surfaces and numerous trip hazards....we all must stay as vigilant as possible at all times and use proper footwear to try and avoid accidents....

cliff
 
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A few years ago we had just met our dock neighbor after they had came in and tied up. He unloaded his boat and set everything on the dock. Sat down on his cooler to put his shoes on. I was on my boat with my back to him but heard a crashing sound. Turned and his cooler was in the water, he was 1/2 way there and trying to grab the cooler. Luckily we saved everything and he was sore for a few days (and a bruised ego). Turns out his cooler had wheels on one end and when he sat on it it slid out from under him.
 
I'm sure that I can speak for all of us Cliff...I'm so glad that you're okay and that those younger guys were not only alert to what happened but didn't think twice about saving you. Thanks for sharing what is obviously still a painful memory.

I know that I halfway joke about falling off of our 30' boat that time in Roche Harbor but truthfully it took me years to be able to forget that feeling of suddenly being under water and very aware of what a dangerous situation I was in.

Again - I'm very happy you're safe.

Sandy

CliffA said:
i think all boaters have or will slip or trip while on or around a boat....it may be their boat or someone else's boat.....

I haven't spoken about this on the forum before but this thread presents a good opportunity for others to hopefully learn from my unpleasant experience....

about a year ago I was sitting in a chair on my swim platform one evening...there were several people sitting around on the dock and neighboring boats....we were just socializing and having a good time....I had a couple drinks by this time but was in no way impaired....when I stood up and started walking toward the transom door my shoe caught on a thick rug we keep on the swim platform in front of the transom door.....next thing I knew I fell head first into the dock hitting my head hard on the side of the dock....I was knocked unconscious and fell into the water between my boat and the dock....two younger guys saw what happened and immediately dove in to save me....they had trouble locating me at first but finally found me under the dock several feet from where I fell in....the next thing I remember I was sitting on my swim platform shivering from the cold water and I was probably in shock...luckily there was a nurse there and she looked me over and didn't think I had a concussion...I ended up with a nasty bump and scrape on my head and a cut under my left eye from hitting the dock and a sore shoulder from guys on the dock pulling me out of the water...a Dr. later confirmed no concussion.....

but I could have very easily drowned had it not been for the two guys that saved me.....

this proved to be very mentally traumatic for me....it took several weeks for me to 'sort of' get past it...to this day when I think about what could have happened I still get a little sick to my stomach....

boats and docks are very dangerous places....there are wet slippery surfaces and numerous trip hazards....we all must stay as vigilant as possible at all times and use proper footwear to try and avoid accidents....

cliff
Click to expand...
 
I use Aurora Marine Sure Step on all my non skid. Not only does it make it shine like new, it also prevents slippage while protecting from dirt, bird crap, etc. I used to have to scrub the decks all the time, now I literally hit them with a hose when dirty and voila ...like new. Dirt, bird crap, soot, whatever ...all just rolls off and my shoes will not slide on it no matter how hard I push. I think it grips harder the harder you push ...something like that. I swear by it.

https://www.auroramarine.ca/store/sure-step.html
 
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