The Safe Boating Guide indicates that for a hull with some freeboard distance greater than 'X', a means of boarding is required. One of the sketches in a handbook shows a loop of rope thrown over the side of a powerboat and a swimmer or waterskier using the rope as a foothold.

I have seen an Edel 665 with fold-down mast-steps mounted on the transom. I find this attractive and functional. However, I must concede that the bottom step would never be below water level. If I was fully-geared, wet and tired, it would be a struggle to haul myself out of the lake when my first foothold was at chest height.

Most professional/conventional ladders provide at least one step below water level.

What are the legal requirements? What is the absolute minimum that should be considered? What is the most practical (yet lightweight and non-intrusive) that you would consdier installing?

I do not know the exact requirements for a boarding ladder. However I do know that they are extremely useful for either a Man-overboard scenario or climbing up from your dinghy. I would recommend you get a ladder that has a flat non-skid stepping surface. The narrow rounded dowels are painful on the feet. Most of them will fold so if you can get one that puts two steps into the water, that would be an added bonus. (When your in the water a single sub-merged step could be high up on your body). So get the best that your budget will allow. I found a link that may be of some use to you. Good luck in your search.

I've tried some self rescue on my CL 16 a few times. What I've done is take my painter (5/8 inch polypropolene) and wrap it around the mast to hoist myself up. I tried that in windier conditions and found that the boat heeled less. On calmer days I can go towards the seats and hoist myself up over the gunnel. Either way it takes a considerable amount of energy and I'm in pretty good shape. I'll try tying a bowline in the painter to use as a foothold ( When the water warms up)

Thanks for the numbers. 6 - 12 meters AND 0.5 meters of freeboard?

The Sandpiper is 5.65 meters long and the freedboard at my "Farr 40 Transom" is about 0.55 meters. So legally, I may not be required to provide any means of reboarding. So, whatever I decide to do would be purely optional. UNLESS . . . the Canadian Coast Guard considers the length of the 'piper to include the transom hung rudder and/or the pulpit extension beyond the stem.

Has anyone seen a documented minimum requirement for a boarding device?