BACK IN THE BOAT

This video describes parts of my process in this project. I participated in the lifesavers course for own safety, at Öckerö in Sweden to get some insights in what kind of risk a person out at sea could be facing. I also got to see the equipment the lifesavers use and insights into their work methods. At a later stage I tested my concepts in the swimming pool because the winter in the north Sweden did not allow for outdoor swimming.

This project is a master thesis in the Advanced Product Design program at Umeå University 2014.

Because boating and being out at sea is something important to me, I looked into this area as a topic for my master thesis in product design. I found a great challenge in trying to reduce deaths in relation to recreational boating. Every year many people drown in these circumstances. In many cases due to poor safety measures and lack of good judgment, and of course, bad luck.

My project became focused on the problem of getting back up in the boat after one has fallen over board. This is because many of the smallest boats, where most accidents happen, often lack any form of ladder or aid to get up.

My result is a concept proposal for a foldable footstep that can be reached from the water and act as an aid in climbing back into the boat.

The project was done collaboration with Sjöräddningssällskapet, but not funded by them or any other organization.