Im a bit fat. 5/11 210 Do a high intensity training class, Run, in ok shape. I do have twin talons Hearld that look like they could help. Just wish I had tried it.

I fell in at Lake Waco a couple of months ago. Tried to push the boat away from a rotten stump that gave way. I was by myself, and my first reaction was to look around and see if anybody had witnessed it, because I'm sure I looked stupid.

In my leaner days, I could pull myself up and over the sides of the boat. I don't work out as much as I used to though, so that proved too much of a chore. I have a one step ladder that comes off of my jack plate, and so used that to get back in. Even that though seemed like it could be a challenge for a bigger or older guy.

I started putting extra clothes in a garbage sack in my storage area so in case I fell in (63) I would have dry clothes to put on. They came in real handy when my 32 yr old son fell in trying to lip a nice fish out at Fork in October. It is real easy to pack up socks, skirts, blue jeans, shirt and some slip on tennis shoes in that bag.
Ladders are a good thing no matter wether you are 33 or 63

You beat me to it Nutman, those extra clothes I had with me one Jan day came in handy, and I was at Squaw, water temp wasn't bad, but man - that 30 degree air temp woke me up. Even if your're with a partner be prepared. Have your dock line ready, it won't take long for a person not to be able to help themselve in cold water. Latch on and tow them to shallow water, most of us are not going to be able to dead lift (with heavy clothing) up and over. Best rule of thumb, as most on here know, take a partner.

I fish alone and at 6'3" & 285 I'm a big man. My rotator cuffs are shot as are many other joints. I'm strong like bull and used to swim competitively but never in my wildest dreams would I believe I could get back in my boat unassisted. When I chose my Nitro over the Tracker I was considering, a couple selling points for me were the greater bottom width (stability) and the fold down (albeit minimalistic one step) ladder. I hope I never need to use it. And it was a selling point to sell my wife on the boat.
Now if I could just catch some fish to bring home. That was the other selling point that hasn't quite panned out.

Any who think they'll just ride the motor up but haven't tried it may find it a lot harder than they think. I'm 62, not fit but not fat, somewhere in between. Always been athletic but the truth is that was 20+ years ago and I have more beers than workouts now. I tried it last summer just to see if I could do it and found it to be difficult. Just getting my body/feet/anything onto the motor while at the same time reaching for the trim switch was very challenging. It took me a while but I finally got it. Falling into cold water and trying that for the first time might not work out so well. Partner, ladder, practice riding motor in that order as far as most likely chance for success.

Regarding extra clothes. Get one of those vacuum bags that you suck all the air out of. Put some clothes in it that you don't care about anymore but will save your butt if needed. Vacuum the air out of it til it's almost flat and put it in the bottom of a compartment. It'll stay flat forever, you can forget about it til you need it and it won't take up much valuable space. Hope everyone has a safe winter.

I can get back in my boat no problem, do it all the time in the summer, but if you hit cold mid to upper 40's water fully dressed, i don't know if i could do it. Ive always planned on going up the motor if I had too, but a ladder is a great option.

You got a little more than 30 seconds, maybe up to 20 minutes.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/airplane-1549-hudson-hypothermia/

Also know of two fishermen whose boat was swamped in Alaska and they had time to call 9-1-1.

They didn't survive, because they weren't wearing their lifejackets.

I'm a big guy too and believe me the motor tilt is a bad idea. They're often slippery and just getting in position would be very difficult - I've tried it. A sturdy boarding ladder and an inflatable PFD (less bulk). Try to wear clothing that you can shed - no coveralls - TPWD pulled a drowned fisherman from our private lake and his coveralls were down around his ankles from him trying to remove them in the water. Be safe.

I have done the exact thing on fork - pushed off a rotten stump and ended up in the water - very humiliating.

When I was younger and in better shape, I had to do the outboard maneuver on lake Fairfield in the winter, because I fell out of the boat setting the hook on a fish. It was a challenge then, but worked very well... just had to fall forward onto the rear deck.

However, I have come to appreciate the boarding ladder, may not look too appealing to some, but a life saver for others. Also, comes in handy when I take the grandchildren tubing!

I've got a ladder and length of 3/4 inch rope with knots tied about every 10 inches fastened to the base of my rear pedestal. This way I've got something to grab onto on the rear deck. Doesn't look too cool but it might help save my sorry old butt.

This is subject that gets overlooked too often.. We all think it's not going to happen to us because (-enter bad excuse here-) that fits right into most a lot of bass fisherman's egos I guess! I was no exception until it happened to me the first time while fishing by myself in January.

If you don't know how you're going to get back in your boat it was would be a good idea to take a friend or two to the lake with you when it's warmer and jump in the lake with pants, a coat and a life jacket on and see how you're going to get back in and how long it takes. Then you'll have been through the process before and will more likely not to panic and know where you need to go and what to do. After I did that I was a lot more prepared the second and third time I accidentally went swimming...

If you fall in - Immediately get one hand on the boat so it does not drift away from you. Again, practice makes perfect and you'll be more prepared if it happens to you. Panicking is the worst thing you can do, but it's the hardest thing not to do. If your body has been through the motions already, you'll be a lot better off!