Combination Ladders

[Ian_Rob]

I am looking for a reasonably portable platform for working on the sides of our boat. Most combination ladders in ‘platform mode’ seem to have platform heights of around 0.9m though at least one claims 1.2m. They seem a bit ‘saggy’. Any experiences/recommendations??

 

[Refueler]

Afloat or ashore ?

Ashore : Personally I prefer planks across triangular trestle stands ...

Pal of mine uses two folding step ladders with wide good plank between .. gives him various heights based on the ladder steps.

 

[Ian_Rob]

Afloat or ashore ?

Ashore : Personally I prefer planks across triangular trestle stands ...

Pal of mine uses two folding step ladders with wide good plank between .. gives him various heights based on the ladder steps.

Ashore. To give an idea as to to the heights involved, the boat has a 1.9m keel which when chocked off in its cradle raises the whole boat by an extra 0.4m or so.

 

[Stemar]

I have one of these, and it works well

https://www.screwfix.com/p/werner-aluminium-2-48m-combination-ladder-with-platform/420kh

If you're able to collect it from Southampton, you'd be welcome to borrow it for a month.

 

[Neeves]

0.9m does not seem very high, a piece of flat concrete adjacent to the yacht, two oil drums, barrels, and a plank, or 2, would do. Depending on you age a step ladder to get onto the top of the drums might be welcome

But surely you are not intending to buy the ladders, can you not rent them from one of the big DIY chains or builder merchants?

I have folding ladder 4 sections, folds into a simple A configuration using 2 sections for each side of the A - its higher than 0.9m when used as an A, its not wobbly (in fact quite rigid) , given a flat base - but its made and located in Oz (cannot think there would nt be an identical type in the UK).

Stemar's device seems perfect - why on earth does he have such a device? . If you are over 70 you really should not be climbing ladders so Stemar's one month loan looks to get round the H&S issues.

Jonathan

 

[wallacebob]

I would not use my combo ladders as a platform to stand on, useful as they are. Some come with attachable platforms, but Not very stable. These are very useful for standing on or as workbenches - https://www.screwfix.com/search?search=Platform

 

[dansaskip]

I use one of these
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-3-30m-combination-ladder-with-platform/602kk
It lacks the raised section for handholds like another suggestion but does fold up compactly to fit in the boot of a car and I have found it very stable.
I was surprised at the cost nowadays, mine cost £55 in 2021 but they are £99,99 now!
In an ideal world I would use builders trestles and planks (which I have and use at home) but they are not so easily transportable.

 

[Ian_Rob]

I have one of these, and it works well


https://www.screwfix.com/p/werner-aluminium-2-48m-combination-ladder-with-platform/420kh

If you're able to collect it from Southampton, you'd be welcome to borrow it for a month.

Well that’s incredibly kind and I would like to take you up on your offer. I looked at these as an alternative but wasn’t sure that it would fit in the back of the car with everything else we have to bring down. Collecting in Southampton after we have already off-loaded would make all the difference. My wife fell off a ladder last August and broke her hip so H&S is much on our minds, We are down from the 8th-13th April. I will PM you shortly.

 

[penberth3]

I am looking for a reasonably portable platform for working on the sides of our boat. Most combination ladders in ‘platform mode’ seem to have platform heights of around 0.9m though at least one claims 1.2m. They seem a bit ‘saggy’. Any experiences/recommendations??

I've never been impressed with these "combo" things. For a working platform at about 1m I'd consider a light tower scaffold. You'd only need a couple of lifts and the components would be no bigger than anything else. You'd have a solid platform and most importantly proper guard rails.

 

[wonkywinch]

I bought a MiTower for access inside and outside our two storey house. I use just the bottom sections of it for work on the boat. The base and bits for first stage all fit in the back of my estate car.

It can be built up with the platform at any height. Expensive investment at £1,900 but very stable.

MiTower One-Man Scaffold Tower | Quick-Build, Compact & EN1004

 

[Plum]

I use one of these
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-3-30m-combination-ladder-with-platform/602kk
It lacks the raised section for handholds like another suggestion but does fold up compactly to fit in the boot of a car and I have found it very stable.
I was surprised at the cost nowadays, mine cost £55 in 2021 but they are £99,99 now!
In an ideal world I would use builders trestles and planks (which I have and use at home) but they are not so easily transportable.

I have been using one of those, although mine came from B&Q, successfully for many years. Recommended.

 

[johnalison]

I have been using one of those, although mine came from B&Q, successfully for many years. Recommended.

I preferred mine, one of the two ladders and a platform type that I bought at Homebase about twenty years ago. It was more expensive at around £120 but the upward extensions feel more safe and there is bracing for the connections. I can use it comfortably up to chest height and sometimes a bit higher, and it fits inside my A3.

 

[MikeBz]

I use one of these
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-3-30m-combination-ladder-with-platform/602kk
It lacks the raised section for handholds like another suggestion but does fold up compactly to fit in the boot of a car and I have found it very stable.

Ditto. I use it as a platform to polish the topsides. It’s not remotely saggy.

 

[Lucky Duck]

Just make sure the latches on the articulated joints have engaged….

Sounds like the OP’s boatyard uses similar cradles to the one I am in and there isn’t enough height to reach all of the topsides. Wasn’t such an issue before when the keel wasn’t so far off the ground.

 

[DownWest]

I have one of these, and it works well

https://www.screwfix.com/p/werner-aluminium-2-48m-combination-ladder-with-platform/420kh

If you're able to collect it from Southampton, you'd be welcome to borrow it for a month.

I have something like that, the extended feet make it very stable. Platform is only about a mtr wide and highest it goes around 1.8 mt. But the ladder sections extend up to 2.7, so provide good handholds

 

[johnalison]

I have something like that, the extended feet make it very stable. Platform is only about a mtr wide and highest it goes around 1.8 mt. But the ladder sections extend up to 2.7, so provide good handholds

Mine is similar but only one ladder has full width support, but there two braces at each end.

 

[Minerva]

I bought a MiTower for access inside and outside our two storey house. I use just the bottom sections of it for work on the boat. The base and bits for first stage all fit in the back of my estate car.

It can be built up with the platform at any height. Expensive investment at £1,900 but very stable.

MiTower One-Man Scaffold Tower | Quick-Build, Compact & EN1004

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Think we’ve found the member who has a Volvo 70 race boat with 4m keel!

 

[wonkywinch]

Think we’ve found the member who has a Volvo 70 race boat with 4m keel!

Not me, but hallway with 6m ceiling!

 

[Sneaky Pete]

I am looking for a reasonably portable platform for working on the sides of our boat. Most combination ladders in ‘platform mode’ seem to have platform heights of around 0.9m though at least one claims 1.2m. They seem a bit ‘saggy’. Any experiences/recommendations??

Hire some modular scaffold.

 

[bikedaft]

Hire some modular scaffold.

or buy it. 5 of us bought good stuff about 10 years ago. gets used a lot. 10m tower.