Ladder or Something Else For A Boat out of Water?

[Baddox]

What does the PBO collective recommend for reaching the upper hull of a yacht on gravel hardstanding? My stepladder that I use for my previous boat will probably be too short and I need to plan ahead for the lift out.

Would a couple of trestles and a scaffold plank be better than a ladder? What are the folding or telescopic ladders like to use? ideally I’d like to fit the ladder into a car and avoid buying roof bars; although I do have some good wooden ladders at home so perhaps I need to buy the bars and use my existing ladders.

 

[Poignard]

I bought a telescopic ladder last year and it is ideal. When not in use it's either in the car when I go sailing or in the boat when I go home.

Before you ask, I borrow a yard ladder to get the telescopic one out of the boat or to put it away.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

These are about £55 on eBay. Fits in the back of a small car and works well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7in1-Mult...4d49cb8ab152e9799736fa&pid=100506&rk=1&rkt=1&

 

[MoodySabre]

I went to a plant hire place and asked if they had any scrap ladders. They sold me a very long ali ladder for £10 that had a bent bit at the end and couldn't be hired out. You could saw one to the desired length.

 

[knuterikt]

These are about £55 on eBay. Fits in the back of a small car and works well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7in1-Mult...4d49cb8ab152e9799736fa&pid=100506&rk=1&rkt=1&

View attachment 64077

can also be used as a work platform

 

[Baddox]

Thanks for the replies. I hadn’t even thought of looking on ebay or seeking a ladder that could be cut to size.
The link to the adjustable ladder was too tempting so that’s what I’ve gone for. They were far cheaper than the ones I looked at in B&Q.

 

[Neeves]

can also be used as a work platform

We use one of these, as (as mentioned) you can use as a platform as well. We do find we need two ladders or you need to constantly move the, only, one. If you are using as a platform, maybe to do work above the water line, its too low to get into the yacht. With only one ladder you need to move it, extend etc.

It would be an odd yard that did not have ladders.

Jonathan

 

[Poignard]

(...)

It would be an odd yard that did not have ladders.

Jonathan

Yes it would but in my yard they are rather short and there are not enough to go round so the small cost of buying my own seemed worthwhile. And I can recoup some of the cost by selling it when I no longer need it.

 

[Neeves]

I assume you mean short of ladders, not that the ladders are short

The folding ones are unfortunately too useful, getting up on the roof, decorating, tree pruning - it will be another decade at least before we will be able to sell ours!

J

 

[Poignard]

I assume you mean short of ladders, not that the ladders are short
(...)
J

Both actually!

 

[Daydream believer]

I have a small tower. Sturdy does not move about & plenty of space to move about on.
Having worked in the building industry all my life I am used to using ladders & have always hated step ladders .
I reckon that step ladders are the work of the devil. I had a fall off one when it tipped sideways 22 May2016 & I am suffering from neck injuries still quite badly.

 

[rogerthebodger]

To simply get up to deck level of do jobs at a single position along the side I used a simple ladder.

For more extensive jobs all along the side I use a tower scaffolding as below

 

[Skylark]

I faced the same issue when I changed boat from 1.5m to 2.1m draft. Telescopic ladders are great, versatile and easy to carry. My only criticism is the mechanism for stacking. It's been specifically designed to trap the skin between thumb and forefinger. The designers previous job was with mouse traps. Be warned, take care!

 

[reginaldon]

I'm afraid I'm needing a hoist now, being forced to go to a marina - dicky knees.

 

[johnalison]

A few years ago I bought myself a platform ladder from Homebase. It wasn't cheap, about £120, but for me it has paid for itself by making the job so much quicker and more comfortable. Being adjustable, it allows me to work at a comfortable height all the time, and I think it should be stable enough on gravel. Normally, I have a step-ladder alongside for me to get on the platform, which is deeper and safer than a plank might be. The platform and step ladder all fit together within my Audi A3

 

[colind3782]

Can't you use the helipad when it's on the hard?

 

[Baddox]

Can't you use the helipad when it's on the hard?

I fear that it would be a little unstable to land a helicopter on it whilst on the hard.

 

[Roger Bailey]

I own an old wooden boat so fitting out involves lots of surface prep and paint and varnish layers. I really couldn't get the job done working off a step ladder or small platform. I bought enough trestles and scaffold planks that I can set up a platform for the whole length of the boat. Every task is easier and goes much faster without the need to continually climb down move the ladder and climb back up again. Also much safer.

 

[Sniper]

I own an old wooden boat so fitting out involves lots of surface prep and paint and varnish layers. I really couldn't get the job done working off a step ladder or small platform. I bought enough trestles and scaffold planks that I can set up a platform for the whole length of the boat. Every task is easier and goes much faster without the need to continually climb down move the ladder and climb back up again. Also much safer.

+ 1

I bought three sets of these to complement two trestles I already had and found six planks on gumtree. The ability to walk unencumbered around the whole boat has transformed winter maintenance.


http://www.screwfix.com/p/height-adjustable-metal-trestle/6561p

 

[fisherman]

Ladders are largely banned on building sites for good reason, trestles/scaffold tower or similar every time.