Platform for hull polishing

[stranded]

For what it’s worth our yard has wheeling steps like a staircase with a short platform at top about 4ft in length-think of stairs wheeled out to planes scaled down. Maybe choose a yard with wheeled steps to borrow at weekends say? Had you thought of looking round a few boatyards to see what’s about.

It’s quite a way down the list of considerations for a yard tbh. I’ll see what may be around at our chosen yard to borrow - the previous one had nothing - but anyway I prefer to know for sure that it will be available when time and conditions allow me to do the work - and as one of the first things many new retirees of my acquaintance discover is how much better the weather in the UK is than we thought when we only had weekends.

 

[thinwater]

So as not to be negative Nellie ...

When I have approached a task like that, planks on saw horses have worked well. At work, various sorts of staging.

The other thing, that has gone under mentioned, is that you can often add bracing, either by tying the staging off or providing diagonal braces to the ground, pounding in stakes, as needed. Ladders can be tied off to the toe rail, and nearly always should be. One of the first things I do when hauling the boat is put up an access ladder ... and IMMEDIATELY tie it off. Since a boat is level, a rope of the correct length with a carabiner is very fast, no reason not to every time.

 

[easton]

Scaffold Towers | Aluminium Scaffold Tower | BPS Access Solutions

I bought one of these, the 5m tower, for a Moody 41. I have cut and polished, painted the lines top and bottom a couple of times with a ladder and a) it's a looong way down (or at least feels like it) and b) it's a long way up and down when you can only do 50cm or so either side of the ladder before moving it and repeating the process. (I also used to secure the ladder at the toe rail).

The scaffolding is a revelation, and makes the job quicker. A 5m one just fits into a 3 series estate with the polisher, crate full of work tools and us two in the front. Takes time to setup when you get there though, and I used it at times (for the boot top) with just the bottom half. It still feels like a long way down but at least you can sit on the top of the tower and do a full two or three metre length at a time.

Andrew

 

[stranded]

Scaffold Towers | Aluminium Scaffold Tower | BPS Access Solutions

I bought one of these, the 5m tower, for a Moody 41. I have cut and polished, painted the lines top and bottom a couple of times with a ladder and a) it's a looong way down (or at least feels like it) and b) it's a long way up and down when you can only do 50cm or so either side of the ladder before moving it and repeating the process. (I also used to secure the ladder at the toe rail).

The scaffolding is a revelation, and makes the job quicker. A 5m one just fits into a 3 series estate with the polisher, crate full of work tools and us two in the front. Takes time to setup when you get there though, and I used it at times (for the boot top) with just the bottom half. It still feels like a long way down but at least you can sit on the top of the tower and do a full two or three metre length at a time.

Andrew

That’s the answer I need!

Do you find you need the full height of the 5m one? I’m thinking the 4m would suffice (Sunbeam 44) but since I’ve not done it before I’d be a fool not to value your experience over mine!

 

[PhillM]

Couple of thoughts: I hired one from an on-site service provider when I needed it. Most of the firms around the south coast marinas have them and most will do you a deal for a few quid.

The yard was quite excitable about working from height and wanted to know what precautions were going to be taken. I didn’t have to do a full risk assessment but I can see that day coming when that might become necessary. Working at height does have its risks and add uneven ground, low light in winter mornings/evenings and that a lot of us self-maintainers are (ahem) beyond our youth, it wouldn’t be an unreasonable request.

 

[easton]

From the top of the tower I can step up to the deck of the boat or sit on the platform and sand/mask or paint the grey line. With the bottom half of the tower the bottom grey line. The boat is 1.85m from bottom of keel to waterline, plus the cradle and the freeboard. A 5m tower that I bought has a platform height of 2.75m and the 4m only 2m platform height. I think I may have got away with the 4m for working too but would have had to also take my ladder to get on board the boat.

PhillM's point is very apposite. This boat park has a really good surface to keep the platform stable. Noting also the platform supplier does state not to step onto or off the platform from a ladder (or boat...) so I shouldn't have done that. This was also a very pleasant June day with little wind, no sleet/rain or snow and nice temperatures. If you hire one from an onsite provider it may be heavier duty?

When I have previously worked from the ladder the yard has taken more interest in my H&S, but I was tying off to the toerail anyway so was quite safe.

You also need space at the side to get a tower in, and space in the boat park to assemble and raise.

 

[KAM]

I use 6 adjustable trestles with planks. Enables you to walk the full length of the hull.

 

[lustyd]

I use a 7-step stepladder. But I suspend my rather heavy polisher on dual bungees hooked as a V on the toe rail so I can do the full height of the topsides without taking its full weight. At each position I can do a strip about 3ft wide limited only by the reach of the bungees.

A milk bottle on a line to the opposite side of the boat is better as you can fully balance the weight and it moves with the polisher. Need to adjust position now and then but if doing a lot it’s way better.

Worth a mention that most boats should be waxed, not polished (still using a polisher). Wipe with isopropyl or meths after washing with dish soap to get residue off first. In most instances chalkiness is just old product that’s UV damaged and nothing to do with gel coat.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Couple of thoughts: I hired one from an on-site service provider when I needed it. Most of the firms around the south coast marinas have them and most will do you a deal for a few quid.

The yard was quite excitable about working from height and wanted to know what precautions were going to be taken. I didn’t have to do a full risk assessment but I can see that day coming when that might become necessary. Working at height does have its risks and add uneven ground, low light in winter mornings/evenings and that a lot of us self-maintainers are (ahem) beyond our youth, it wouldn’t be an unreasonable request.

Could the yard explain the difference in working from a stable platform designed for the job and working on the deck of a boat.?

 

[ithet]

Scaffold Towers | Aluminium Scaffold Tower | BPS Access Solutions

I bought one of these, the 5m tower, for a Moody 41. I have cut and polished, painted the lines top and bottom a couple of times with a ladder and a) it's a looong way down (or at least feels like it) and b) it's a long way up and down when you can only do 50cm or so either side of the ladder before moving it and repeating the process. (I also used to secure the ladder at the toe rail).

The scaffolding is a revelation, and makes the job quicker. A 5m one just fits into a 3 series estate with the polisher, crate full of work tools and us two in the front. Takes time to setup when you get there though, and I used it at times (for the boot top) with just the bottom half. It still feels like a long way down but at least you can sit on the top of the tower and do a full two or three metre length at a time.

Andrew

I did similar, with one of these:

SUPER DIY 4S (2 in ONE) Scaffold Tower with 4 Stiffeners

It's the heavy duty DIY model, but still very light, and all fits into a large hatch back or small estate (have used Hyundai I30 and Astra estates). It has all Aluminium lightweight parts that clip together with no tools in a few minutes. I got one as part of a syndicate with another boat owner - we just have to make sure we don't want to use at same time! Got the 5m as it is useful at our homes also.

 

[Refueler]

I will be rigging up a 'walk-round' for sanding back my underhull after guys have pressure washed. Basically to smooth back the hard A/F and remove the barnacle 'stickers' left by the yard guys after washing.

Then it will polishing the top-sides and fill / paint the small dings from the storm which caused boat to catch pontoon.