Boat lift walkboard
 

Hey! I need access to the starboard side of my boat while its on the boat lift. I have a wrap-around style dock, except due to permit regulations, I had to put the lift at an angle to maximize the opportunities to get the boat off the lift by using the angle setup. So, I wasn't able to get the outside to completely "wrap-around" the side of the boat that faces the canal. The drawback is/was, I have NO access to the starboard drive and last 1/4 of the boat. So, what I wanted to do was get a aluminum walkboard (a long one like 24') to span the I beams and hang over enough to get access to the rear (and front too). I had 16' one made for the port side a while back to get on and off the boat. But, Aluminum walkboards are pretty pricey. I was wondering what some of you all thought about using a long fiberglass extension ladder (there's a 40' one on CL, now) instead of the aluminum walkboard? To do the ladder setup, I would need like a 1x8 or 5/4x8 PT piece of board to walk on.

Rent a drone.

That could work. But remember a 40 ladder closed is only 20ft. Open I would be worried about about the longer unsupported sections and the fiberglass breaking while standing on it.

Would something like this work for you?

https://industrialladder.com/stages-...lbs-rated.html

I have the walkboard - I paid the price for it. The only thing I would say is when you get that thing cantilevered way out there it is a LOT of weight leveraged on it. I think one of those ladders would feel VERY flimsy just based on how sturdy mine is and how much it flexes.

It gets used mostly as a diving board for the kids.

What company makes the custom aluminum full walk around that goes all the way around the boat?

Thanks for the link. I'll check that out. The only thing that has kept me from buying a "walkboard" from a ladder source is that I heard they use steel rivets in the aluminum structure. The dissimilar metals dunked over & over again in the salt water might prove to be problematic when they rivets start to corrode and break. I don't know this to be a fact, just thinking out loud. So, I would need a 20-24' platform on the outside of the lift. I already have a 16' on the house side of the lift (too short, but oh well). Then I guess I'd have to come up with some bracketry that will be able to support a 12' suspended platform across the rear of the boat/lift that is low enough to clear the drives when they are down but high enough not to catch the bottom before the I-beam does.

After visiting with the repair shop that is going to do the service on my Formula, he said that installing flush outs correctly would be more than a few hundred bucks each side. So, I am leaning strongly towards just getting the lift upgraded with the service platforms and using muffs to flush. The extra access to the rear of the boat would be beneficial for a number of situations.

Here is a couple of pic ideas

What's your set up? Flushes are easy to install.

Also what shop are you using?