Best way to get to my boat?

nola mike said:

That would get killed I think in short order, but maybe a link to specifically what you're talking about?

Thought about that, but didn't know exactly how to go about that, where it would be mounted, what kind of materials I'd need, etc. But yeah, any specific ideas would be welcome. Also thought about a zip line, which would be a fast/dangerous/fun one way trip!

I actually had that same WB plastic dinghy but...it washed away in a storm (found 6 months later! but had already purchased a replacement). I have a mooring, and kept it there for years. Still use it if the water is too rough to get on the lift. I don't like leaving it unattended though. I do paddle out in the dinghy, but I still need to haul the dinghy in and out of the water, and put it on my seawall every time. Hopefully rebuilding the wall gives me some beach back. I'd rather walk out there though, and the dinghy is no good if it's rough.

This solves...none of my issues.

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Sure it does, if stored in a barn, you wouldn't have any of your current issues!

Boing..... Goes the fry pan

Do you have a way to install inverted A frames on the existing piles and build a small deck on top to walk on?

still tossing ideas.......

Trebuchet and net... (image pulled from youtube vid)

your boys would probably fight to go get the boat

learn to tite-rope walk.


Water Bike


Paddle Board


Kayak for rough seas


All sillyness aside, put a platform on the lift pilings for a SUP or kayak to be pulled up on and simply paddle out there, pull the SUP/Kayak up, drop the boat, go boating...... at the end of the stay, put the SUP/Kayak in the house

They make them up to 50' long.

Y'know ... I was laughing about swinging over like Tarzan, but @roscoe has a point. I've built a half dozen of these over my lifetime:

And honestly, if you've got a good anchor on shore, it should be relatively inexpensive and able to handle a decent beating for a year or five. Not a permanent solution, but kinda' easy.

Inflatable hamster ball? Deflate once you're on the boat!


Actually, I liked the paddleboard option that Scott Danforth toss out there. They make inflatable ones so you wouldn't have to do much to store it while on your boat.

Otherwise just dig a big post into the shore, tie one end of a rope to the post and the other to your lift. Then use a paddleboard, floating carpet, surfboard, or anything else to get out there - using your hands on the rope to propel you and stay on track.

X2 on the floating dock.

i installed a drive on mat from these guys https://gulfstreamdocks.com/
for my brothers 17 ft power cat. It just a bigger version of what you use for a jetski.
where it might work for you is it’s made out of rectangular blocks that are held together with cam lock pins going through holes at the corners. Very custom configurable.

this drive on mat/ float has connectors that allow it to ride on 1.5” galvanized pipe driven into the bottom. for him it works well As he is mobility impaired so it provides a stable platform to step in and out of the boat on.

after Helping my brother put this together I’ve seen a bunch of similar set ups, floating docks available pretty reasonably on market place. Seems like a lot of folks with shore or back bay places are getting rid of them.

ALL KIDDING ASIDE, I THINK THE ROPE BRIDGE IS A VIABLE AND AFFORDABLE OPTION. OOOOPS. sorry. It won't help save your shoreline but will get you out there and back, and will withstand the weather if correct materials are used.

As I have gotten older, I stared paying the boat yard for the water taxi service. I drive to the boat yard (5 min) park, walk in and the owner's brother takes me to my boat on a pontoon boat. When it's time to leave I call them on the VHF and he comes out to get me. Honestly just to not have to drag the WBs up and down the beach, it's worth it.

Lou C said:

As I have gotten older, I stared paying the boat yard for the water taxi service. I drive to the boat yard (5 min) park, walk in and the owner's brother takes me to my boat on a pontoon boat. When it's time to leave I call them on the VHF and he comes out to get me. Honestly just to not have to drag the WBs up and down the beach, it's worth it.

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If avail i would agree. I just had a mower go t.ts up and not gonna replace. RoI on a new one equals 5 or so years of paying someone to mow.

So dude no showed me today (texted that he had an emergency in richmond...) after waiting 2 months just to get him out here. Grrr. We'll see how he handles the make up appointment as to whether he was FOS.

I'd like to get the infrastructure in place in case I come up with other ideas down the line. I should mention that there's a 4' ish wall butting up to the beach, so I usually store my kayaks/jon boat/etc up there. Getting those in and out of the water isn't a huge deal, but worse than walking (I used the jon boat today).

1. Rowing: That's what I do when it's cold currently. A rope to pull me in/out has been an idea for a while. Thought about motorizing it, but more trouble than it's worth.
2. Floating dock: This wouldn't work. Too rough.
3. Trebuchet: I'd need to have one on the lift to get me back to shore, no room for that.
4. Hanging bridge: @southkogs @roscoe , I like those ideas but have no idea how to go about it, what I need to fasten it, how high above the surf it needs to be, etc. It would be cool if I could raise it up higher for storage for storms/winter/when I'm not there. Would multiple smaller bridges between pilings be easier? Do the sell the hanging bridges pre made? The aluminum looks good but I'd need to be able to get it on shore...maybe could roll it back. Multiple sections would be easier.
5. Hybrid of some sort: That was my initial plan. 2x8 x 12s on edge somehow spanning the pilings. If the last stretch is too far for 2x, I can maybe do a hanging bridge from there, and get him to drive the tallest/farthest piling he can.

I think no matter what, I'll get the pilings as tall as I can for the most flexibility, and see if he can drive another one as far out as possible...

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Add an air cannon on the lift to launch you back

How about a platform on the beach with a zip line out to the lift lol.

How do you get the 300# ladies' into the boat ?

"you're gonna need a bigger boat" lol