Aluminium Gangplank

[MtB]

On 03/12/2017 at 10:41, mrsmelly said:

All very true. Two things we never use are a boat pole and a plank. The ali plank is sat ont roof and I balance sacks of coal on it int winter apart from that its unused. Last time I used a pole is over twenty years ago so another ornament.

 

Yep. When I came to take it off the boat last summer I discovered I'd padlocked it on with a bike lock to stop it getting nicked when I first bought it. Shows how often I used it, lol!

And then I dropped it in the water. Don't underestimate how shocking and enfuriating it is to see it disappear instantly under the water, unlike a wooden plank that just floats about waiting to be retrieved.

 

[rustydiver]

I found out how fast they sink after I used mine for the first time it was on the boat when we bought it so was a few years old. Just deployed the ladder over the side to see how it works attaches. Lifting it out the rope snapped under the plastic handle where it had rotted. 

17 minutes ago, furnessvale said:

Fill the inside with expanding builders foam.  Stops the water getting in and adds buoyancy in its own right.

George

Good idea. But the only problem is I can see if the ladder is too buoyant it will float and won’t be off no use if you need to climb it getting out off the water. I don’t use mine for a ladder now. I’ve fitted one off them emergency ladders on the side folds down into a yellow bag. Fitted a diving ankle weight to the bottom rung to aid it’s sinking. 

[bizzard]

8 hours ago, bizzard said:

Loads of them abandoned up on mount Everest going for free. The things mountaineers cross holes and crevasses on.  Flights from London Heathrow.... Jet Airways, change at Delhi to Himalaya airlines for Katmandu,  then start walking, take wellies, gloves, scarf, bobble hat and toilet roll.

Depicted here is a Crevass ladder being used on Mt Neverest. If the middle is filled in with a clip on sheet of plywood which can be used as a gangplank or without the plywood a fine rescue ladder. Mine is like this, I rescued a lady on the boat behind me a couple of years ago with the ladder who fell in, I held it still and she just walked up and out.  Its deep here, 9ft in the middle, about 5ft at the side where she fell in, she was a heavy lady, couldn't lift her out.  Add a ''spade'' to the asault on Everest list.    Jet Airways are budget Indian airline, so nice and cheap, Boeing 777's.  They depart at about 9.30pm from Heathrow every evening, they seem to get there alright.    I'll take a photo of mine and stick it on here when it stops drizzling.

Edited December 3, 2017 by bizzard

[jonesthenuke]

There are also plastic scaffold boards. The supplier says that one version can be used on clear spans of 2.4m, so sounds ok as a gang plank. No idea of price though. See www.generationscaffolding.com/en-gb/products/plastic-scaffold-boards/

[bizzard]

I think Scaffold boards are too narrow, not safe tottering across them when you've had a few.  Two could be lashed together though. A Youngmans board is much better, wood or aluminium.

[jonesthenuke]

1 minute ago, bizzard said:

I think Scaffold boards are too narrow, not safe tottering across them when you've had a few.  Two could be lashed together though. A Youngmans board is much better, wood or aluminium.

Agreed. I was thing this was an option to clip to a ladder, singly or as a pair. Less industrial than a metal "board" and not subject to rot like a wooden one.

 

[bizzard]

Just now, jonesthenuke said:

Agreed. I was thing this was an option to clip to a ladder, singly or as a pair. Less industrial than a metal "board" and not subject to rot like a wooden one.

 

Yes, wooden scaffold boards seem to rot pretty quickly.

[MtB]

On 03/12/2017 at 11:52, bizzard said:

I think Scaffold boards are too narrow, not safe tottering across them when you've had a few.  Two could be lashed together though. A Youngmans board is much better, wood or aluminium.

Lol I'm happy to use a piece of studwork timber for a gangplank. It's about 120mm wide and 35mm thick. 

People visiting seem to find it intimidating and are reluctant to use it for some reason.

[bizzard]

Of course a beautiful Meccano one could be constructed very easily.  James May built one across the L&L canal,  Edwina Curry walked across it to the Indian restaurant, so nice and strong.