Thread: Scaffolding

Hmm , 40 + people have seen this post , and no-one has anything to contribute ???.
How the hell are we going to learn ?.
Rob J.

Hi dopeydriver.
I think the reason you have not had a response is because we all face the same situation as yourself and tend to just "muddle" through.

The only time i have ever worked on good scaffolding, is when working in the area of proper slipways, on larger boats.

As I work on different sized boats in my workshop, I tend to "build" a scaffold/ladder system, for each job.

Not the answer you are looking for, but it is just the way I work.

Paul.

Thanks Paul.
There are now scaffolding being sold for the "home handeman" , I'm wondering now if I should have been getting something like that , for that and numerous other jobs around the place.
But , once again it is hindsight.
I wish I was smarter than that.
Regards Rob J.

Hi Rob.

The problem I have with any sort of permanent or semi permanent set up, is storage.
It is just something else to have to put away in the workshop.
I have used, milk crates/planks, ladders/planks, work benches/planks, etc. You get the picture I am sure.
In other words, I use what I have, to achieve what I need, when I need it. My plank collection just sits against the wall if not needed. Everything else is just part of the normal work shop gear. I am lucky enough to have one work bench 14ft long, which I can get a boat against if I need to.
Most of the time, milk crates fill my need.

I do not have life insurance. "LOL".

Paul.

Probably most guys here only have small boats so a saw horse is the most they need to work on them.

Good point waky53.

I use the saw horse/plank combo a fair bit. Especially if I need long term comfort. 2 or 3 planks, clamped or tied to the saw horses, gives 12 to 18 inches of foot space. My old planks are 6X2.

Paul.

Yes , I know what you mean.
But I've nearly came off ladders a few times working on HS , and yes , I used one of the portable workbenches too .
Until it broke , and I damn near hit the concrete , its not made to carry my weight.
Here is one site of interest mobile scaffolding - Google Search
Something like this Bailey Mini Rise Mobile Scaffolding System 0.9m platform .
Rob J.

When I had the shed built I had the builder put in a full length workbench on both sides , so they are about 30 ft long , with a narrower shelf behind.
And they are VERY strong .
So there may be occasions I could get the job up to the bench , and work from there.
But there are 4 supports in the road , if I entertain the idea of getting HS over to either side .
I set it up so that I could put the mast of HS on the bench , all of it , which it does easily.
Regards Rob J.

Some very nice gear in those links Rob.

I wish I were 30 years younger. It would be worth the investment then. Ha Ha.

Paul.

I use one of these for general house/shed stuff. Works well and stable on smooth surfaces. 6 ft platform height means uprights are about 7ft high, might be a hassle fitting around a boat on hardstanding if you want to get up close near the waterline. Of course there is nothing to stop you trimming the uprights if you want something permanently lower. The ends are freestanding frames on removable castors, the racking resistance is provided by bracing on the platform frame.

If need be they pack into two ends about 700 w x 75 deep and the platform frame and ply sheet. Will stack against a shed wall fairly much out of the way.

Yes Paul , it is a fairly sizeable investment .
But again , in hindsight , I can remember when I broke my neck/back , wrecked my shoulders , crushed my foot , thinking " I wish I hadn't done that !".
Slow learner , I 'spose.
I haven't got much left to do on HS now , but I probably had half a dozen "very close" incidents , and if I ever do any more painting , like the deck on a boat like HS , I'll invest in a proper scaffolding.
Just to say , if nothing else , that I do learn.
Eventually !.
And ah Paul , could you tell us about your fishing please , where , and what in .
Regards Rob J.

Thanks for that malb , thats what we need , a few choices.
Regards and thanks Rob J.

The problem with scaffolding is adaptability. By it's nature, it must be erected around something, preferably with a close fit and also customizable or adjustable. If working on houses or other land based construction, the projects are usually slab sided and 90 degree erections will accommodate the vast majority of building sites.

This isn't the case with a boat large enough to require some sort of scaffolding. If fairing the upside down, exterior of a hull, you need to progressively move closer to the centerline as you work your way higher. This means the scaffolding needs to permit this adjustment, which isn't an easy thing to accommodate. Conversely, if you are 'glassing the inside of an upright, strip planked hull and it's not strong enough to accept your weight in it yet, they you have to preform a traipse artist type thing as you apply resin, fabrics, etc.

For the back yard builder, this requires way too much investment, thought and planning. They're lucky to have the proper tools for any job, let alone a comfortable environment for many of the tasks. Think of this as the shade tree automotive mechanic, climbing under the car to change it's oil. This would be much simpler if he had a car lift, but this type of expense is just out of the question, for the volume of work he preforms.

This is precisely what bothers most back yard yacht builders. They haven't the pockets or volume to justify the use of a "rotisserie" or a gantry or a "cherry picker". I have two of the three listed. The gantry gets used frequently, the cherry picker, not very often at all. With the cherry picker, I can drop inside a hull, not touch anything and apply 'glass, paint, whatever I like, then extract myself without ever touching the boat. With the gantry I can rotate a boat to a handy angle to get in it, lift it to get under it, roll it over, etc. I use it often to make trailer repairs while the boat dangles in the straps. I'll also use one end of it, to snatch an engine out of it's home.

I used to have a home made rotisserie that I could use to rotate boats with, but I tried to rotate a boat just a wee bit too big and broke it. I repaired it and sold it as it wasn't as handy as it could have been. It would have been a great tool if I worked on just boats within a certain size. It just wasn't able to adapt to different hull configurations and lengths easily, so it didn't get used.

So, to answer your questions, yep they have a number of devices and tools that will get the deed done without having to dangle from the rafters with a safety harness. The question is how bad do you really need it.

PAR , I just want to avoid getting hurt , falling from the boat .
Working inside the boat in summer can be hot , and very uncomfortable , but its relatively safe.
With the boat derigged , trying to paint the cabin or deck for a clumsy bugger like me is tricky , its best done from a scaffolding , which I'm trying to work out relatively cheap , but functional alternatives.
I've got a tractor with a F.E.L , so I can lift stuff in or out of the boat easily , if I have to.
If I wanted to use him , I've got a neighbour with a giant JD with a F.E.L , which we used to unload the steel for the shed.
It could pick up a whole semi load of steel , and take it to the build site.
Its just making the painting safer that I'm trying to achieve , that all.
Regards Rob J.