I just started kayaking at age 73 with a small frame.
Bought a Eddystone Sandpiper 130, 49 pounds.
I need help on the best way to get it from my wooden dock to the water and back out again. The floating docks installed are over $3,000. If I build a wooden ramp, I am afraid that hurricanes will take it and maybe much of my dock out, if the ramp is attached to the dock.
Any advice?
Welcome. A photo of the dock and surrounding area would be helpful.
Maybe you should try posting this in the Advice forum?
Have you seen this Yakport device? Maybe that would be an option.
I just started kayaking at age 73 with a small frame.
Bought a Eddystone Sandpiper 130, 49 pounds.
I need help on the best way to get it from my wooden dock to the water and back out again. The floating docks installed are over $3,000. If I build a wooden ramp, I am afraid that hurricanes will take it and maybe much of my dock out, if the ramp is attached to the dock.
Any advice?
No I had not. Thank you Wolf.
Congrats on taking up a new sport! I hate rip-rap but understand why it’s necessary in some places.
Looks like your options are limited. Do you have help getting it to the end of that lower dock? Forty-nine pounds is heavy for such a short boat, especially an Eddyline.
I think your best and safest bet is that Yakport Kayak Launch that Wolf suggested. That product has no rollers or other gizmos which would damage your boat, so that’s a plus. The launch weighs 99 pounds and if there are hurricane warnings, you could have it removed and stored somewhere safe (if there’s such a place in a hurricane).
If that exact product is not available in your area and a similar product is suggested, just be sure the launch area is flat and has no rollers or protrusions as those are not acceptable for thermoform or composite boats. Think stress cracks.
Happy paddling!
So the problem is just getting the boat off and back on the dock, right?
I have the same thing and put a strip of carpet on the edge of the dock to drag it over using the bow line.
I had looked into mounting a large boat trailer roller on the edge of the dock.when I had a small sailboat that was much heavier than a kayak but I sold the sailboat instead.
Our Accu-dock kayak launch is attached on slides on the piles. It can ride up the surge 5ft. above normal tides.
Yes…the hurricane can take your dock. Kayak launch or not. Shoot a tropical storm can do a lot.
Given enough time I pull out the floating docks, boats, etc.
Our canoe club kayak launch, Easy Launch, is held onto the floating docks with some quick releases. It can be removed easily.Uploading: IMG_20200620_193412438.jpg…
We have the Yak Port. Ours is mounted to a floating dock. It was a challenge to get in with the floating dock bobbing and our lack of agility, We tried snugging with cleats etc and had some dumps.Especially on disembarking. Our boats are 15 feet long so we needed the Short Handles to pull ourselves up and also clear the port backing out. We got the Assist Bar and it does help getting out when the whole dock is moving with wakes from big outboards. The Yak Port is fixed to the floating dock and it aids in stability on entering and exiting.
Watch the prices and if you like the basic design carefully budget for the addons that might be useful Otherwise the budget can blow up Also factor in Shipping. Not cheap from Iowa to Maine it was over two hundred. Luckily we have neighbors who also use the Yak Port ( we have a six slip mini marina) and they chipped in.
As long as your boat does not have a V-shaped hull the Yak-Port should work for you. At under 100 lbs, with a bit of help you should be able to haul it out of the water in the event of any major storms. Still about $1000 after you add all of the basic components.
Another option is a hinged ramp on the end of your lower dock that could be winched up and secured flat on the lower dock in the event of a major storm. Hinged dock systems are common in the Adirondacks.
It’s a shame that they didn’t dump enough sand or gravel when they put in the riprap to give you a small beach. Don’t suppose this is an option now?
Consider a “Lily Pad”… a kind of floating mat. here’s a link for checking them out
They’re big enough to put part of it on the dock and part in the water. Then easy enough to take in and out when you use your kayak