Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi. My husband has difficulty walking (bad knees), and we're trying to consider options for helping him board a pontoon/tritoon. I know what I think we want, but I'm having trouble finding something like what's in my head. I'm thinking that we want a hinged boarding ramp that lays flat on the deck and can be picked up and laid out to bridge the small distance from the dock to the boat.

Does anyone know where I can find something like this? He's a pretty big guy, so it would need to hold 400-500 pounds. We're hoping to finally buy a boat this spring.

Lori
Indiana/Florida Snowbird

I would start looking at discount ramps.com

My tritoon has a door on the left side. When I pull up to most docks, entering from the side is like taking a step down. Dealing with a side ramp mounted on the boat would be more trouble than its worth.

When my boat is hanging in the boathouse on its rack, it's about a 3' over to the gate from the dock. I'm going to put a small hinged reinforced plywood ramp on the dock to get visitors to my side gate. In the boathouse, I can get the bow within 6" of being flush with a walkway, and no front ramp is needed.

As Bamaman pointed out each and every docking situation is almost always somewhat unique in scope. There are several factors that can come into play that a handicapped boater may have to overcome so it's difficult to suggest ways for you to spend your money on something which may or may not work for your needs. If he is as heavy as you're suggesting even with a tritoon there's going to be a weight shift potential of several inches as his weight shifts from the dock to the boat and vice verso.

This in itself could create added additional problems to overcome. A long enough ramp like you're suggesting could possibly spread the transition out making the weight transfer more manageable for someone who’s balance or reflexes may be somewhat compromised. This appears to be a pretty nice ramp “Suitcase Folding Ramps” which if in a long enough length could possibly help stabilize the transition.

Now here’s something else that could possibly work well in your situation also "Handi-Ramp's Aqua Sidekick Ramp" especially if the boat sits a bit higher than the dock. It appears sturdily built unobtrusive and would in essence replace a side gate. So there is hope you may find something that will work in your situation and you all may find some happiness on the water for yourselves.

Princecraft has an option for one built in, Its really nice. my friend has a handicapped child & loves it. just another option for you.

Thank you for the suggestions. We've rented several pontoons, and so far, the step into the boat hasn't been too far and it's been basically the same height (no up or down). However, Bamby is right - there will be a weight shift issue. We're also going to consider a p-rail like what Fish 'n Rail sells to help him board. I had looked at discountramps and not seen examples that looked like they would fit. May require something custom. Thank you so much.

Bite the bullet an get him new knees. I have suffered 10 years with bad knee but after getting a new one for Christmas I am reborn. We have gone from selling the toon to finding a fishing boat.