removing side gates, will I miss them?

[rockhound]

The new to me toon is sitting in the shop getting a once or twice over before I splash her, I am considering shortening the playpen, the front swim deck area could be a little bigger for the kids and the tube we will be pulling, the toon will be getting new furniture in a bit so any changes need to be made first,

Long story short, I am considering removing the side gates and shortening the pen to allow for a larger swim deck, will I miss those side gates while at the dock? The boat is 24 feet so the play pen is large enough without the length of the gates

[rancherlee]

I only have a front gate and have no issues at docks, I've got 32" of open deck in front and it's easy getting on/off either side. I use mine as a casting platform for fishing and also have my swim ladder attachment points up there to...... Along with the trolling motor...... And it's still easy for anyone to get in and out.

[rockhound]

i see many toons that only have one side gate these days. after removing the gates i would have about 5 feet of front swim platform. seems that getting on and off the boat would be very simple.

[pond tuuunes]

Rock, where are you located?

[rockhound]

colorado,

about 45 minutes sw of denver

[WILD MAN]

I have four gates one in front one in back and one on each side. We use all of them all the time, I like the side gates the best when at the dock, with one on each side and one in front I can pull up to any dock from any direction, that comes in handy when it's windy. I know I would miss them if they were gone.

[Ray Jr.]

We have one side gate, one right rear corner gate with swim ladder, and a front center gate. We do not use the side gate, we put the cooler in that spot. We have about 18" of front deck outside the gate, and when we dock we just use the front, from either side. we certainly wouldn't miss the side gate if it were gone

[OK Toon]

We use our side gate when we are beached -- I put a small step stool by that gate so we can step up on it to clear the sand from our feet or water shoes so we don't track it onto the carpet. My non-water-loving lab loves to lay at the front gate. If I keep the front of the boat off the shore enough where he can't jump from the boat to dry ground, he'll never get off the boat. I have to carry him to dry ground if he needs to get off.

[Liquid Asset]

When I did my build I blocked off the starboard side gate but added a stern entry gate . With having a 2' deck across the back and the front deck as well loading from either side front or back is easy. I never use the port side gate and wish I would have just blocked it off . I could have changed up the seating with the extra room !

[rockhound]

thanks for the input,

the rig also has a stern gate. I have been looking hard at photos of all kinds of setups. it seems the new boats are getting away from having open space outside the playpen. that was one item that i liked about the two boats we considered rehabbing. they both had a front end swim deck.

i took some measurements today and we would wind up with a 5.5 foot are in front of the pen.

I believe i have decided to remove the gates and slid the playpen back. once the new paneling is in and the new seats are ordered it will look like it was always meant to be.

[Bryden24shp]

We have one side gate, one right rear corner gate with swim ladder, and a front center gate. We do not use the side gate, we put the cooler in that spot. We have about 18" of front deck outside the gate, and when we dock we just use the front, from either side. we certainly wouldn't miss the side gate if it were gone

Yep!!! We do the exact thing. Its maybe used twice a season. I could see a mini bar with a small grill, sink and blender sitting in that spot, sometime!
Oh great, another thought that sounds like a future project. I need to stop thinkin. Bloody Mary station!!! oh geez, here I go....

[Cowracer]

We have just one side gate. I also have the bow gate filler seat, so I personally cant see going without it. Also, we use my boat as a mobile (and private) dock for a couple of PWC's so we need to have at least one side gate to get on and off them.

Only having one side gate does dictate your docking strategy a little. A minor issue overall, and I would much rather have the extra seating than be able to dock on either side.

Tim

[mobldj]

just curious, if it came equipped with a gate wouldn't it fail a coast guard inpection for no gate....hmmm

[rockhound]

I am not leaving an open hole, I actually completed the project, I will post some photos tomorrow, we moved the whole front end of the fence back.

[rockhound]

OK some quick before and after photos, i am going to add this little project to my rebuild/upgrades thread.

before:


after:


this one gives you and idea of how far back the fence moved: