Marine Platform Lift for Ribs

Making boats accessible has proven difficult in the past, in particular smaller and private vessels. The main challenges that these projects face are: 1. function 2. materials 3. aesthetics. Our marine platform lifts look to tackle these challenges and create products that stand up to the hostile marine environment and look great.

Nowadays most platform lifts work perfectly fine (on land) however couple that with the motion of the tide or swell and being fixed into a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) boat hull they can quickly become ineffective. The greatest challenge that marine lifts face is seawater. If a product is not designed with this in mind corrosion and pitting corrosion can cause complete product failure. That's why every part and material we use is researched in order to see how it copes in a saltwater environment as well as how they interact with each other over time. All steelwork for our marine platform lifts is made out of 316L marine-grade stainless steel, this prevents rusting over time and allows our products to withstand the harsh saltwater environment. Depending on the likelihood of coming into contact with saltwater, the metalwork can undergo a range of metal treatments on top of being made out of marine-grade stainless steel. For example if a boat is a leisure cruiser on a freshwater body such as a lake then the likelihood of rusting is greatly reduced compared to a high speed rib that's going to be used at sea. For this particular project, the lift underwent a number of metal treatments due to the location of the lift at the front of the boat and the type of boat. The high speed nature of the rib would lead to more saltwater breaking over the hull and coming into contact with the lift. 

We tailor make all of our marine platform lifts to the client's specifications, this includes the look and finishes used on the lift. For ribs and speedboats original teak decking can be used so that the lift blends into the rest of the deck. A number of metal finishes are available for any exposed metalwork including mirrored finishes as seen on the detachable handrails for this project. We also use rubber and neoprene for safety edges and protective borders to prevent scratching of both the lift and boat.

This project was similar in design to our previous project for a speedboat (you can view that project by clicking here) however it posed a number of unique challenges. As the boat was a rib, any lift would have to be considerably lighter so not to weigh it down and affect overall performance. The position of the lift at the front of the boat could affect the drive of the boat, particularly at high speed and with very little room to work in the lift would have to be fixed to the GRP hull rather than structural steelwork. 

We also created a bespoke ramp that changes into steps when needed. This allows any wheelchair users as well as other guests to easily board and disembark the rib. Both parts, the marine platform lift and ramp were finished with teak (as seen in the video and photos below) to match the rest of the deck and create a beautifully finished product.

Location: Hampshire & Côte d'Azur

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2018

Marine Platform Lift Extended
Marine Platform Lift in Decking
Marine Platform Lift for Ribs
Ramps to Steps Extended
Marine Platform Lift

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Platform Lift on a Speedboat

We were asked to design and create a platform lift on a speedboat for one of their clients. Their client is a wheelchair user and needed a way they could easily board and disembark the tender to reach both the marina or their motor-yacht. The tender was originally converted from an amphibious vehicle and the only available space for the lift was to the rear of the boat.

The main challenges facing us on this project were that all the materials would have to be resistant to the marine environment, getting a suitable power supply to operate the lift, how could the lift be used safely on the water and making the boat “invisible” so guests wouldn’t be able to see it before and after use.

To combat the salt water and its life at sea, the lift was made out of 316 marine grade stainless steel, unlike conventional stainless steel which can rust when it comes into contact with salt water, 316 stainless steel doesn’t corrode so can handle the sea environment. All stainless steel parts are then treated with different chemicals and highly polished to remove any free iron particles that could be present on the surface. If left untreated these small specs of ferrous materials would eventually rust and bleed over the stainless steel.

In order to operate the lift we were able to match the boat’s current power supply of 24V DC so that no external batteries would have to be used and charged. This saves on overall weight of the lift and of course makes the system less bulky and easier to disguise within the boat itself.

As you can imagine, to use a lift whilst at sea can be difficult with the constant swell changing the position of the boat and the lift compared with the marina or quayside. We installed retractable 316 marine grade stainless steel handrails that are clicked into place when the lift is to be operated. This allows crew, users and guests to safely embark and disembark the boat, without these there is a risk of falling into the marina. In addition all the lift controls were operated by handheld radio controls, this allowed the crew and client to use the lift remotely, as well as being able to float so they would be able to be retrieved if they were dropped in the sea.

To tackle the issue of blending the lift into the boat, we decided the lift should be designed to sit under the decking when not in use. The system completely collapses into the surrounding decking and is finished with the same teak used on the rest of the boat and so it is completely disguised.

Working in partnership with the boat builders we completed the installation in the South of France in 10 days. The lift has made it easier for the crew, client and guests to moor straight onto the marina and quayside rather than tackling the difficult task of pontoons.

Location: Hampshire

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2017

 

Hidden lift on speedboat
Bespoke platform lift on boat
Traversing lift for boats
Lift on boat fully traversed to quayside
Wheelchair lift on a speedboat
Speedboat lift travelling towards the quayside
Platform lift that comes out the back of a tender

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Specialist Boat Lift in Partnership with Berthon Boat Company

Upon recommendation, Berthon Boat Company in Lymington called us with a very specialist problem. Their client, who was an enthusiastic sailing boat owner, sadly had an accident and had been left paralyzed. To allow him to enjoy his boat to its full extent they needed to install a specialist boat lift that would allow their client to get from the deck to the cabin below.

The challenge of the project was to design and fit a specialist boat lift in such a narrow gap as well as keeping all the remaining features intact so both the client and his family could use the boat without any obstacles. The client had two beautiful wooden doors that he wanted to remain in place and so Berthon Boat Company removed 75mm of the fibreglass deck so we could fit our lifting system. We installed a bespoke scissor jack system with a platform to accommodate the wheelchair - the control system and small hydraulic pump were placed inside a cupboard that was easily accessible. The platform was fitted with the same carpet as the lower deck's flooring so that when the lift was not in use you wouldn't know it was there! A small set of temporary steps were then put into place so the rest of the family could easily access the lower deck.

The lift allowed the client to get back onto his boat and enjoy sailing in the Solent and further afield once again. To see more of our work for disabled access on boats click here

 

Specialist Boat Lift for Berthon Boat Company

Boat Lift for Disabled Sailor

Location: Hampshire

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2011

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us

Disabled Access on the Royal Barge – Gloriana

We were lucky to be asked to provide the disabled access solution for the Queen’s royal barge – Gloriana – this was in preparation for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The architect needed a simple solution so that the boat’s users could get from the upper outdoor deck to the lower covered part of the barge. They wanted a lift that would cause as little disruption to the boat as possible and would be quick and simple to operate. The main challenge was that they came to us 4 weeks before the Gloriana was due to motor up the Thames as part of the celebration. The majority of our projects are completed in 10-12 weeks so it was a race against time to get the lift designed, built and then installed.

We designed and created a scissor lift that would fit under the original cabin doors and would have a very small pit below the lift of only 120mm. The lift’s platform measured 800mm x 1200m so could easily fit a wheelchair as well as another person. When not in use the temporary steps were placed on top of the lift so that the boat could be used as it was before the installation of the lift. We managed to use the boat’s own power supply of 24V DC to operate the lift. In order to disguise the lift and make it match the aesthetics of the Gloriana, we finished the platform with the same Elm, from the Prince of Wales Estate in Cornwall, that was used on the rest of the interior of the boat.

On the day of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the Gloriana sailed down the Thames with members of the Help For Heroes Charity, unfortunately it was a wet day but luckily our lift was installed so everyone could get under cover quickly and safely.

To see more of our platform lifts on boats or in historic buildings have a look at our Speedboat, National Army Museum, York Theatre Royal and Baltic Centre projects.

Location: Central London

Status: Complete

Year Completed: 2012

For more information about lifts like the one above call us on 0800 65 252 65 or email us