Do any of you have to deal with launching your cats on a launching ramp that has that slick, slippery-as-ice coating of moss on it below the waterline? If so, do you have a solution for how to get rid of the "slick" or otherwise make the ramp safer? I think everyone in our Wave fleet has fallen at least once. Fortunately, nobody has been seriously injured yet, but it seems inevitable.

I would think whoever owned or managed the ramp would keep it clean to avoid legal action. Maybe a light letter with undertones of legal action to the owner or government agency responsible for upkeep will do the job. Also contact the local newspaper or TV station. It's amazing how a little press prods people and government into action.

OR

You could pressure wash the ramp to remove the slime.

The ramp we mostly use is covered with "plastic grass". The "grass" is quickly overgrown by slime, and becomes incredibly slippery.
We have tried a pressure washer, but it was no good. Most reliable mean is to use a large ice scraper and scrape the growth off. As the surface is very even, this works well enough for half a season.

We have found a creosote alternative (supposedly environmentally friendly) to be quite effective. The problem is getting someone in the club to brush it on BEFORE the slipway gets so slippery that someone falls!

Down here they would probably just close the ramp.

Not only that, but why even bother with a legal thread.

Sorry but that is the worst recomendation. That is the reason the US is the way it is, so "class action legal suit feed the lawyers more money happy"

The second recomendation is the best one. Clean it up, that stuff comes off fairly easy. Use a rake, or a shovel. Back home we had that problem with boat ramps, we always had a shovel or a rake to scrape the stuff off. Takes around 10 mins. It is worth every minute, to avoid falls etc.

maybe a large (shop broom-sized) wire brush?

At low tide once a year or so, the local fire station crew have a jolly down to our ramp and have some fun blasting the moss away with their hoses!

Mary,
This is just a thought as I've not had the problem myself.
How about laying down some galvanised chain wire fencing
over the slimey ramp.

The high ridges in the wire mesh should prevent it from being slippery even when covered in slime.
It may need replacing from time to time but also may prevent serious injury.
Just a thought.

Regards,
Phill

Earlier in the year, our commodore personally came out to the ramp and scrubbed it down with a wire brush. That worked and worked well. But since then the wire brush has disappeared, otherwise our fleet would be happy to brush the ramp every several weeks or so.

Another thought is what I suggested. Get a couple of rubber treaded mats. If they stayed in the water they would become slippery as well. So, when we are not using the ramp, pull them up above the waterline to stay dry and unslimed. When we get ready to launch the Waves, just slide them back into the water.

By the way, we do not have a tide.
Rick

[quote . . . That is the reason the US is the way it is, so "class action legal suit feed the lawyers more money happy" [/quote]

Incoming! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In New Hampshire we have a few ponds and lakes particularly suseptible to the conditions you describe. What the State has done on it's ramps is made the below waterline either a "caged bundle of rocks" (they call it rip-rap construction) instead of concrete OR they have roughed up the concrete to such a degree that there is always a sharp edge to grab.
I like Ricks idea of the mat that rolls up out of the water but I have stood on wet rubber before and it can be like ice. Maybe an indoor/outdoor carpet?
I think you do have to go with something that doesn't stay in the water constantly or it will have to be treated for slime inhibition.

If you'd reread my input you'd realize that I said nothing about taking legal action. I did say that the implied threat of legal action usually does the job as in something like, "Gee that ramp is slippery. A couple of people have already slipped on it. I hope no one sues your butt into the stone age."

Also, how did you get to "class action legal suit?"

Is that something that can be applied under water?

I shouldn't think so Mary. We are fortunate (unfortunate?) in that we have a twice daily tide.

I think he misunderstood that the slippery part was below the waterline. I know of NO creosote product that is environmentally friendly. You can watch the DES people here almost spit on themselves when you mention creosote.

If you'd reread my input you'd realize that I said nothing about taking legal action. I did say that the implied threat of legal action usually does the job as in something like, "Gee that ramp is slippery. A couple of people have already slipped on it. I hope no one sues your butt into the stone age."

Also, how did you get to "class action legal suit?" [/quote]

And if I were responsible for that ramp I'd put up big signs warning or the dangers or close the ramp - then what would you do??? I think a lot of the other suggestions have more merrit.

Tiger Mike

If the ramp isnt too deep with no tidal movement you could research the practicallity of sandbagging the problem area then applying some copper sulphate wouldnt need to be there long to kill the moss then just remove the sandbags let the copper disipate. Its not going to damage anything else. We use it all the time in our stock troughs.
regards

you might also add that copper sulfate is used in bottom paints to keep the slime from growing on the bottom of boats. Bottom paint on the ramp is an interesting idea....but I think the bottom paint itself might be a little slick...and applying it in a non-tidal area would certainly be tricky. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I tied down with light line some discarded shag rug over cyclone fence on its original frame at our freshwater lake between a pair of wooden ramps. A lot of lake grass collects on the rug and needs to be removed, but the ramp does not get slippery-mossy. The wooden ramp does tho: it is way worse than banana peels!

Ours for the Wed nights is pretty slick. You MUST wear a good pair of water slipper type shoes are you will bust your (*&(&(&. They don't do anything to maintain it. Good luck.

Doug

Wire brushes,scrub brushes, seem to work the best. Pressure wash when water level is low, then continued maintenance. Any thing you leave in the water will get the growth.

Caleb Tarleton, Sail Sand Point, Seattle's Community Sailing Center

This sucks. We did this where we launch and all it did was get bent up and end up hooking on to trailers, either the axle or the wheels, or the more likely source being the dangling trailer safety chain. That was ugly on several occasions.

Forget the ramp and treat your feet - find an old pair of metal-spiked golf shoes on ebay. You'll look ridiculous but you'll be upright. Just remember to take them off before you hop on the boat.

Matt

Creative idea, and it might work if we were tying up to docks or something after launch. But we just hop on the boat as it slides off the wheels, and we are on our way. I would probably damage the tramp with the spikes before I could get them off and stowed on the boat.

Same thing in reverse when we return -- sail right up to the ramp, shove the wheels under the boat and pull it out.

Our fleet has two sets of Cat Trax and both have been fitted with the long dolly handle that Cat Trax offers. This has made it much easier to get the wheels under the boats without having to get down on the slippery part of the ramp as much.

The handle also comes in handy for towing the boats back to our drysail area. We use a golf cart, and somebody sits on the back of the cart and holds onto the handle.

OK, here's another option: Felt-soled wading shoes used for fly fishing. They're made specifically for walking on slippery moss covered rocks. Not as solid a grip as metal spikes, but I bet they'd work. You can get a pair at the Sportsman's Guide website for about $15 I think.

Matt

I am fleet captain at a yacht club with a great 20 ft wide ramp and a jr. sailing program. I pressure wash our ramp three times a summer to keep the kids from slipping while launching boats. It is quick, easy, enviromentally effective, and works really well. I can do a 20 x 50 ramp in less than an hour.

Rusty,

These work great! Saves you more time and can be rented from NationsRent at Lowe's or HomeDepot for around $20 / day.

[img]http://www.amazingmachinery.com/Pressure-Washer-Accessories-SurfaceCleaners.html[/img] web page

I get one of these to clean my driveway, walks and deck. All my neighbors use it too. Super fast.

But how is that going to help Mary's problem when the slippery conditions are on the submerged portion of the ramp? It's not tidal and so the pressure washer wouldn't work would it? Have you tried using it below the waterline?
Greg

They do work under water, if you have one with enough pressure. Suggest you only use gas powered, not electric near the water. Also, wear heavy boots or shoes to protect your feet.