I’ve been seeing videos of people with little dock start contraptions for shallow water where its not enough to beach start. Does anyone sell something like that? Any tips on how to make one? I need a way to get out there when the waves are too small to break in deeper-than-mast-water lol.
It seems like the pvc-pool noodle brackets are good for holding the boards, but what is the platform/base made of? How to you anchor it to the bottom?
They use ladder shaped like |----|
Join the dock start group on FB for more info
It’s a decorator’s ladder with some decking boards on top. Check this video mate: Ladder starts
No need to anchor it to the bottom - when the waves are small enough that you need it it largely stays put.
Had my first go with the Dockstar from Chase Ladders today. Can’t recommend it enough. Professionally built, super light and strong, very stable, and the secondary platform makes it easy to just run off the end without worrying about your wing hitting the ladder legs. Great company as well, were fast to replace it when it came damaged by DHL the first time.
I’m located in Florida, so they do ship internationally.
I’m considering this ladder, or a custom aluminum build. Do you still like the Dockstar? Is it worth $1500 shipped?
I’m still a big fan of this dockstar ladder. It’s perfect in calm lake or river waters. However could be a little better for ocean use. Last couple months been primarily using it in the ocean to pump out and catch small swell. Works great but because of its relatively short height it can take a beating in the shore pound depending on the day. A couple of the guys I go with are 200+ lbs and the platform did develop a crack with the heavy use we were putting on it. If you’re able to get a custom build I would probably go that route and make it slightly taller and minimize areas that require being bolted together. Having an overhanging platform like the Dockstar has is key to prevent foil from hitting. But otherwise it’s still better than anything out there available for sale and better than most of the custom builds with ladders and pvc pipes some are doing. The dock start Facebook group has some interesting builds people have come up with too.
I was thinking of doing the double C, but with wider foils coming out, was thinking of a diving board style A frame approach. It’s just over 4’ high, and 6’ long as pictured. Is 4’ a good height? Would you have gone higher or wanted the height adjustable?
Yeah I think anywhere btw 4-5 feet be a good height
Here’s my build that I completed recently, it’s a fold up ladder with a couple custom parts added to it to make it a cantilever style launch. The extended platform is a custom aluminum frame with 3/4" plywood coated in a polyurethane spar with grip tape strips for traction. The 1" box tubing indexes into the ladder rungs and is secured by clevis pins that are tethered to the ladder. The legs are 1-1/2" box tubing attached by a 3d printed/aluminum hybrid foot that I designed that replace the ladder feet. The deck on the rungs is 3/4" plywood with custom aluminum “hooks” that lock into the rungs and secured by 2 bolts. The whole thing is designed to be taken apart for ease of transport. I have four, five hour sessions on it so far any everything is working perfectly. The legs add enough surface area to not sink into the soft sand and doesn’t move even in waves. I did all the design work, metal fabrication and 3d printing so total cost was about $300 cad for the ladder and materials.
I’m a fan of the A-frame ladder with a plank ratchet strapped to the top step.
Pro: Works for goofy and regular launches at the same time
Con: No runway, works only for standing starts
