Designing around the hull
The constraint that drives every maritime scaffold is the hull shape. Everything else — access, lighting, containment, logistics — sits on top of the geometry. At survey stage we’ll measure the hull at multiple points along its length, agree the working access the paint or repair team needs, and design the scaffold to put a working deck at those heights without touching the hull in any place that matters.
On canal boats and narrowboats the work is often straightforward because the hulls are relatively simple shapes. On wider commercial vessels and older craft with curved sterns, bow overhangs, and complex superstructures, the scaffold becomes an exercise in custom tube-and-fitting every few metres. We’ll produce a design drawing showing the scaffold in elevation at each critical cross-section so the yard and the contractor can see exactly what they’re getting.
Working with the yard
Yards are busy places. Your scaffold competes for space with other vessels, travel lifts, crane movements, storage of hull sections, and whatever other work is happening in the yard that week. We’ll liaise with the yard manager from the outset so our logistics support the yard’s other operations rather than fighting them.
Talk to us early
If you’ve got an upcoming hull overhaul, deck refurbishment or major repair project, get in touch at the scoping stage. We’ll do a site visit, talk through the options with your painter or repair contractor, and produce a firm quote before you commit.
