Hello everyone, calling all creative minds. I’m trying to figure out an easy way to get down to the river so guests at my gîte can launch their kayaks without a hassle. The river’s low right now and the bank is basically flat, so I’ve got about 10m of mud to deal with, plus a bunch of plants in the way. I temporarily laid down some pallets, but I know that’s a no-go because of the chemicals in the wood — and honestly, it looks pretty ugly too. I was thinking of making some kind of roll mat using cheap carpet with boards screwed in every 20cm. If anyone’s got a better idea, I’m all ears! Thanks
I know nothing about kayaks, but giant 10m long pool noodles laid like a train track that can kayak can be slid down? Or pipe insulation might be more robust.
Oh, and for the people cross planks like stepping stones between the tracks
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Hi,
In your post you say the river is low right now. So I assume that sometimes the river is high?
Do you need a floating pontoon type structure that is self-levelling regardless of the ‘height’ of the river? Perhaps you can buy something like this ready-made or manufacture something yourself with polystyrene blocks?
However, if these are ‘clients’ you are facilitating, do you have obligations regarding regulations, insurance, perhaps even planning permits etc? I have no idea what these obligations might be, I must admit . . . .
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Thank you. I can’t build anything permanent or anything that’s anchored in the ground, i should have specified. It’s more about people really, kayaks can be dragged
Floating pontons would not be allowed, and yes the water can rise significantly but normally in October after the high season.
Does it need to take the weight of a walker carrying the kayak, or will the kayaker be in situ and slide along, or towed, as you suggested ?
I’m guessing that you have no (or not enough) slope with the mud bank ?
When I was younger, I didn’t care if there was mud to wade through to get to the body of water, but I suppose now I might be a little more reticent.
An interesting problem, in any case!
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What about this sort of solution that you can remove?
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Mud is usually fine, but this is thick mud and I lost a shoe in it yesterday 
Not at all enough slope to slide, glad about that as getting back up would be another issue!
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Thank you this is really interesting, much better and cheaper than Leroy Merlin options.
I have to find a shop that sells them around here . Thanks