"Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

[joelko]

I'd welcome ideas for some sort of "landing craft" that I could use to get from my rocky shore (small rocks with gentle grade on shore) with shallow water to my mooring. Something like a landing craft with wheels that I could keep on shore, load with children as well as elderly (in addition to the healthy and energetic) that I would then roll into the water and row/paddle/motor offshore to transfer people to my boat on mooring.<br /><br />The mooring is in the deep water sound off Sag Harbor, NY.<br /><br />A small version of a military landing craft sounds ideal, but I'm not aware of anything like that. Other ideas to accomplish the purpose also appreciated.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Joel

 

[Ross J]

Re: "Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

Try this<br /> http://www.myark.com/10m folding barges.html <br />I know it's not in the states but it may help some<br />Ross

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: "Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

Not sure how much you care to spend but maybe this will help:<br /><br /> http://www.argoatv.com/

 

[araiha]

Re: "Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

Try this one...<br /><br /> http://www.billmunsonboats.com/

 

[greggholmes]

Re: "Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

http://www.boats.com/listing/boat_details.jsp?entityid=108081401

here

http://www.admiraldrive.com/video.html

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: "Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

How about a small, home-built pontoon/dock with wheels and hand-rails...could easily be winched ashore and powered by a small kicker or electric trolling motor.

 

[mrdancer]

Re: "Landing Craft" Ideas Sought

There is also www.seaark.com for a more commercial-style landing craft.

Sounds like you don't need anything to complicated/specific as long as you keep it in the water (I think wheels/amphibious vehicle will be more trouble than it is worth). Any local boat builder that works with aluminum should be able to easily build what you need. If you have shallow water, less than 16-18 inches fifteen feet from shore, and you don't have a lot of weeds or sand, go with a jet outboard. Otherwise, I think Yamaha makes a "high-thrust" prop that they use for pontoon boats - it has AMAZING reverse thrust, which would come in handy when pulling the loaded craft away from the shore. Combine that with Yamaha's 60hp High-Thrust motor or a Merc Bigfoot 60hp on a 20-foot landing craft and you should be golden...