Backcountry Pilot • Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

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Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

We are looking for a rubber or metal material that economically will go ontop of the ramp, without disturbing aesthetics. Can anyone make a recommendation?

Our ramp is in Fresh Water, and concrete. Our operations include:

Tire Operations
1. Mallard/Goose/LA-4 driving up with gear down
2. Cessna and Beaver Amphibs driving up with gear down

Float Truck Operations
3. Chevy float truck [Beaching gear] that lifts and pulls in straight float seaplanes

The ramp performs well except we have the following

Issues:
1. Concrete wear on straight floats requires a very slow approach speed meaning it cannot be used in high winds with straight float planes
2. Occasional Grumman tail rash on beaching
3. Algea accumulation on-ramp makes submerged portion extremely slippery [this is the biggest issue]


This would be a good seaplane base upgrade but we are looking for recommendations of which material[s] to use on the ramp




Nothing in here:
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/med ... -Bases.pdf



Image

This is just a reference image of something that could work, obviously not ideal to our situation

Image
Safety mat I believe I've seen on ramps before


Image
nickelb offline
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Re: Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

At first I was going to suggest Reporposed Materials website....they have heavy conveyor belting......but I can’t think of anything that won’t get slimy if let in the water full time .....good luck....AirDave
Airdave100 offline
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Re: Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

Look up Yukon Access Mats made by Eco-flex. Eco-flex.com

UpNorth
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Re: Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

Interested in answers too

The old industrial conveyor belt sounds interesting
NineThreeKilo offline
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Re: Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

Since you said possibly metal, we have a couple sections of old Marston Mat that serves as a makeshift boat ramp. Wouldn't really want to beach the straight floats on it unless you had a pretty heavy duty keel wear strip. Might be easier on gear than concrete while still providing some traction?
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Re: Concrete Seaplane Ramp Rubber Mat // Materials

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