So I'm doing an NCR playthrough and figured I'd pass through Cottonwood to The Fort and destroy House's robots before I got too far in the quest and would louse up my invite from Caesar. I show up at Cottonwood, walk down the dock and all the planks are missing where the ferryman once stood (at least in other playthroughs). Is he elsewhere? Am I boned? Any help would be appreciated...

Edit: Just found a hidden trap door beneath the docks that magically transported me to the fort. Hope I'm not breaking my game, here...

I'm having the same problem. No magic trapdoor for me though...

There are two areas that "look" like the area you came in. Most people get stuck at the southern one, where (when facing what you think is a door) the fence juts out to the left. The actual gate you need to exit (where the boatman is) is to the north of this "false" gate (or to the right when facing the "false door"). Just walk around the rock wall.

What makes it even mroe confusing is that the NPC slaves move in and out of the false "door", making you think thats the door you need to exit.