Swim platform addition

Audrey II

Audrey II

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As some of you know I have been considering adding a platform to my boat, most of the use of my boat is spend on anchor swimming and relaxing so much of our time is spent on the stern. I have agreed on a price with a company called Swim-platforms.com before I commit I was hoping to get some input, good or bad as to my decision. Am I making a mistake adding this? Is the company I'm working with reliable? Am I just throwing away money? Am I missing something that I should be considering?
All thoughts welcome.
Thanks
 
Great addition. Just make sure it is high enough to not drag when you 'gun' it.

Bigger is better, and the longest foldup ladder you can get.
 
When figuring the true cost, you have to consider how your marina charges you your slip fee. Do you pay for the slip, or do you pay LOA on your vessel? A 3 to 4 foot extension onto your boat could significantly raise your yearly fees at $75 to $85 per foot per year.

Consider the true cost when evaluating it's worth to you.
 
I'm not concerned about the drag issue I would be copying the factory option platform as close as I can. I want it to be closer to the water this is a large part of the reason to add it. Currently it sits so high my feet don't reach the water.
BoatLaunch2009004.jpg

The new addition would be 4x12 adding 48 feet of fun I hope. I have requested a four rung latter and a recessed handle to help boarding. I believe the lower platform will make it easier for some to board at dock as well, it is a big step up to a small area the way it is. My slip is the end of a tee dock so all boarding is down from the side of the platform. My In-law have trouble boarding. I took them away for a weekend trip this past summer they where uncomfortable coming and going and needed help each time. I believe this would remedy that.
I agree that the increase cost of docking is a factor, they may or may not charge more but I think it's worth it, if that the only drawback.
 
watch that water line. :) the owner before me added a longer one on my Carver the extra space is nice with a dinghy back there
 
The dink will still stay in the garage at least for now. Again this swim platform is a factory option on many other boats including Hogan and Starry Night I don't believe this is a problem however I am concerned with the davit in the garage being too short to launch the dink it will need a little push to clear the platform. Has anyone here done business with Swim-platform.com I would feel better hearing good things for those who have. The biggest concern I have is the fit and finish this is not a typical mount it is a total custom made mount if it's not perfect it wont work. I was hoping someone has used this company and can give me some reassurance.
 
Dave,

I used SmiwPlatforms.com 5 or 6 years ago. We installed a exteneded swimplatform on our 240 Sea Ray Sundancer. Overall, I was pleased with the addition. It really improved our boat. In fact at least twice I was approached and asked about the platform. We did have a few quality issues that surfaced 3 years after purchase. The gel coat had some pockets underneath with the fiberglass underlay, especially in the corners.

I was dealing directly with Scott at smiwplatforms.com. He did offer to send a fiberglass and gel coat repair kit. Nice but................ I really didn't expect much after 3 years.

When we sold the boat, the added platform helped. It made our dancer stand out.

I think they are a quality company that I would use again.

Tom
 
I had one on a previous boat, loved it, looked like it was a factory job.
 
As crazy as it sounds there are two different companies one is swimplatforms.com and the other is swim-platforms.com. I Tried to get a price for the first and they said they could not help me they do not work on anything that large. The other company had no problem with the size. I have been speaking with Kraig he seems nice enough but I would still feel better hearing from others who have used him.
 
No apology needed you were trying to help thank you.
 
Did Trojan do their platforms in house or did they farm them out? If the latter, who did they use?

I have looked at both sites. The "dashed" site seems to cater to smaller boats. The "non-dashed" site has experience in the 50 foot arena.

Something to consider IMO.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

As crazy as it sounds there are two different companies one is swimplatforms.com and the other is swim-platforms.com. I Tried to get a price for the first and they said they could not help me they do not work on anything that large. The other company had no problem with the size. I have been speaking with Kraig he seems nice enough but I would still feel better hearing from others who have used him.

Click to expand...

Audrey, trying to look up swim-platforms.com but I can't find it. Can you post a direct link to their site please.
Thanks
 
Ralph,

Try is without the last "s".

swim-platform(dot)com
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

Did Trojan do their platforms in house or did they farm them out? If the latter, who did they use?

I have looked at both sites. The "dashed" site seems to cater to smaller boats. The "non-dashed" site has experience in the 50 foot arena.

Something to consider IMO.

Click to expand...

from the site I thought so to but after speaking to them only one of them was willing to make the platform for me.
 
Dave,
You said you are going to add recessed handles. Is the platform a solid piece of plastic that is semi-open and drains (like a sea ray platform), or is it a cored material of some type? If cored and you are doing recessed handles make sure A) the handles have drains built into them or they will sit with scummy water in them 24/7 (one of the only irritating things about my silverton!), and B) make sure the coring is properly sealed before they place the handles in them. My silverton had recessed handles and I thought they were a complete waste- didn't drain and no one ever wanted to stick their hands in the scummy water that collected there and couldn't drain.
 
Thank you this is good to know about the handles, I never gave that any thought s to the standing water. Can a hole be drilled as a drain? The platform is cored to keep the weight down. It was recommended that I have two vents installed I want four cleats installed and the handle all of these will need to be sealed.
Again thanks for the input.
 
Though smaller than yours, I purchased my platform from the “dash” company. My installer is a very well known and established boat glass guy in OKC and I am not a DIY person when it comes to things like this.

Everything shipped on time and as quoted. The installer had questions and complemented the “dashed” company for great communications and a quality product.

No problems after two seasons of heavy use.

Would never have another boat without a platform.

Don’t hesitate to PM for any other information.

My 2 cents…

Stan
 
Get the longest ladder that will fit. My 2465 Regal had a 4 step ladder. A friends Maxum had a 3 step ladder. There was night and day difference getting into the two boats.

Consider also some form of railing to ease entry. Even though it was easier to get into my Regal than my friends Maxum, I still had to reach for a grab rail over the transom.

The following picture is from a dive boat, but should give an idea.

BoatLadder.jpg
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

Thank you this is good to know about the handles, I never gave that any thought s to the standing water. Can a hole be drilled as a drain? The platform is cored to keep the weight down. It was recommended that I have two vents installed I want four cleats installed and the handle all of these will need to be sealed.
Again thanks for the input.

Click to expand...


If the handles don't natually drain (i.e. they are just cut outs and not closed at the bottom and water can just freely fall back to water below) I would completely skip the handles. Ours never, ever got used and there was no way to really drain them well so they just sat there collecting gross water.
Personally, I would not put handles in the platform. With your platform being cored it is going to have a high likelihood of water intrusion due to obviously being covered in water a lot from both just running the boat, swimming, etc. so it's just asking for problems.
 
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