Check Out Swim Platform -- I want one!

[ronaldjeremy]

My wife and I are considering upgrading to a 26x from a San Juan 21 (our home waters can get suddenly shallow so from experience I know we will need the X's swing keel).

There are two requirements I have for a new boat, but I'll only address one for this thread -- and that is a decent swim platform. Half the time we spend on the lake involves us and our dogs playing in the water, and I am so jealous of the roomy platform our friends have on their Four Winns where wet dogs (and people) can "shake off" before boarding.

After searching this forum for a mod and not finding much more than a small one-sided step, I found this beauty on an M somewhere in Greece:



Now that's what I'm talking about! Anyone know how I would go about making something like that? I assume it is attached via hinges and flips up, but its guesswork as to how they fabricated that tubing and how its affixed under there.

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Have considered this mod?

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1251

[ronaldjeremy]

Have considered this mod?

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1251

Wow looking at that mod, it almost looks like they were made by the same craftsman (the handle on the top left of the platform looks identical to the downfacing handle on the one I posed, also the tubing looks identical, and the mod poster is greek!).

The problem though with that mod is it is more like a deck than a swim platform. It's mounted way too high to sit and dangle your feet in the water, or reach down and pull up a dog by the lifevest handle, or set down a beer where you can just swim up, grab it, take a sip, and sit it back down

[DaveB]

This platform appears to be hinged as there is a line leading aft.
If fixed,you can't get rudders all the way up, on a semi plane I can see the rudders draging in water that will effect direction control. To much weight aft.
Stearage would be a major problem in 2ft. waves or greater, transum platform can dig in waves over 3 ft. or less.
If this platform is hinged and clears the engine when raised it may very well be duable.
Dave

My wife and I are considering upgrading to a 26x from a San Juan 21 (our home waters can get suddenly shallow so from experience I know we will need the X's swing keel).

There are two requirements I have for a new boat, but I'll only address one for this thread -- and that is a decent swim platform. Half the time we spend on the lake involves us and our dogs playing in the water, and I am so jealous of the roomy platform our friends have on their Four Winns where wet dogs (and people) can "shake off" before boarding.

After searching this forum for a mod and not finding much more than a small one-sided step, I found this beauty on an M somewhere in Greece:



Now that's what I'm talking about! Anyone know how I would go about making something like that? I assume it is attached via hinges and flips up, but its guesswork as to how they fabricated that tubing and how its affixed under there.

[ronaldjeremy]

You can't get rudders all the way up, on a semi plane I can see the rudders draging in water that will effect direction control. To much weight aft.
Stearage would be a major problem in 2ft. waves or greater, transum platform can dig in waves over 3 ft. or less.

The rudders and steerage wouldnt be an issue because that platform pivots and flips all the way up and over the engine, allowing the rudders to be completely out of the water.

As for the weight, I wouldnt think it be any more than 100lbs max -- would that be too much?

[DaveB]

You are quick, I noted that in the change after revewing picture. I also corrected the post before seeing this post.
That data was not reveiled in the post .
Dave

You can't get rudders all the way up, on a semi plane I can see the rudders draging in water that will effect direction control. To much weight aft.
Stearage would be a major problem in 2ft. waves or greater, transum platform can dig in waves over 3 ft. or less.

None of that is an issue because that platform pivots and flips all the way up and over the engine.

[DaveB]

I would think all tubeing would be Stainless 316 or greater, wood being Teak 3/4 thick. With all the Stainless attachments this platform could easy go over 100 lbs to 150 lbs. further aft you place it the Sailing and powering effects on the boat is hugh.
Further aft you place anything the moment of effort changes big time .
Many have added a 90 hp that is only 125lbs over a stock 50 hp engine. This motor is centered on a transem bracket that is good to hold most 120 hp engines without reinforcements, it's the get up and go and hitting 3 ft. waves the boat can't do, why they limit to 50-70 hp. The hull superstructure can't handle a 3-4 ft.wave as you are doing 20- 25 mph in a narrow channel that the 45ft powerboat created or in open waters.
People who have done Mods such as increase engine size is the fact they know what they are doing and have experance. Same goes true with mods that increase weight and in your case weight and safety with overhangs,draging and boat stable condition.
A following sea will overwash that platform. I would like to see it in the raised position, you have pictures?
I would give it serious thought !

Dave

You can't get rudders all the way up, on a semi plane I can see the rudders draging in water that will effect direction control. To much weight aft.
Stearage would be a major problem in 2ft. waves or greater, transum platform can dig in waves over 3 ft. or less.

The rudders and steerage wouldnt be an issue because that platform pivots and flips all the way up and over the engine, allowing the rudders to be completely out of the water.

As for the weight, I wouldnt think it be any more than 100lbs max -- would that be too much?

[ronaldjeremy]

I know what you mean about 3ft waves, following seas, etc -- coming in and going out of the Shalotte Inlet on the NC coast is a tense experience (One reason we want a bigger boat) and I would certainly have that platform raised at all times in "big water" unless it was calm and we were stationary.

Most of our time though is spent leisurely hopping between glassy coves of Jordan Lake near our home, where I have never seen 3ft waves, and we rarely have a reason to "go fast". That platform looks perfect because it it could be raised on the rare occasion we might go 20mph and down pretty much the entire rest of the time.

I sent the apparent dealer of that boat an inquiry for a picture of the platform raised and one underneath it when it is deployed. I will post them if I get a reply.

[mastreb]

We are frequently climbing in and out of the boat on the trailer, so that beautiful mod wouldn't be an option for us. That said, you could use hinges with a removable hinge pin so the platform could be removed at left at home or on the dock when conditions don't permit using it.

Our dinghy doubles as a swim platform

[Gater Dunn]

Have considered this mod?

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1251

your wheel is Enormous how do you get around it?

deck looks great . for me I would like it closer to the water. or on slides so you could ajust from where you have yours to 6 " above the water
haveing the rudders on a slide so they can be put up or down independant of the deck would be a great mod as well

[restless]

Hmm..
I've been giving this concept some very serious thought. As said, we get in the boat alot via the stern, and are planning on spending alot of time where quay moorings are stern to, so something that can work as a passarelle (gang plank) come platform would be top stuff. to boot, we are also kitting up for scuba, so a low platform would just be fantastic.

I can pretty much make anything I want, however this bit is still eluding me . It is a never ending question of compromise. I could make a 1/2 platform/plank.. but on the port side it would foul my auxilliary 8hp engine hanger and to port it would run foul of steering gear, bbq and central heating exhaust. And it might look messy

Perhaps the best plan is to use the tender afterall?

[vizwhiz]

How about making a floating platform, Restless? Especially if you'll be diving...

Make something that uses small inflatable bladder(s) as the flotation base (inflatable so you can make it smaller to stow), and cover it with some kind of hinged or interlocking large flat pieces that you could also stow flat when torn down. Tied off to the back of the boat so it won't move, and even possibly with some lanyards mounted to the outer corners to keep the back end from diving underwater when you try to board it... Even your gang-plank need gives this some merit - make it where you can turn it and use it as a floating gang-plank to go ashore, or even to pull the dinghy alongside to board... Hey, even making them in small, square sections that can be spanned with long rods to make several sections into one longer rigid section...

Wow...I'm thinking this might be a REALLY good idea!

[restless]

Hei Viz
not a bad thought actually. I have a huge fender, and an inflatable thwart from a spare tender...
will have to play around with that one

[Mac26Mpaul]

I have an inflatable windsurfer which I intend to use as a kind of swim platform. They are great as very stable. 2 people can stand up on one no problems. The link shows the more expensive brand but there is a copy brand floating around which is what I have. Pretty impressive quality too. The copy brand comes with the sail kit and kayak kit where as the kayak kit is optional on the branded one. Cost me 200 bucks in Australia but would be no more than half that in the US I would say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6deCUurOn_c

Doubles as a toy to pull the kids on too, and with the kayak kit also makes a reasonable tender for one or possibly two (although you will get a wet butt if choppy). Fits on the foredeck of the Mac fully inflated no problems.

I havnt tried it yet but think it probably wouldnt work across the stern unfortunately as the motor wouldnt raise high enough I think. I will probably use it on the side near the cockpit. Should be able to tie the dinghy outboard of it no problems too.

As to how they sail, well, the Mac points a hull of a lot better

[Divecoz]

Mods are always a matter of personal opinion and function.. and this one IMHO Overwhelms this boat.. its just too big to heavy and rather unsightly..
by all appearances? That lifting "rope" is all that holds that platform Horizontal??? I agree there could well be major issues in following seas and possible damage could incur when it inevitably slams up and down..?? I agree as well, that you have every bit of 150lbs hanging....off the back , way off the back.. That's a lot of weight affording a lot of leverage and supported by what, 2 hinges and a rope?