MacGregorSailors.com

Hope this post finds everyone doing well,

I just finished building an engine well platform with PVC board and the plan is to do the installation this weekend with pictures to follow. As we are all aware this area (engine well) is full of compound angles which added to the projects complexity, especially with the lack of any CAD drawings.

The project started with the need to protect the cables in the engine well from foot traffic and I remembered seeing another Mac in this forum with a platform in the same area which was made out of wood, teak I believe. What I didn't realize at first was there would be a need to somehow move the platform to allow the engine to tilt up completely for sailing and transport.

I have used PVC board in other boat projects so the selection of material was an easy part of the design process. The material holds shape even in the heat of a North Carolina summer and since it is white there is very little, if any, heat transfer to the skin.

Since the PVC board is relatively expensive I opted to make a prototype out of plywood. I won't go into all the boring details of the build process, but I will tell you how I transferred the engine well profile to the plywood to obtain the basic outline of the platform. First, I raised the captains seat and placed a piece of plywood across the top of the engine well with one end resting on the port cockpit seat and the other end resting on the starboard cockpit seat. Next, I placed a Sharpe marker against the side of the engine well with the tip pointing at the plywood. I think you can see where I am going with this so the only other tidbit to leave with you is to keep repeating this marking and cutting process until the platform is level with the cockpit floor.

I will be posting either a short video or pictures of the finished project this Saturday or Sunday.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

Hello Again,

The following link will take you to the video of my finished platform project, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYlK-XuHfVA.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

Looks great MAC-A-TAC, real nice work. I like the pvc board idea, fits the boat well.

PaulT

In this rare instance the movie is better than the book..........way better.
Great idea, great job; you've motivated me to hinge the platform on my X.
thank you for posting the video.

is Mac Attack a west coast boat?

Thanks for the kind words metronome and csm.

Hello BOAT, MAC-A-TAC is an East Coaster, she prefers the warmer Atlantic waters.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

Again, updated profiles would be helpful.

~Rich

Nicely done platform, MAC!

Hello K9,

Thank you, the mod forum is one of my favorite places to visit because of its large number of interesting and varied projects, so I thought it was time to contribute. Thanks to everyone who make this forum what it is.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

Offering another take on the platform mod. A few years ago I bought at Homer Depot, a 4"x4"x4' hollow fiberglass mailbox post, intending to quarter lengthwise thus producing fiberglass planks for the platform surface. Just another mod that I haven't got around to yet!

Very impressive job Mac-a-Tak! A well-designed and executed practical mod that suits the boat. I like it.

Looks like it’s a factory part. Oops. Let me rephrase that more accurately. It’s better than a factory part.

Thanks for the clear and concise video demo too.

- Brian.

seahouse wrote:Looks like it’s a factory part. Oops. Let me rephrase that more accurately. It’s better than a factory part.

Yeah, Brian, if it were a factory part it would bend every time you stepped on it!

Very Nice

Hello Brian, Seapup and kmclemore,

I did leave ~ 1/4" gap around the platform edges so the factory parts have some flexing room . Glad you enjoyed the video.

God, Family, Country.

MAC Out.

- B.