Princess F55 - using submersible bathing platform for the first time

[Hurricane]

Also because - contrarily to the tender, whose launch/lift can also be handled by passerelle or crane - there's nothing else as convenient as a hi/lo for going back onboard when armed with all the stuff required by scuba diving!

I have a true story.
A wonderful experience with a Hi Lo platform.

SWMBO was away so I was on my own when invited out on a lovely "fully crewed" Sunseeker (with a HiLo platform) and some other friends.
Not being a local from the area, I didn't bring my swimming fins.
The others on that trip knew those waters well, so had brought their fins.
We ended up in the most gorgeous anchorage.
We all went swimming - me included.
Without fins, I couldn't swim far from the boat so I returned earlier than the others who were obviously enjoying themselves.
As I approached the back of the Sunseeker, the crew spotted me and lowered the platform so I swam onto it.
Whilst I was still in the prone position, the platform was raised and I was beached like a whale!!
A bit confused, the crew smiled, gave me a towel and a very welcome glass of beer.
Now thats living.

I didn't tell my friends who had gone off swimming with their fins further afield.
Because all I could think of was a beached whale on a bathing platform!
So after that experience, bathing platforms are not just for tenders.

I wonder who these other friends might be?
As least I have a photo of that gorgeous place.


Fond memories

 

[MapisM]

Fond memories

Indeed!
You can find that and also other spots and boats (JW included) in the following video.
With the surroundings of that anchorage starting at 2:00, and a stunning aerial view of that particular spot at 3:12.
BTW, blimey, where have 10 years gone?!?

 

[Hurricane]

Indeed!
You can find that and also other spots and boats (JW included) in the following video.
With the surroundings of that anchorage starting at 2:00, and a stunning aerial view of that particular spot at 3:12.
BTW, blimey, where have 10 years gone?!?

Yep - as you say, 10 years ago now.
Great times - after that trip in the Sunseeker, we took our own boat back to that exact spot for a few nights.



Back to topic - well kind of.

Having a crane rather than a Hi Lo platform does have some other advantages.
Especially if you can lift onto the flybridge.
During that summer in Sardinia, we were able to take both the Jetski and the tender.
Tender went up top and the heavier Jetski went on the bathing platform.
You can see from this photo (near that same location) that we were able to lift the tender off the top whilst keeping the Jetski on the bathing platform.
The crane is offset so the actual lift is over the water on the starboard side.

 

[henryf]

Love the thought of being raised from the water like a beached whale

Whilst in theory you had to tick a box & hand over £35k for the hi-lo platform I’m not aware of a single boat without it. Just the Princess sales team having a bit of a laugh with us…..

I really liked having a crane to recover and manage the tender but accept that hi-on platforms are now the norm.

A suggestion:

On a nice calm day lower the platform until just before the tender is ready to float off. Now make up exact length lines from the tender to the lower aft cleats on the boat.

Once attached you merely have to keep the tender pushed away from the mother ship when recovering and you will be positioned perfectly for a swift one move recovery.

 

[Andrew M]

"On a nice calm day lower the platform until just before the tender is ready to float off. Now make up exact length lines from the tender to the lower aft cleats on the boat.

Once attached you merely have to keep the tender pushed away from the mother ship when recovering and you will be positioned perfectly for a swift one move recovery."

Good idea, I like that ,,,,will give that a go...

 

[benjenbav]

…

A suggestion:

On a nice calm day lower the platform until just before the tender is ready to float off. Now make up exact length lines from the tender to the lower aft cleats on the boat.

Once attached you merely have to keep the tender pushed away from the mother ship when recovering and you will be positioned perfectly for a swift one move recovery.

That’s an excellent idea. Initially I thought you would benefit from additional marking on the lines to show the required position when the platform is raised. But thinking about it, you really don’t.