Swim Platform Extension - advice please

Nautorius

Nautorius

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I am sure this has been discussed but I can not find it so here goes...

I want to extend my swim platform. It is currently 12 inches wide and with young kids I could do with it being larger about 24 inches. I seem to have several options

1) buy one from the US manaufacturer (about £3500) including shipping.
2) build a mould and make one from GRP - not very experienced at it so not a real option for me.
3) ask a specialist to build one for me (maybe expensive?)
4) get a specialist to build me one in Hardwood. Will it look right on the back of a 28ft american sportscruiser?
5) Buy the hardwood and make one myself - probably the cheapest option and I have most of the reqd skills and tools and have all winter.
6) Use other materials-please advise
7) give up and get a bigger boat hook to pull kids out everytime they fall in.

So what would/have you all done. Obviously the wood will weigh more but if I accept that will it look OK? Would Iroko do the trick?

Does anyone know any GRP specialists that would make one?

Any one got any advice please. BTW, still looking at selling boat for a bigger one so must offer Value and cosmetic looks.

Thanks

Paul
 
Only an opinion Paul but I would buy the American platform. The type of extension you want seems fairly commonplace out there so presumably they know what they are doing.

It might be a good idea to post your question on an American user group site as there will be plenty of opinions based on experience there.

Martyn
 
Try Meridian Yachts. I think their number is 01489580307
or call Nick from Meridian on 07880550900.

They have just done an extension for a Princess 415 and it looked very good (they removed the old stainless / wood one and fitted a custom GRP one).

Or try Bare Marine at Shamrock Quay in Southampton.
Bare do nothing but custom GRP. The main guy there is Sean, but I am afraid I don't have their number.
 
Thanks Martyn,

I have now put it on a US Site. If I was keeping the boat I would order a Dealer Fit new one but I will have no chance of recouping the cost at £3500. I would leave it but as I do not know when the boat will sell I need a short/longer term cost effective solution.

Thanks again Paul
 
Be very careful with a fixed extension - a big wide swim platform is great but slaps the water far more (like mine) and therefore has to be able to take massive punishment even at anchor. A bolt-on hinged jobbie as per hlb would be able have slats to let water thru, not have to survive props wash at all, have easy bolt-on slats fixable if they get manky, and not cost more mooring fees (cos it's fold up), and would not be a horrendous un-undoable obviously-non-standard thing/bodge when it's time to sell.
 
Great Idea,

I had not thought of that. Should keep weight down and look better than a big slab of Iroko! Just need a S/S supplier recommendation in the Lon/Thames Valley/Midlands area for a quote.

Cheers

Paul
 
The US manufacturer that makes the dealer fit widens the Platform from 12 inches to 48 so I was cautious about how this would affect handling. Also at 48 inches it might look (to quote GC1) 'like a Tea Tray' on the back.

They do mention worries about prop wash etc. on their website and also state that Snap Davits can not be used with it as the extension often ends up under the water on deceleration/acceleration.

Cheers for the advice, keep it coming,

Paul
 
Make sure he understands it's proper sea stuff you want and not the stuff they use in the catering industry. Good bloke will make it with nice curves and bends with flat brackets welded on for supports Etc. Find one that knows nowt about Marine multiplier!!!!!
 
Doral fit huge extensions to their swim platforms which give great space but IMHO make the boat look unbalanced, got to admit despite what I said above that what Hlb suggests makes a lot of sense.

Alternatively do nothing and knock the cost of the swimplatform off your selling price to see if that encourages any takers (probably not in the current market but just an alternative thought)

Martyn
 
Tried that one....it did not work. So realised I need to spruce it up (new covers), use it and keep it sparkling clean...and put UP the price. I advertised it as the cheapest in the UK and it did not sell. Aparently people do not want Twin Petrols????

Hence why I am prepared to have it for a while longer, with a small tubular S/S and Teak Plank swim platform extension. Is it also best to get the same S/S supplier to make me the brackets to hold it up?

Cheers

Paul
 
Try Stainless Steve (That is his company name).
Based Lymington way, he will build anything you want from basic drawings.
Does a lot of the stainless work for most of the charter fishing skippers along to Weymouth and loads of custom stuff - mainly fishing orientated as that is his hobbie, stuff like rod holders, bow rollers etc etc. He'll pretty much knock anythign up at a better price than the bigger companies.
The only downside is you sometimes have to chase him a little to get thigs done.
www.stainless-steve.co.uk

You may have to paste the URL into your browser for it to work.

Good luck
 
Whatever you do, if its non standard or looks like a bit of a bodge job, it will detract from the value of the boat. I think a one-off grp platform made in the UK will cost as much if not more than one from the US manufacturer and possibly not look as nice either
I would look at the possibility of s/steel framed + teak slats jobbie as already suggested but designed in such a way that it can be removed before you sell the boat and the old platform put back on. But I would guess you're still talking £2k or so for this
The only option that will possibly add value to the boat is the extended platform from the original manufacturer and it will be a bit of a selling point when you want to trade up
 
ugh, 48 inches wd seem way too big, regardless of it being from the manufacturer - fine on a lake, but certainly not at sea, imho. A foldable thing that you can demount. It needs big backing plates the spread the load at the the attaxcghement points, and it needs to touch/lean on the existing platform at exactly three places with big flat feet - this means it won't rock about. when u stand on it.
 
If any welding is involved, you should use 316L stainless steel, not plain 316. 316L is low carbon and reduces chromium depletion (chromium carbide formation) at the grain boundaries when welding. You must have seen rusty welds on stainless - that is due to the use of the wrong grade.
Better still, use 321, which has titanium or niobium added to combine with the carbon and avoid this problem.
Chech that your stainless supplier knows what he is using - most don't and use plain 316.

John
 
My two cents in case you would choose to make it yourself: be very careful about the structural strength.
The calculation is not easy, and also not obvious.
Just as an example, the peak load that the platform should be able to carry is upward, not downward.
In fact, you should consider that under certain sea conditions, the water can apply a load in the aft section of the boat which is almost like lifting the boat hanging it from the platform.
 
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