Swim platform issues

[jfm]

Not so odd, when you think about it.
This is a case where size does not matter, or not as much as you'd expect, because the righting moment which a static fin can create depends mostly on its leverage, rather than its size.
And the distance of a swim platform from the hull CoG (or more appropriately, its CoB, though the difference doesn't really matter in this context) is close to nothing.
Just think of paravanes: they are deployed using very long arms, in order to exploit as much leverage as possible. That's what make them reasonably effective, in spite of their smallish size.
If by rocker stoppers you mean those sombrero shaped plastic thingies that can be deployed from the hull sided, with a line along which you can attach a few of them and a weight at the line end, I have no first hand experience, but TBH I think they are bound to be worth what they cost (i.e. very little), for the very same reason.

+1 to all that.

 

[BartW]

moreover,
most hi-lo platforms have the strongest fixing in the fully up position.
When lowered in the water, strength of the arms and lifting system is on the limit of withstanding the forces from waves,
they are not designed to work as a fin for levelling the boat in a big swell.

had some issues with that on our platform, (not relevant to this thread)
will post pics later when we have done the repair / upgrade

 

[Lozzer]

Update on my swim platform issue..

To recap. It had dropped on one side by 7cm. Dropping and raising made no difference... This happened shortly after Opacmare had put in new flow dividers to rectify platform not going up and down properly.

It seems that my problem was down to air in the system on one of the rams. No matter how much running the platform up and down we could not purge system without cracking the hydraulic pipe. It seems all is well now so I keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks to Princess for support even though boat is out of warranty..

 

[Princess52FlySoFla]

Update on my swim platform issue..

To recap. It had dropped on one side by 7cm. Dropping and raising made no difference... This happened shortly after Opacmare had put in new flow dividers to rectify platform not going up and down properly.

It seems that my problem was down to air in the system on one of the rams. No matter how much running the platform up and down we could not purge system without cracking the hydraulic pipe. It seems all is well now so I keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks to Princess for support even though boat is out of warranty..

Lozzer,

I'm having a similar problem with my 52Fly's swim platform. How did you fix the issue with air in the system on one of the rams? My platform will lower faster on one side than the other and end up tilted. In previous boats, I'd lift and lower until both sides leveled themselves (usually purging the air lines). But that doesn't seem to be working fully on my Princess.

Is any other 52/56 owner having this issue?

 

[Jiminmahon]

I have owned a P56 since 2012. (2nd one off the production line). I agree that the swim platform only just goes down far enough but it's never caused us a problem. Yes, it can hit the chocks if you're not careful, but if it went down further how could you line up the 325 accurately before raising the platform? We use the 325 all the time and have recovered it in some pretty rough seas! The problem I now have with the bathing platform is that the black stuff between the teak has become sticky and transfers itself to our feet and swimming costumes if sitting on the platform. Anyone any ideas on how to solve this problem?

 

[BartW]

I have owned a P56 since 2012. (2nd one off the production line). I agree that the swim platform only just goes down far enough but it's never caused us a problem. Yes, it can hit the chocks if you're not careful, but if it went down further how could you line up the 325 accurately before raising the platform? We use the 325 all the time and have recovered it in some pretty rough seas! The problem I now have with the bathing platform is that the black stuff between the teak has become sticky and transfers itself to our feet and swimming costumes if sitting on the platform. Anyone any ideas on how to solve this problem?

Are you sure the black stains come off from the caulking? We used to have a similar problem, but it was soot from the exhausts from the engines. Now we have new injectors on both engines, and the problem is almost gone

 

[Asm]

I have owned a P56 since 2012. (2nd one off the production line). I agree that the swim platform only just goes down far enough but it's never caused us a problem. Yes, it can hit the chocks if you're not careful, but if it went down further how could you line up the 325 accurately before raising the platform? We use the 325 all the time and have recovered it in some pretty rough seas! The problem I now have with the bathing platform is that the black stuff between the teak has become sticky and transfers itself to our feet and swimming costumes if sitting on the platform. Anyone any ideas on how to solve this problem?

 

[Asm]

I have a 2014 P56 with the same problem. Apparently it's to do with the caulking used, the 'fix' is to replace the caulking. In my case, it appears to be restricted to a small area where the factory replaced a number of teak strips. Talk to Princess, they will be supportive (As usual)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The problem I now have with the bathing platform is that the black stuff between the teak has become sticky and transfers itself to our feet and swimming costumes if sitting on the platform. Anyone any ideas on how to solve this problem?

We had that problem with an Azimut AZ46 we used to own. The caulking between the teak planks became soft and as you say it got onto peoples' feet and they stepped it onto the cream carpet in our saloon. Not nice at all. We were told it was caused by the chemical teak cleaner that the previous owner of the boat used to clean the teak cockpit deck but whether that's true or not I don't know. IMHO the only cure is to have the whole deck re-caulked. That's certainly what I did

 

[Jiminmahon]

Yes, it's definitely the caulking. If it was engine soot I'd expect it be on the teak as well. You get clearly defined lines on your legs or bathing costume if you sit on the platform only getting the black lines where the caulking is present. It only seems to be on the part of the platform that goes into the water to launch the dinghy which may be a clue....Will contact Princess and see what they say.

 

[Jiminmahon]

Thanks, that's really helpful. I'll contact Princess and see what they say. In my case the boat is out of warranty but I think you would expect the caulking to last more than 2.5 years before going sticky!

 

[Jiminmahon]

Thanks. Fortunately, nobody has got it on the carpet yet! But it does get walked all over the rest of the teak in the cockpit which then needs cleaning again. The problem seems to only be with the submersible part of the bathing platform which may be a clue. But it is only in the water while launching or recovering the dinghy. I've had the boat from new and only ever used washing up liquid lots of elbow grease to clean the teak. Sounds like it will have to be re-caulked though.