New swim platform

[Scarlett]

I think this may have been discussed in a previous post but I can not find it. We are making a bigger swim step and are going to make new brackets. I know the brackets are screwed into a plate glassed into the hull. Does any one know if the screws for the brackets go through the plate or just into it? Can I remove a bracket in the water or will I end up with a leak to the inside of the boat from the screw hole? Thanks, John

 

[Glory]

Removing the brackets in the water, even if you don't wind up with a leak, do you really want water to get into that cavity where the bolt goes?

 

[Boatsb]

Why even try to do it in the water. Pull the boat and block it. Remove the old. Modify as needed to Install the new.

 

[Scarlett]

The reason for doing in water is they want an old bracket as a sample to make the new brackets, just thought I could give them more time if we were not out of the water at hundreds of dollars a day for lay days, but that is probably what we are going to have to do, no big thing, it's only money and who wants to leave that to my kids anyway, John. Thanks all for input

 

[Toolsntoys]

On mine there is def a few bolt that go all the way through the hull to the inside. I wouldn't try to to it in the water.

 

[Toolsntoys]

I looked through some of my photos and found these two that show the bolts. I'm not sure if they are oem or not sorry the pics aren't that clear

 

[bobk]

My 1981 48MY has a combination of fasteners. Those that are accessible are through bolts with washers and nuts, but two screw into the aft end of stringers and these are SS lag bolts which are still tight after all these years (but may not be OEM). BTW, I found serious corrosion on the brackets a couple of years after I bought the boat, so added zincs to the brackets and bonded them to the ships system. Problem solved.

Bobk

 

[Triskele]

On my '81 43DCMY, swim platform bolts fasten through the hull. (See pic...bolt next to hose with zip tie attached). Not sure why yours would be different. Don't think you want to remove in water. If you can do it, wait til you have other work (bottom job) that requires haul out and and have done then. Also, at time of haul out, may want to look into rebedding any galvanic strap bolts attached to swim platform as well as platform bolts. These are susceptible to leaking at some point as evidenced by my pic.

 

[Scarlett]

Thanks everyone decision made will haul and have new brackets made while doing a bottom job. John

 

[bigbill]

do you have any tanks across the transom? on my 58yf there is only 1 inch of clearance between the inside of the transom and the water tank across the back of the boat. BE CAREFUL if drilling, tapping, or using long bolts

 

[Toolsntoys]

John. What are you plans for the new swim platform? Are you building it yourself? I've measured mine and it's 32 ". I've read here others have extending to 42". I would like to extend mine also.

 

[lake of the woods]

My Boat has a 5 foot (60 inch) swim platform that was made by the previous owner out of fiberglass. He designed two large waterproof storage bins into the floor which I now use for holding garbage and recycling. Although I still have my origional boarding ladder (a bit of a pain) with 60" you could easily make spiral stairs to fit on the platform as well for easier boarding.

Mark
Lake of the Woods
1989 40 DC

 

[Scarlett]

Or current platform is about 28 inches and we are adding 2 feet to it and raising it up a little. I decided to add to the existing wood platform and also adding a laminated piece around the sides to make it wider also. Going to start construction mid Feb. after our next club cruise. I will take pictures and post. John

 

[johnjen50]

John, please do document your project. I have been thinking of the same thing and agree that deeper would be much better. Ive read that you need to watch how the platform interacts with the water when you are at cruise speed, as it may drag. I'm very interested to see your project. Thanks!

 

[Wilson]

I just added a new Platform to my 58 MY. There is a metal plate molded into the transom which the old platform used to secure the brackets. Although, I believe this plate was used as a grounding bond for the brackets. It appeared to be bronze.. I had new better brackets made, and wanted to thru bolt where possible. On the 58 My the water tank is mounted along the transom, so I was only able to get thru bolt backing plates on 4 of the 5 brackets. The center brackets I used 1/2 in SS lag bolts.

There were 4 screws in the old brackets, 2 of which were below the water line. The transom varied in thickness, but was only 1/1/2- 2 in thick, so these lower lag bolts did penetrate the inside of the transom. I have drawings of the brackets I made up if interested..The old brackets were 12 degrees, I made the new ones 8 degrees to better match our hull. It looks great..

 

[Scarlett]

Changed my mind and now making a fiberglass platform at a place in Arizona called Swim Platforms Inc. It will be 4 feet deep with cutouts for water flow. Comes complete with new brackets for $4495.00. I saw one on a member here who now has a 57 tollycraft and it looks great. I will post pictures when I get it. John

 

[SEVEN]

Please do. The price seems fair.

 

[hoop1013]

I just added a new Platform to my 58 MY. There is a metal plate molded into the transom which the old platform used to secure the brackets. Although, I believe this plate was used as a grounding bond for the brackets. It appeared to be bronze.. I had new better brackets made, and wanted to thru bolt where possible. On the 58 My the water tank is mounted along the transom, so I was only able to get thru bolt backing plates on 4 of the 5 brackets. The center brackets I used 1/2 in SS lag bolts.

There were 4 screws in the old brackets, 2 of which were below the water line. The transom varied in thickness, but was only 1/1/2- 2 in thick, so these lower lag bolts did penetrate the inside of the transom. I have drawings of the brackets I made up if interested..The old brackets were 12 degrees, I made the new ones 8 degrees to better match our hull. It looks great..

Any photos ?