Swim Platform & Brackets

[Maynard Rupp]

Our '86 36C came to us with a wood swim platform and aluminum square tubing brackets. The boat spent its life to know in fresh water, yet we still have some corrosion on the aluminum brackets. Now the boat is in Miami and those brackets are trying to return to sea water. I think the boat came from Hatteras with this platform as the ground wires on the inside of the mounting bolts appear to be true Hatteras. I notice that Sams offers a stainless bracket. Not cheap and I am not sure they will fit. Can I grind the corrosion and coat it with something like zinc chromate primer, then bottom paint it? The wood finish, which is Armada, also dislikes the Miami water. What can I do?

 

[Karl]

In Fort Lauderdale there's a marine store called Sailorman that sells both new and used things for boats. They have an extensive yard full of all kinds of exterior boat stuff and might have what you're looking for. Your should call before you go there; ask for the used parts guy. He's busy so you may be on hold for a few minutes, but it might be worth it.

www.sailorman.com
350 East State Rd 84
Fort Lauderdale
954-522-6716

 

[Maynard Rupp]

In Fort Lauderdale there's a marine store called Sailorman that sells both new and used things for boats. They have an extensive yard full of all kinds of exterior boat stuff and might have what you're looking for. Your should call before you go there; ask for the used parts guy. He's busy so you may be on hold for a few minutes, but it might be worth it.

www.sailorman.com
350 East State Rd 84
Fort Lauderdale
954-522-6716

Thanks, I will surely look there.

 

[ohiohatteras]

I bought a new fiberglass swim platform from a place called Beachcomber in Stuart....They also had very nice custom stainless steel brackets that I bought seperately....but I don't remember how expensive they were???
Anyway...here's the link...it's prolly worth a call!

http://www.beachfiber.com/marineproducts.html

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Maynard,
I removed my OEM bronze brackets last year and had my shop make new ones out of stainless channel. The only reason I changed was that the original brackets were bent down a little. I think the PO must have backed into something, but I see no evidence of that on the swim platform itself. Anyway, while I was still researching this and before I ordered my stainless, I talked to Tom Slane. He offered to make up the brackets for me and actually even e-mailed pictures of his brackets so I could see what I would be getting.

If you decide new brackets are the way to go, give Tom a call.

 

[Akyla]

Maynard,
If your platform is attached with brackets on the stern and square tubing holding the platform up, the fix is easy. I did it the first year I owned the boat. Go to any steel supply house that carries stainless and get some square stainless tubing and just remake the square platform struts. All you need to do is chop the tubing at the right length and angle using the old corroded aluminum support tubes as your guide and drill some holes for the cross bolts. You could even use some teak or other strong wood as replacement support members if you really wanted to as I have seen other platforms supported that way. If you need to make new brackets to bolt to the transom mine are just stainless plate bent into a "U" very simple to make with a good vise or bending brake.

 

[captadamr]

Hey Maynard I'll send you a PM if we remove that aluminium one off the back of our 36, stil trying to decide if its gonna stay or go.