teak swim platform

billnpat said:
What are those blow holes for anyway???:huh:
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Decoration... or to provide some small amount of drainage from the topside of the platform and prevent puddling/slipping.

They are not there to relieve any "water pressure" from the bottom. Well... if they are they aren't going to relieve any water pressure. The open area of those inserts is insignificant to channel a wave or something to relieve the hydraulic pressure. I've also heard people say they are there to "let the air out" which I'm not even sure why that is important...

Additionally, those inserts are held in with small stainless wood screws from the underside and if you get a wave or water hitting the bottom of the platform, you can knock them out and lose them. I've had to replace a few. They should also be inspected from time to time for loose fitting and be repaired as needed.
 
Most all have grate inserts in a swim platform. Do you have any pics of yours ??
 
Wayne's World said:
You are full of crap on this one. :smt021
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No I'm not.

Think of a tsunami wave hitting a house at the beach. You going to tell me if they open the windows and doors to the house that it would still be standing?

I do know a little about fluid dynamics. Those holes and inserts on a swim platform are not going to relieve any meaningful pressure from water hitting the bottom.
 
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In addition to the obvious aesthetic and topside drainage, the way I understood it, those holes serve two purposes:

1) Upon acceleration, it could be possible for the underside of the platform to retain water. It would prevent (or at least make it harder) planing as the back of the boat is now heavier. The holes would prevent water from being retained. I'm sure there is a point where they are not as effective.

Think of it this way: Take a disposable cup and, at an angle, push it under the water. Now, turn it straight and lift it up. The cup is noticeably heavier as it now contains water. Next, poke a "Sea Ray Emblem" hole in the bottom of the cup and repeat the experiment. The water drains out of the cup as you lift it. Again, I don't doubt there becomes a point when those holes can only release so much at a time. But, in any case, it does help.

2) With a platform that sits very low to the water, it's possible for waves to make a thumping sound under there (would be very annoying while sleeping). It would make a reverberating-type sound throughout the boat. The holes help to dissipate that sound and make it less annoying. Like above, I'm sure it's a case of "it makes it better, but doesn't completely eliminate the problem".
 
Thanks Dennis :smt001, So i'm not retarded on this way of thinking. :smt038.
Those holes and inserts on a swim platform are not going to relieve any meaningful pressure from water hitting the bottom.
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You lost your mind on that. :smt021
 
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Dennis' explanations do not hold water. Pun intended. These types of explanations are rationalizations and somehow become "fact" when they are really silly "wive's tales".
 
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Well then !!. Seal yours off and we'll see what happens. :huh:
 
Four Suns said:
Dennis' explanation does not hold water. Pun intended. These types of explanations are rationalizations and somehow become "fact" when they are really silly "wive's tales".
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So should i make two holes in the carpet to expose the holes or just use the carpet when moored???
 
billnpat said:
So should i make two holes in the carpet to expose the holes or just use the carpet when moored???
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Well.. The carpet is always going to be wet if you leave it on there underway. Exposing the holes is going to provide you with holy looking carpet. If you do cover the holes with carpet underway, you do run the risk of water coming up from the bottom and then lifting and losing the carpet. If you do plan on leaving it down underway, you should probably expose the holes so the carpet doesn't lift up. However, my platform gets 3-4 inches of water washing over it if I come off plane too fast and if I had carpet back there, holes or not, it would be history. Covering the holes with a snap-in type of carpet is not going to do didly with regards to how your boat performs or possible damage due to "water pressure."

So between the carpet always being wet and the risk of losing it, I would just put it down when docked or anchored. I've seen a few boats with carpet on the platform and they roll it up and put it in the aft locker while underway and take it out when they dock/anchor.
 
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Four Suns said:
Well.. The carpet is always going to be wet if you leave it on there underway. Exposing the holes is going to provide you with holy looking carpet. If you do cover the holes with carpet underway, you do run the risk of water coming up from the bottom and then losing the carpet. If you do plan on leaving it down underway, you should probably expose the holes so the carpet doesn't lift up. However, my platform gets 3-4 inches of water washing over it if I come off plane too fast and if I had carpet back there, holes or not, it would be history. Covering the holes with a snap-in type of carpet is not going to do didly with regards to how your boat performs or possible damage due to "water pressure."

So between the carpet always being wet and the risk of losing it, I would just put it down when docked or anchored. I've seen a few boats with carpet on the platform and they roll it up and put it in the aft locker while underway and take it out when they dock/anchor.
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DONE......:thumbsup:
 
You may want to look at this (scroll to the bottom of it):

http://www.snapincarpet.com/our_work.cfm

I think putting holes in that would ruin the look...

Someone may want to call the owner of that company and tell him his swim platform carpets are destroying the structure of swim platforms and ruining boat performance.
 
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billnpat said:
I agree....i'll just take it up....when im boating....

Thanks....:smt001
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After washing or running my boat, I always dry off the platform before throwing the carpet on. Those Shure Hold chamois type mops work great for this.

I have no snaps on mine as I like a clean smooth deck for the swimmers. Stepping on a snap with bare feet is not the greatest thing. If I was to do it, I would just put the snaps on the sides and at the back near the transom locker. That way people can sit and hang their legs in the water without sitting on a snap, if the carpet is off.

That is why mine is only on when at the dock and it stays on the dock. It primarily keeps the spider poop off and provides a little safer step when boarding, especially for dogs.
 
Uplate said:
After washing or running my boat, I always dry off the platform before throwing the carpet on. Those Shure Hold chamois type mops work great for this.

I have no snaps on mine as I like a clean smooth deck for the swimmers. Stepping on a snap with bare feet is not the greatest thing. If I was to do it, I would just put the snaps on the sides and at the back near the transom locker. That way people can sit and hang their legs in the water without sitting on a snap, if the carpet is off.

That is why mine is only on when at the dock and it stays on the dock. It primarily keeps the spider poop off and provides a little safer step when boarding, especially for dogs.
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Not trying to hijack the thread, but what the heck do you mean about spider poop? And what do spiders have to do with boats?

Henry
 
Henry Boyd said:
Not trying to hijack the thread, but what the heck do you mean about spider poop? And what do spiders have to do with boats?

Henry
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Oh my.. You have no idea how our boats in covered slips get pelted by spider poop during the summer. It might be a Southern thing, but it can be hell to keep your boat clean even when well waxed. My carpets primary use is to keep it out of the non skid swim platform. Others use snap on covers for their bow as well.

It is the only downfall to having a covered slip in our area anyway. Be thankful you do not know about it! It has a lot to do with boats here and is always a popular (cussing the damn things) subject at that dock.

We sometimes see owners putting in large tarps just under the roof to fight it. Most marinas do not allow it as they eventually blow away and cause headaches for others.

If you do not stay up with it, they can also migrate into your cabin. Nothing worse than seeing a spider web inside. Several of us spray the roof of our slips with Natural soap, which seems to kill them and is environmentally friendly to the lake.
 
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