Swim platform ideas for older Sea Ray

No... I did not mean to suggest or imply that that you need to remove the 100 screws. The way that I understood your construction, the 100 screws were used to laminate the 2 sheets together, correct? All of them are fine. Both sheets will expand or contract at exacty the same rate. There will be no additional (horizontal) forces exerted on the screws holding them together at all.

The sum total of the changes that I would have made would be to make the 6 holes where the platform sits on the braces at the back a little larger. That would be it.

You don't get the same extreme temperature swings in Florida that you would in Chicago or Maine. You might never have a problem. Tobnpr's parts were black, so they absorb more heat more quickly from the sun than white parts would. At 1/16" per 40 degrees per foot, you will see just a little over 3/32" of movement at the 20" mark, and right around an 1/8" at the 2" mark. If you get 20 degree nights in the winter and 100 degree days in the summer, that is an 80 degree swing that will cause 3/16" to 1/4" of dimensional change every 20" to 24". Further north, it is not uncommon to see sub zero in the winter and 100+ in the summer making for even more movement. The 3/4" thickness dimension change will be minimal and the combined strength of the 100 screws holding the pieces together should be sufficient to prevent any problems there.

Finally, I apologize if I offended you. I am an amateur woodworker and I have already learned a few lessons the hard way. Movement is no joke, and the forces created by it can be extreme. I stated before that I thought your platform came out really nice. I like it. I was not suggesting that you needed to start over. I was simply suggesting oversizing the 6 holes at the top attachment points of the braces to prevent them from becoming levers and amplifying the forces applied at the top of them to the bottom mounts. You could accomplish the same thing by oversizing the holes where it attaches at the front edge. Whichever is easiest. My only concern is that if everything is assembled tight, even 1/16" of movement will put something under stress. Tobnpr's pics just illustrated that fact that the forces became strong enough to cause the part to self destruct. It is pretty easy to tell that the part shrank and applied all of the force to the outside of the screw holes. The weakest part gave in. His part was also only 1/2" thick. If it was 3/4" thick, it may have been strong enough to bend the screws or rip them out of the fiberglass altogether.

I'll refrain from further comment on this thread. I was just trying to be helpful. :huh:

Michael

Edit... I previously missed where you mentioned that the holes on the fiberglass side were oversized. That alleviates my concerns. You have the necessary room for movement accounted for back there. If you say that there are only 2 that are not, and that they are easy to get to, then my advice would be to do so. I would still consider enlarging the other 6 holes at the top of the braces though because the expansion and contraction may cause a little spreading out or pulling together force between the braces. Better safe than sorry.


You're not offending me at all.We learn from lessons.I got all wide-eyed when I read this the other day and took off to the storage lot to see how things survived.We had a week of 20's and constant 100 when it was put together...lol, Not to mention I assembled my deck in an A/C'd garage(that was nice) but mounted it to the boat in upper 90's.

I can certianly run the screws out of the deck at those side mounts and just over drill the mounts a bit more.I actually wanted to use bolts/washers on those originally.They are up against the rubrail and you would hardly notice them flush on the topside.
 
I bet you can remove those side mounts entirely, and still have plenty of strength. I was going to go that route, but on my smaller boat I wasn't able to make it any wider. Plus, I wanted a more narrow platform to give me less chance of damaging it when I backed into the slip.

BTW, as the 5200 cures up I'm taking a little more liberties with the platform. My wife jumped on it the other day, while coming off the existing platform :smt013
and it still is solid as a rock. Amazing how those SS tubes give it great rigidity.
Update today.... the wife said to mention that she isn't a heavyweight, which is what I made it sound like!
 
Last edited:
I just ordered a sheet of 4' x 8' x 3/4" KingStarBoard AS (anti-skid) today. Cost $394 if I pick it up, Which I'm going to do.

I'm planning on building a bigger swimplatform for my 230 Cubdy Cabin.

I'll post pictures once I get started. I'm going to build this platform on top of the original platform and add about another 18" to it.

Wish me luck!

Jim
 
Sounds like a good idea. The 3/4" should work fine, since you're supporting it with your existing platform. As long as you go 9" on each side off the existing platform you will be OK. 18" unsupported would probably give you too much flex. So far mine has been great. Two weeks in the water and no leaks or cracks yet :smt038

BTW, if you have never worked with Starboard before, be sure to save all the scraps. You will be surprised all the uses you will have for it on the boat. I just used a piece as a backing for my flat panel TV at the bow, and with another piece I fabricated a spacer for a cabin radio speaker. It was too deep and was hitting the fiberglass shower behind it.
 
Last edited:
Oh I've worked with Starboard before. I'm a former Sea Ray employee. Worked at the Product Development & Engineering Plant in Merritt Island for 11 years. Then spent another 6 a Sea Ray Dealer here in Atlanta. I love working with Starboard!!
 
Yes, I can tell you have a long history with Sea Ray by looking at your signature. The 220 is my first Sea Ray, but the more I look at it, the more I appreciate the fine workmanship.
 
Thanks I just ordered some.

BTW - Even thou mine will be on top of my factory platfrom, I' still going to put two supports poles on it.
 
I'm sure it's a good idea..... and the added cost really won't add all that much to the job. Are you going to go the mashed ends route as I did, or go with Shore's mounts? Hopefully you have a huge vise, access to a machine shop, or a heavy sledge hammer, if you have to flatten the ends. Oh, I forgot you are using 7/8". Won't be as hard as it was for me.
 
Just thought I'd post an update, now that I've had the boat in the water for almost three months (how time flies!)

Everything has been working out great, and the platform really makes the existing platform more usable. Retrieving my r/c planes after a flight is super easy, and even easier than on my prior pontoon boat.

The 3/4" SB is plenty strong, and does not flex, although my square tube bracing probably added a lot of strength to the platform. Without the tubes might be another story.

I haven't added vents yet, but since I'm on a lake, and do very little cruising (gas is almost 4.00/gal on the lake) it's on a back burner. I am careful when slowing down, cause the following wake catches up and puts a lot of water on the platform.

If you go to this thread and scroll down halfway you can see an "action" shot, with two babes on the platform.... http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=452&page=50
 
Just thought I'd post an update, now that I've had the boat in the water for almost three months (how time flies!)

Everything has been working out great, and the platform really makes the existing platform more usable. Retrieving my r/c planes after a flight is super easy, and even easier than on my prior pontoon boat.

The 3/4" SB is plenty strong, and does not flex, although my square tube bracing probably added a lot of strength to the platform. Without the tubes might be another story.

I haven't added vents yet, but since I'm on a lake, and do very little cruising (gas is almost 4.00/gal on the lake) it's on a back burner. I am careful when slowing down, cause the following wake catches up and puts a lot of water on the platform.

If you go to this thread and scroll down halfway you can see an "action" shot, with two babes on the platform.... http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=452&page=50

Oh man that's funny, My deck is about 5" off the water with no one on it....It gets buried when coming off plane and has been fine.

I too, have yet to make vents.
 
094.jpg


097.jpg


096.jpg


117.jpg


Here's some updated photos of my platform as of 6/24/2010. (Wife and some friends of ours in the picture)
 
Last edited:
I finally took care of the venting issue. I wound up drilling 630 (to be exact) 3/8" holes. I found a web site that makes grid patterns to whatever type or size grid you need. Made it a lot easier. I first used a center punch to indent, then drilled. Have a nice blister to show for it, and a nicely vented platform. I like how the water squirts up when we get hit by some waves. Seems to be doing it's job :thumbsup:

BTW, I had to delete some photos from the thread to make room for new photos. Check this page for the deleted photos: http://dannyrussomusic.com/boat-mod-page.htm
 
OK... I have to ask... what purpose do all those holes serve and what is "venting" and "the venting issue"?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,738
Members
60,928
Latest member
rkaleda
Back
Top