185 without swim platform

I don't think it's just bolted on, if I remember correctly my dealer informed me it was bolted and glued and that the glue was extremely strong. Wouldn't that leave holes exposed?
 
Y would u NOT want it? Just curious? Adding a SP to our boat was by far the best investment for our boat
 
It won't fit in my garage with the swim platform on! I have a check-out in the back of the garage for an engine but its not wide enough for the swim platform. :smt089

I would rather order it without it than deal with the holes left by removing it.

JB
 
James

Is this your first boat?

I live and boat in Melbourne and the Swim platform is fantastic. The family loves being able to anchor in the bay and dive/ swim from there. Also really great for sking as you can put you skis on out of the water, and not scratch the hull.
I understand it will not fit in the Garage, but try find a way of attaching a hinge to the platform or get a trailer that has a fold away draw bar. Either of these will shorten the length, but you will reduce the value of the boat with out a platform.
Even worse it will impact on you and others enjoyment of the boat.

Cheers
Mark
(ps wait for mid winter to buy as the prices are lower in Melbourne)
 
Mark RSA2AU said:
James

Is this your first boat?

I live and boat in Melbourne and the Swim platform is fantastic. The family loves being able to anchor in the bay and dive/ swim from there. Also really great for sking as you can put you skis on out of the water, and not scratch the hull.
I understand it will not fit in the Garage, but try find a way of attaching a hinge to the platform or get a trailer that has a fold away draw bar. Either of these will shorten the length, but you will reduce the value of the boat with out a platform.
Even worse it will impact on you and others enjoyment of the boat.

Cheers
Mark
(ps wait for mid winter to buy as the prices are lower in Melbourne)
Click to expand...

Hi Mark

Very good to hear from another Melburnian. Where abouts are you? We're in Mordialloc, with a boat ramp at the end of our street, so there's no excuse!

Yes, this is our first trailer boat of it's type - we've had 3 other boats that have stayed on moorings.

We like the bowrider / stern drive type boats and have so far considered and looked at -

Bayliner 180
Four Winns H180 and H180LE
Sea Ray 175 and 185
Rae-Line

All of these will need a swingaway trailer to fit in the garage, which is 5.85m long but has a check-out in the end that the engine can stick into. The problem comes with the boats that have the swim platform over the engine, which are the SeaRay 185 and the Four Winns H180. The Four Winns can be ordered without the platform, which is why I asked the question about Sea Ray as the dealer didn't know.

If I could find a way to hinge it that would be great although it would have to swing up away from the engine.

I was wondering whether waiting til the Melbourne boat show would be best, JV Marine have said they will guarantee that if their prices are lower at the show they will honour the lower price.

Any thoughts or advice about any of this would be great!

Thanks

JB
 
Does it have to be stored in the garage? I say find a way to make the platform work. I have one now and can't imagine not having one.
 
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James Bond said:
The Four Winns can be ordered without the platform, which is why I asked the question about Sea Ray as the dealer didn't know.
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Contact your dealer again and ask that they make a call to their Sea Ray Sport Boat rep. This is part of their job. If needed, kindly convey the fact that you're also considering a Four Winns and they will build the boat w/o the platform.

However, I agree with the posts above where, personally, I wouldn't order it without the platform. I would, instead, leave it outside and use a nice full cover.
 
Are you putting this in a 2-car garage or a single? If this is a 2-car garage, are you willing to let it take up the majority of the garage? I have a 2007 185 with the swim platform and the swing-away tongue. What I did was clear out the back corner of the garage and I back it in at an angle. The outdrive (lowered) will fit in the corner and because of the design of the platform (tappered in at the corners) it fits great. I can even position it where I have close to 6 feet to walk from the front to the rear of the garage on one side. I hope you can picture what I'm describing. If not, I can try to snap a picture of it in there.
 
black magic said:
Are you putting this in a 2-car garage or a single? If this is a 2-car garage, are you willing to let it take up the majority of the garage? I have a 2007 185 with the swim platform and the swing-away tongue. What I did was clear out the back corner of the garage and I back it in at an angle. The outdrive (lowered) will fit in the corner and because of the design of the platform (tappered in at the corners) it fits great. I can even position it where I have close to 6 feet to walk from the front to the rear of the garage on one side. I hope you can picture what I'm describing. If not, I can try to snap a picture of it in there.
Click to expand...

It is a 2-car garage, however negotiating with my wife for just one of the parking spaces was hard enough!!! But great idea....

I've taken on board everything about the swim platform people have said, I guess it is a option to store the boat outside, however I think boats are better kept inside if you can, also it would be a bit visible from the street, and while I live in a good area, I don't want anyone to get tempted....

Thanks for all the suggestions, going to have another chat to the dealers tomorrow.

The alternative again is to buy the 175 which will fit in with no modifications, I do prefer the 185 though.

JB
 
I just happened to notice my boat in the garage as I was leaving for work this morning and with my drive trimmed nearly all the way down and centered right to left it sticks out just as far if not a bit farther than my swim platform. BTW it's a 2007 185. Just food for thought. I'm not sure the swim platform will be you limiting factor.
 
hblock72 said:
I just happened to notice my boat in the garage as I was leaving for work this morning and with my drive trimmed nearly all the way down and centered right to left it sticks out just as far if not a bit farther than my swim platform. BTW it's a 2007 185. Just food for thought. I'm not sure the swim platform will be you limiting factor.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate - the leg can stick into a space at the back of the garage but the swim platform can't - it's too wide. Hence the reason for needing to remove the platform.

JB
 
Just another thought just because I think the swim platform is such a great addition to the boat.

Can't you leave the boat outside? You can buy a good cover that's easy to get on and off and will protect it, and you can buy a lock set for the trailer to stop that temptation. When mine is in my driveway for the winter, I not only lock the trailer, but I also park my truck in front of it when I am home.

Just a thought. But, that said, if you want it in the garage and can't have the platform, then do what you have to do if the alternative is not having a boat.
 
Rono007 said:
Just another thought just because I think the swim platform is such a great addition to the boat.

Can't you leave the boat outside? You can buy a good cover that's easy to get on and off and will protect it, and you can buy a lock set for the trailer to stop that temptation. When mine is in my driveway for the winter, I not only lock the trailer, but I also park my truck in front of it when I am home.
quote]

Heck, he mentioned that the trailer will have a swing-away tongue. Just swing it in the closed position and wrap a heavy duty chain and lock around the the two sandwiched pieces. Also, take the locking pin into the house. That will save you some driveway room and would be a real pain to get back together IF somebody wanted to try to steal it.
Click to expand...
 
When I put my 07-185 in the garage, the outdrive was defining how far back I could go, not the swim platform.
 
randmhall said:
Just my two cents, but I'd skip the little boat and keep the wife happy by letting her park in the garage, and park a 240 SunDeck in the driveway instead. http://clubsearay.com/forum/images/smilies/038.gif

Then you'd have a boat you wouldn't want to trade in for a bigger boat in a few years.
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Hey, I thought the saying was "it's not the size of the boat that matters, but how you use it"? :smt043
 
No offense intended, it is just after driving smaller boats for years and bouncing around we finally went bigger. We love the larger boat and wonder why we waited so long.

I hate compromises, so buying a boat based on garage size doesn't seem right when there are so many other storage options. I have a friend that bought a shorter boat for the same reason, added a tower, then discovered that it wouldn't go through the door with the tower (even folded down) So now he keeps it outside except for winter when the tower comes completely off.
 
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