Building a swimplatform

Jimmyz

Jimmyz

New Member
Jun 21, 2009
54
Suwanee,Ga.30024
Boat Info
1991 230 Cuddy Cabin
Engines
7.4L Bravo 1
I started building a bigger swimplatform for my 230 Sea Ray. I'm using 3/4" Starboard Anti-Skid. I will post pictures as I go, As soon as I figure out how to post them?
 
platform2.jpg


Before picture
 
Once I got the corner piece cut out to fit the boat I then used it to draw a pattern on a big piece of cardboard and cut it out.

platform5.jpg
 
Then I test fitted the cardborad pattern to the boat. It fit great the first time. I'll now use this pattern to cut the starborad.

platform6.jpg
 
Here's the starborad platform. I'm going to add another piece of 3/4" starboard to the bottom half of the platform that hangs out from the back of the boat. This will make that part of it 1 1/2" thick. I'll also add two stainless steel support polls to the platform. Will post more pictures when I get it finished.

platform8.jpg
 
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Looks nice.

The big question is how are you going to fasten it to the existing platform? Do you have access from inside the boat to the underside of the platform?

Keep in mind that your existing platform is cored...any bolts through it are going to present an area for water to get into the coring. Without knowing your exact setup I can't make any specific suggestions...

This is an important issue because you're always going to have water trapped between the factory platform and the Starboard you've laid on top. There's no way to caulk/seal the new platform around the edges to prevent it. Some caulks (like 4000 UV) will be effective for a while as a sealant, but the bond to the Starboard eventually fails.

Good luck with it.
 
The way my 290 is set up I could not touch the underside of the top deck from the inside.I could get to the bottom though.

You would think it would be possible but they have a stringer type piece that runs left to right that covers most of the gap and prevents entry into the deck for your hands for the most part.

I'm curious as to how he plans to secure it also.
 
I'm going to thru bolt it. Using (4) #12 s.s. bolt, nut's, and washers. Yes I can access the orginal platform from the inside on the boat.

I'll use 5200 in and around the bolt holes.

As far as water get between the orginal platform and the added platform. I sure it will. but it won't matter if it does. The holes will be sealed up just fine.
 
Hey, it looks great! I guess you didn't want to go the bi-level route. It looks like the 230 platform is pretty much the same as the 220, so you had a choice there.

Looks like the edge still needs to be routed. My neighbor thought it snowed when he saw the Starboard flakes on the ground after routing.

Looks like you will be done in no time.

Will you add any bracing, other that the two stainless tubes? How far off the existing platform is it? If no additional bracing, I'm wondering if you should go with 4 braces, to reduce flexing???

Had mine out today, and it is close to the water, but moves away when up on plane. My dogs will enjoy it though, since they like to jump in to retrieve anything that might be floating in the water, and they won't have to jump very far to hit the water.
 
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I didn't want to have a bi-level platform. I know this one will be alittle higher up from the water then the bi-level ones, But that's not a big deal to me. Yes I'm planning on routing the edges. That picture this right after I cut it out. I might even add rub rail too the edge of it.

As far as using 4 braces, I'll see how it is with the extra piece of starboard bolted to the bottom of it with just two support poles first.

As you can probably tell by now. I plan as I go. LOL! All this could change once I start bolting it in place.
 
Trim in teak, add some teak vents, contoured with the boats lines (or outside edge of your platform).

You could bend some teak and add where the platform butts up to the boat.. for greater strength..

Just some ideas, great project, looking forward to the results...
 
Yes, the added Starboard below will really beef it up. I didn't know you were adding that extra support. Taco Marine has a nice rub rail that would work perfectly for 1" Starboard, but none for 3/4". They sent me a sample and it would have been perfect, if I had used 1" SB. Another problem is that Taco no longer sells this rub rail in 12 foot lengths. It's only available in 50 feet lengths, I believe....and it ain't cheap. With the hassle I had backing into my slip today I'm thinking that rub rail would have really come in handy. No damage yet to the platform, but on a windy day watch-out :smt013
 
Believe me.... you can't. The person at Taco should have told me that when he sent the sample. It's definitely discontinued in the 12 foot length, and no one has it in old stock. I tried a slew of places, but you might get lucky and find one. I wound up ordering a 50' length from Defender in CT, right before I found out that I wouldn't be able to get the 1" SB. Had to eat the shipping for the return.... luckily for only one way.

BTW, are you thinking of using the 1" rub rail on the 3/4" SB? It will work, but will overhang the bottom edge by 1/4". And the predrilled holes won't hit the 3/4" SB dead center.
 
No, I was looking for the white flexible vinyl, with white insert. It would have looked great on the 1" SB. As stated on the link below, it's no longer available in 12.5 foot lengths. I ordered the 50 foot length with intentions of selling what I didn't use on Ebay. Cancelled when I couldn't get the 1" SB. It would have looked great on the platform, and would have given good protection when backing into my slip.

Here's the link that describes it: http://shop.torresen.com/ships_store/index.php?p=details&ident=162760&mfc=TACO&sku=V113447WWK122&prod_name=TACO+FLEXIBLE+RUB+RAIL+KIT12.5%27+LENGTH+FOR+SWIM+PLATFORMS&sectionid=10464&imgsize=large
 
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