Dingy on a 560

[Jackie J V]

Hi to all,
I'm look for input from fellow 560 owners on what dingy they use, and how their boat handles with the dingy on the swim platform.

I have a Caribe DL12 centre console which weigh around 760 pounds - pretty much at the max of the recommended weight on the platform.

It seems that the swim platform is pretty close to the water while underway, and may even be dragging water a little under certain circumstances. Also, while on plane, spray off the hull splashes back on the outboard. I don't like this prospect as it seems like an accident waiting to happen.

I've made a few adjustments to the positioning of the dingy to make the engine a little less exposed, however it still makes me a little nervous that this could cause problems in big water.

I'd appreciate your input.

Paul

 

[earthmover17]

I have a 11' novurania with a 25 hsp yamaha. It seems to work pretty well. I ended up raising my platform 4" with aluminum square tube. I got sick of mine dragging in the water. My platform functions a lot better since I raised it.
Jack

 

[Jackie J V]

Thanks Jack,
How did you raise the platform? Did the square aluminum tube act like a spacer on lifts below the platform?

Paul

 

[earthmover17]

Thanks Jack,
How did you raise the platform? Did the square aluminum tube act like a spacer on lifts below the platform?

Paul

Paul,
Thats exactly how I did it.
I got 2 4" by 2.5" aluminum square tube which I placed on the original aluminum brackets. I took out the old bolts and one side at a time I lifted the platform and fitted in the square tube. Once I got both sides aligned the way I wanted them I drilled through the original holes and bolted everything up. Works 100% better than it did. I truly believe Sea Ray missed it on these platforms as they were mounted too low.
Jack

 

[Jackie J V]

Thanks Jack. That sounds like a great solution. The swim platform definitely seems to be too close to the water. I'll probably do that in the off season when she's hauled out of the water.

Paul

 

[Jackie J V]

OK. Boat has been hauled so time to turn my attention to the swim platform mods. Three question areas:

1. Jack - when you inserted the 2.5" x 4" square aluminum tube, did it raise the platform 2.5" or 4" (i.e., which way did you insert the tube)? How long ago did you make this change? Any issues with cracking of the tube?

2. Have a look at this picture (of the underside of my swim platform):

The circled part appears to be simply a strip of cosmetic fibreglas trim. Unfortunately, it is designed to be a perfect scoop if the platform were in the dragging water. Given its dysfunctional design, I am going to remove. Am I missing something?

3. When the dingy is loaded on the platform, the plaform droops a little. The hydraulics raise it to a level position, however after its done raising, the outer edge drops a little (an inch maybe). Is there something I can adjust to address, or is just the way it is?

 

[earthmover17]

Paul,
Mines been in over a year and no issues. I raised mine 4" but upon retrospect I may have gone a little higher. I would use at LEAST 1/4" Material.
Can't advise you on the trim piece but I see what you are saying about the cupping at the bottom of it.
As for the droop on the platform. I don't understand what parts drooping.

Jack

 

[Mr Salt]

OK.3. When the dingy is loaded on the platform, the plaform droops a little. The hydraulics raise it to a level position, however after its done raising, the outer edge drops a little (an inch maybe). Is there something I can adjust to address, or is just the way it is?

There are hooks on my TNT platform that grab onto the lift when it is fully raised. Those hooks should prevent the lift from dropping.:huh:

 

[Jackie J V]

Thanks for the responses guys. The only way to describe "the droop" properly is with pictures. Here is the swim platform without load (I've added the red lines to make it clearer):

And here is the swimplatform underload (with the dingy on the swim platform):

When I raise the swim platform with the dingy on top, the platform stays level as long as the hydraulics are running, and then it "droops" a little (Maybe I need boat Viagra - I can get it up, it just droops a little :smt100).

Mr. Salt, I also have hooks that fasten when lifted (my guess is we have the same OEM platform).

I thought that perhaps the hydraulic lift systems was low on fluid - but checked that and topped it off. No change.

I'm wondering if there's some adjustment that I need to consider. There doesn't appear to be anything mechanical around the hooks. There is a large adjustment bolt running through the lift supports - maybe that is relevant.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Four Suns]

That's a GHS lift and not a TNT lift..

Mine does not droop like that.... I would call the guys at Florida Bow Thrusters (they make the lift) and show them your pictures. I bet something is wrong with the scissors connections...

 

[Jackie J V]

Thanks Gary,
I'll try calling. Just curious. How could you tell the manufacturer from the limited photos?

 

[Carver370]

Just a thought.... how many other 560's are out there just like this that are perfectly fine with the platform that low? I personally love how it looks with it so low to the water like that, but at the same time I can see your concern with it digging in.

I would get the drooping issue fixed and leave it alone.

I'll leave you with a nice video of a 560 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPYOQq-b6OM

 

[Riptide III]

If I had a 560 I think I would use a 270 for a dingy!:smt001

 

[Four Suns]

Thanks Gary,
I'll try calling. Just curious. How could you tell the manufacturer from the limited photos?

The TNT lift has something like 6 hydraulic rams under the platform. The GHS lift has a single ram on each scissor arm... it looks like you have the single ram in the picture of that one arm.

 

[earthmover17]

Gary,
How far off the water is your lift.

Jack

 

[Four Suns]

Around 2001, Sea Ray raised the mounting location of the hydraulic lift on the 480DB. It was in a similar location as yours from 1999-2001 or so and then it was raised about 6-8" to be level with the deck where the transom door is located.

and

If you look at an older 480 DB, the platform is lower and it can not be easily raised because they put the outlet for the Glendenning Cablemaster down too low....

It appears the 560 DB has a lower mounting position like the older 480 DB had... I'm assuming it was raised because it was dragging the water. I don't have that issue...

 

[Four Suns]

Here's a picture of an older 480 DB... You can see how much further down the platform was mounted compared to mine.

 

[earthmover17]

That is exactly where ours is in the second picture. Your Boat looks as it should be. I am going to raise mine even further to about where yours is.
I can't believe SR put these boats out with the platform that low. When under way from the bridge it looks ridiculous.
I would take pics and show them but after several attempts at trying I am not smart enough to do so.
Also did you notice in the second picture how he took care of his leak down problem?

Jack

 

[Jackie J V]

You can feel the swim platform drag on mine under certain conditions (going 10 to 15 mph). Certainly having the platform as high as Gary's would be ideal. Also would make sure it's up out of the waves if your contending with bigger seas.

I'm going to do a couple of things:
1. Figure out why the platform droops a little. I think it's gotta be an adjustment of some sort and will call the manufacturer to discuss. Otherwise, swim platform works great. Also, it doesn't droop unless its under the full load of my dingy (about 760 lbs - near the capacity of the swim platform).
2. Raise the platform about 4" using square tubing. I haven't decided if I'll use Aluminum per Jack's solution or upsize to stainless like the brackets themselves. Weight is a consideration.
3. Get rid of the stupid fibreglas trim/scoop on the bottom of the swim platform.

I don't think I could raise the platform more than 4" as then it wouldn't drop down enough to get the dingy onboard. I've already installed raised chocks custom manufactured for the dingy.

I think those three mods will make things substantially better. Thankfully, I didn't encounter any real issues this summer even though I racked up about 120 hrs (mostly with the dingy onboard) and did some pretty big trips - unfortunately in some pretty crappy conditions (wasn't a great summer around these parts).

 

[Four Suns]

I've still had waves come up over the back corner of the boat into the cockpit... fishing in the winter around here is like white water rafting at times.