Hydraulic Swim Platforms by Florida Bow Thruster

You guys are right. The prices seem really out-landish for such an accessory, especially when some Sea Rays are available in that price range. We have two guys in our local area with them. One is on a 420, and another on a 50 or 52. The guy with the 420 uses it frequently - he carries a super-charged (70mph) jet ski around. Also, he has small kids so it helps bring the stern to the beach.

The other guy with the 50 uses it as a toy. It's really great. He brings friends out on the boat, backs up to the beach, lines them up on the platform, then lowers them back toward the beach in the shallower water. When someone wants another beer, he uses the platform as a "transporter" to get all the way up to the boat for a cold one.

I like the idea of putting the dink on the bow. I'll be doing that for my next trip (70 miles to Apalachicola for the Sea Food Festival in a couple of weeks). The marina is almost a mile from the heart of town, and the dink is the way to go!
 
I can't imagine the structural mods necessary to mount a crane on the bow of a Sea Ray. When you look at boats like Viking and Hatteras convertibles that have bow mounted cranes, the structure on the deck and below was designed for this mount. Some of them have a 10" diameter mast that goes down through the boat to handle the load. Just a back of the envelope calculation shows that if you dangle a 400 pound RIB dinghy out 8 feet horizontally from the crane base to launch it and have a 1 foot flat mounting base bolted on, you'll have have incredible forces on the deck structure.
 
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Gary,

I've seen one added after the boat was delivered and it usually costs you one of your floor to ceiling hanging lockers and then you end up with one giant trippping hazzard on the forward deck.

John,

Think folding bicycles for Apalachicola............we use them when we travel and I love the flexibility and freedom they give you.
 
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Frank,

I love the idea, but it would take a while for me to make that happen. I'd have to research, price, shop, then low-ball.... The first time we stayed in Apalach, we stayed at a B/B with Bicycles. We rode all over. It was great. I love bicycling. Bicycling at cruising destinations is pretty close to heaven.

Any quick ideas?
 
I'm talking about a rail mounted "crane" or davit with a block and tackle system to help with the lifting. Not one of those big hydraulic jobs you see on trawlers or motor yachts. Forespar, Kato Marine, Ocean Marine Systems each make something that looks like it would work on my boat. The bottom of the thing mounts to the deck and also attaches to the top of the rail with a rail mounting gadget.

I can't afford to give up a hanging locker. Where would I hang my spiffy yacht club blazer?
 
John,

That one is easy........but not by next week. Dahon bikes are the best......very popular with RV and folks who fly. I bought mine on ebay for $75 ea. They are old but very servicable after I put new tires on them.

Also, I have a pair of gasoline powered scooters I'm going to sell. They are a cross between a folding bike and an old time push scooter. They have 16" bike wheels/tires and a 4 stroke Subaru/Robin pull start engine. Very quite,will run about 35 mph, and the only time we took them to Apalach, we rode them for 4 days and used about a quart of fuel. they are hard to describe, but they are really cool. If you have any interest, I'll be in town about Tuesday. PM me and we'll set something up where you can see them.
 
Hampton,

I test drove a Montague folding bike last weekend at West Marine. I weigh about 250 pounds and I was expecting it to buckle under that great strain ;) It did not. It actually rode and felt just like a mountain bike. It doesn't fold as compactly as the small Dahon, but it sure felt better underneath me. Just something you might want to consider.
 
So i direct this question to the guys with the sealift. With only a stern tie how do u get to the dock. Ur going to be at least 4 feet off the dock and with any size dink on the lift I see no exit with out a ramp. Help me out as i need a plan B after a 33 grand quote on the swim lift.

Rob
 
If you install the Sea Thrust unit, you will have access to your swim platform (at least 50% of it) and rear access door. I am attaching a photo and, while it is not great, it does show you how serviceable the transom is. Note, that the 480 DB has a smallish swim platform.

Bill
 

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Frank,

I've got a lot on my plate right now, but I'll see if I can find a little time. Picture these two sights: Wife, all cleaned up and dressed for dinner flying down the street with her hair blowing behind her (with her dress). Self, eyes mostly closed and walking with legs 3 feet apart for stability, trying to pull start two of those things and then make my way safely back to the boat. A cab sounds safer at night, and a folding bike provides more exercise during the day. That doesn't mean I won't give 'em a try, though.
 
This lift was featured in fall issue Sea Ray Life, the owner's magazine. I spoke with one of the representatives and he says that there is a lot of interest in this model. They are suggesting that the unit under discussion is good for the the DB boats and that they have a new platform design that will suit other models.

Bill
 
Bill,
With no finger how do u get off ur boat with out a ramp? If somone has a large dink and the dink is still on the lft when u pull into a slip , the ramp will need to span the dink . Just alot unknown variable.... Wish I had Garys money....

Rob
 
Bill Gillespie said:
This lift was featured in fall issue Sea Ray Life, the owner's magazine. I spoke with one of the representatives and he says that there is a lot of interest in this model. They are suggesting that the unit under discussion is good for the the DB boats and that they have a new platform design that will suit other models.

Bill
Click to expand...
I spoke to the Sea Lift guy today. The "platform" model looks like it will be a good choice for anything like a recent mid-40s DA or DB with an integrated platform. They are installing one on a 44DA this week and he will be sending me pics. From what I'm seeing in the CAD drawings he sent me this could be a good choice for us 44DB types. The platform is way smaller than the traditional platform lift, plus it has automatically retracting chocks. The big plus on the platform (versus the cradle) is the lack of a toe mangling (or worse) bunch of hardware hanging around where my kids swim. I'm looking forward to seeing this in the flesh.
 
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Yep, the drawings look good, but I want to see photos, if not the actual installation, before seriously considering it.

The Sea Lift guy told me he'd send photos, too. Looking forward to seeing them. I'll post them if I'm the first to get them.
 
Rob:

We have our boat in a 50 foot berth and tie it up forward into the slip with a little bow overhang onto the dock. The tender is a 12 foot RIB but does not block all of the swim platform. The rear lazarette is accessible and opens without a problem. I have it tied up so that there is 18 inches between the dock and the swim platform.

Bill
 
Here is a picture of the first SeaLift Platform just installed on a 44DA. Looks very nice to me. Notice how the chocks recess into the platform nicely. This happens automatically although I'm not sure exactly when that occurs in the process. Anyway this is definitely something worth considering...

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