making a bigger swim platform

I contacted them almost 1300 bucks. With the alum frame and supports and the composite deck boards it's under 400 bucks plus it will be one of kind. Also way lighter.
 
1300 seems like a pretty good price from those guys, mine was gonna be over 2,000. I am liking your idea of using starboard with some aluminum under it to stiffen it up. Keep us posted
 
I can get a good deal on 1 inch 1/8th thick 304 ss square tubing. I don't boat in saltwater. Just the cheseapeke which is mainly brackish. And that's only 3 to 5 times a year. Would that be strong enough for the under laying frame?
 
lime4x4 said:
I can get a good deal on 1 inch 1/8th thick 304 ss square tubing. I don't boat in saltwater. Just the cheseapeke which is mainly brackish. And that's only 3 to 5 times a year. Would that be strong enough for the under laying frame?
Click to expand...

Can you get your hands on a piece? Set it between two bricks in your driveway and stand on it. Vary the distance between the bricks. I don't know - just throwing out an idea.
 
Good idea Dennis. I tried that tonight with a peice of regular steele and it supports my weight. And i weigh around 230. I can weld ss just not setup to weld alum properly. I probably could get away with 1/16 inch wall but i'd rather go a little heavier.
tmsrb thanks for the link i'll contact them and c what they would charge
 
If you cut the pieces and take them to a welder, they can do it fairly cheap. I helped a buddy build some aluminum frames to hold stage lighting a couple of years ago, and the welding shop did all 3 in about an hour and a half. I believe he paid about $150 to get it done. There were about 12 welds on each frame. Some of the square aluminum was 1 1/2", and the rest was 1". Just make sure that all of your cuts are clean (deburred, filed smooth, and cut with the correct angles) and that everything can be easily clamped together before taking them to the shop.
 
Using composite deck boards is an interesting idea, just keep in mind that they get HOT in the summer sun- no bare feet...

If you decide to use Starboard, be aware of it's limitations.
In longer lengths, the expansion/contraction properties of the material can be problematic. I know, I didn't take it into account on a couple of my own projects and I've got some bent screws and busted-off corners to show for it.

Starboard expands/contracts approximately 1/32" for every foot of length or width, for every 40 degrees of temperature change. So, if you build something in the summer at a temp of 90 degrees, and your winter temp drops to 10 degrees- an 8' length will contract a full 1/2". As I said above- I've had it bend ss screws and tear them right outta the fiberglass.

I wouldn't use it for a full-sheet project like a swim platform.
 
Just wondering what all of you are doing on your swim platforms that requires all that acreage? I boat in coastal water so haveing all that "whale tail" back there would be a problem for me in a following sea, not to mention at my slip. I mainly use mine as a boarding platform and as access for cleaning the transom, oh and to get back in the boat after swimming.
 
My current platform is starting to show signs of delamination. I want to move my grill to the swim platform. The main reason i want it a little bigger is the wife worries that the kids when they jump off the swim platform there going to hit the out drive. My current platform only covers about half of it. So i thought if i was replacing it any ways i might as well make it bigger
 
tmsrb said:
You can also look at www.mountainmarine.com . I bought one this year and I couldnt be happier. They are A little cheaper than www.swimplatforms.com
Click to expand...

at quick glance of the only SR platform on thier site I think it looks TOO aftermarket. I also do not like the boarding ladder hatch, is that plastic?
The molding seems also out of place.
Swimplatforms.com are much more factory in apperance, and they make a really nice product.

Im not knocking the mountain marine one, but I just feel it does not flow as well, that being considered how much cheaper was it?
 
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