- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
That was on the list as it was available locally, but it was a topside paint. I wont be ready to paint for a day or two anyway.
Painting the underside of a swim platform?
- Thread starter dtfeld
- Start date
That was on the list as it was available locally, but it was a topside paint. I wont be ready to paint for a day or two anyway.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
Guardian angel must have been looking over my shoulder. While prepping the underside of the swim platform, 2 bolts literally popped off at the nut when I barely hit them with a sander.
Add to the list of things to replace and re-bed all the bolts on the swim platform. Other than a real sh**ty finish on the underside of the platform, everything looks solid, and no leaking past the bolts.
Add to the list of things to replace and re-bed all the bolts on the swim platform. Other than a real sh**ty finish on the underside of the platform, everything looks solid, and no leaking past the bolts.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
That sucked…all new Stainless hardware installed with 5200. Those damn things were buried in all the wrong hard to get to spots in the back of the bilge.
I used a shouldered bolt this time and the threads are now on the inside of the boat. Hopefully this delays/protects from corrosion in the bottom of the threads, as all the bolts that were easily snapped off corroded from the base of the threads.
The prep work was a never ending hassle with about 8 hours with various sanders scrapers and various other tool. As soon as I thought I had solid gel coat feathered, it would lift an edge again. I cleaned it up as best I could, and had at it with the TotalBoat bilge paint.
It looks pretty good, but time will tell how long it will last. As I was painting, the paint would occasionally pull another edge of gel coat (or whatever coating the OEM used) up. What a PITA. I think it did a fairly good job of sealing everything up.
It’s certainly better than when I started.
I think the only way to do this right would be to pull it off and have the bottom blasted, then paint.
I used a shouldered bolt this time and the threads are now on the inside of the boat. Hopefully this delays/protects from corrosion in the bottom of the threads, as all the bolts that were easily snapped off corroded from the base of the threads.
The prep work was a never ending hassle with about 8 hours with various sanders scrapers and various other tool. As soon as I thought I had solid gel coat feathered, it would lift an edge again. I cleaned it up as best I could, and had at it with the TotalBoat bilge paint.
It looks pretty good, but time will tell how long it will last. As I was painting, the paint would occasionally pull another edge of gel coat (or whatever coating the OEM used) up. What a PITA. I think it did a fairly good job of sealing everything up.
It’s certainly better than when I started.
I think the only way to do this right would be to pull it off and have the bottom blasted, then paint.
Last edited:
Nater Potater
Well-Known Member
- Oct 19, 2020
- 2,646
- Boat Info
- 1992 300DA Sundancer
- Engines
- Twin Merc Alpha I Gen II I/O's with 5.7 V8's
Total Boat's pretty good stuff. For me, the biggest plus would be the mounting bolt replacement. You probably won't need to worry about paint for some years, as long as those occasional lifted spots don't bite you in the arse. Even so, they'd be much quicker to attack now that you've removed/repainted the bulk of the loose paint.
Skybolt
Well-Known Member
- Nov 11, 2014
- 6,469
- Boat Info
- Reel Nauti
460 EC
- Engines
- Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
Looks great Dave! Dam you have some time on your hands to get that done. The next buyer is going to have some boat when your's goes on the market. Great job man.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
If I keep doing this crap, I will be dead sooner than expected, and somebody will have a very nice boat
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I hope your right…I think I knocked out about 98% of the problem spots. Unexpected repair on the bolts ate into the time set aside for the paint job. I’m hoping it goes a couple years. We shall see.
The TotalBoat Bilge paint is good stuff, but on bare fiberglass, it really needs 2-3 coats.
This is a coat and “1/2”, I hit some of the lighter covered areas a second time, and used 1-1/2 qts of the stuff.
techmitch
Well-Known Member
- May 1, 2008
- 8,396
- Boat Info
- 1999 270 DA
- Engines
- Twin 4.3s W/Alpa I Gen II's
Looks great man.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
Thanks for the paint recommendation...painting isn't my wheelhouse.
Last edited:
Cocktail Time
Well-Known Member
- Jul 9, 2007
- 1,208
- Boat Info
- 1998 400 Sundancer, Garmin 840xs GPS, Furuno Radar, B&G GPS pilot etc.
- Engines
- Cat 3116's, Westerbeke 7.6 BTD
That looks awesome. I have the new rubrail material and have been saying I need to paint mine forever. Looks like crap when you are floating behind the boat. Yours looks better than new, nice job.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
Thanks! Same here. Mine looked like crap from the water, and while I was out of the water I said what the hell, get it painted!! The corroded hardware was the wrench in the works. I'm still sore from that little project.
I should have ordered new rub rail...no time to look into it. Maybe next time!
Cocktail Time
Well-Known Member
- Jul 9, 2007
- 1,208
- Boat Info
- 1998 400 Sundancer, Garmin 840xs GPS, Furuno Radar, B&G GPS pilot etc.
- Engines
- Cat 3116's, Westerbeke 7.6 BTD
It's available from FP by the foot. If you want to use the length I have and replace it later, no problem. I can have it over to Aqualand later today.
Stee6043
Well-Known Member
I've never seen a boat of that size floating without the keel supported like that! Looks magical...and terrifying 
Do you think your platform is the OEM "extended" platform or is it potentially aftermarket? Do your vents have any words on them? I ask because that platform looks big enough that it could have support struts. To me (maybe this was already said?) your paint damage looked to potentially be from flexing. That might have also contributed to your bolts being broken. Those are some big bolts to break...
Perhaps consider adding a couple of supports while she's still out of the water? Just a thought.
Do you think your platform is the OEM "extended" platform or is it potentially aftermarket? Do your vents have any words on them? I ask because that platform looks big enough that it could have support struts. To me (maybe this was already said?) your paint damage looked to potentially be from flexing. That might have also contributed to your bolts being broken. Those are some big bolts to break...
Perhaps consider adding a couple of supports while she's still out of the water? Just a thought.
No kiddingI've never seen a boat of that size floating without the keel supported like that! Looks magical...and terrifying
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
missed your post….thanks but it’s back in the water. I’m not sure I could replace in the water.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I've never seen a boat of that size floating without the keel supported like that! Looks magical...and terrifying
Do you think your platform is the OEM "extended" platform or is it potentially aftermarket? Do your vents have any words on them? I ask because that platform looks big enough that it could have support struts. To me (maybe this was already said?) your paint damage looked to potentially be from flexing. That might have also contributed to your bolts being broken. Those are some big bolts to break...
Perhaps consider adding a couple of supports while she's still out of the water? Just a thought.
I asked about adding another support, yard said not required. It rock stable though.
I think this is the OEM swim platform, it’s basically what is in all the literature. It’s actually very stable, and rock solid. I think the problem with the bolts was using a foully threaded bolt. One issue with a lot of stainless steel is it it notch sensitive. These all failed in the same place, right at the base of the nut, and the failure was at the root of the thread.
Im satisfied that this will be good for a long time.
Adding a PWC would be a whole new issue.
GnrlPatton
Well-Known Member
- Jul 12, 2010
- 719
- Boat Info
- Current: 1998 370 Express Cruiser
Sold:1988 230 Weekender
- Engines
- Twin Cat 3116T
I'm replacing my OEM platform with one from swimplatforms.com in about 2 weeks. The OEM platform was 24" deep and the new one is 36". I'm planning on mounting a davit once I get it installed (likely a Hurley H3O, similar to what you have). The OEM and new platform only have the ribs for support, and I'm planning to add 4x 1" stainless stanchions to its in order to prevent it from flexing when I add the weight 12" further out from where it currently is. My current platform only had the ribs/wedges for support, and I was getting a fair amount of flexing.I've never seen a boat of that size floating without the keel supported like that! Looks magical...and terrifying
Do you think your platform is the OEM "extended" platform or is it potentially aftermarket? Do your vents have any words on them? I ask because that platform looks big enough that it could have support struts. To me (maybe this was already said?) your paint damage looked to potentially be from flexing. That might have also contributed to your bolts being broken. Those are some big bolts to break...
Perhaps consider adding a couple of supports while she's still out of the water? Just a thought.
Interestingly, after reading your thread about getting the stanchions from them as part of the package, I contacted them and they said to get it mounted and if I need the extra support to give them a call. Fortunately I have a friend that works at a metal fab shop, and he's building the tubes and brackets for me out of stock they have. I'm looking forward to having a larger and stronger platform soon!
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,592
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
GnrlPatton
Well-Known Member
- Jul 12, 2010
- 719
- Boat Info
- Current: 1998 370 Express Cruiser
Sold:1988 230 Weekender
- Engines
- Twin Cat 3116T
Will do! That's what swimplatforms.com asked me to do as well. They wouldn't supply the stanchions for me but they want to see them installed. Lol.
Stee6043
Well-Known Member
That's strange. Though mine is a bit deeper than yours I would have still assumed they'd provide support struts at 36".
Also interesting, and I haven't yet done a full write up on this, but I'm in the process of replacing/adding struts. It turns out swimplatforms.com sent me too few, and too small, of support struts for my platform. I'm parked in storage behind a very similar boat to mine with exactly the same platform. He has six 1" struts. I was provided with four 7/8" struts. And guess what...I bent the two center struts last year with the weight of my dinghy, which is well below the rated capacity of the platform. I was only in moderately rough water one time last year with the dink on the back. Far from heavy seas.
Soo....yeah...that's kind of why I posted here. I've learned that even if your platform feels wicked, rock solid - she can and will move and flex under load. More than I would have imagined. The good news - swimplatforms.com has been great to work with through this issue. I still recommend them.
