Platform spray

Darren Rude

New Member
Dec 12, 2018
1
Boat Info
510 fly 2017
Engines
600 Cummins
just bought a SeaRay 510 fly and the platform is spraying at 17 nots in to dingy? Anyone have this issue?
 
Not too many 2017 510 Fly owners here, but maybe some of the DB owners will chime in.

Would be a good question for Captain Rusty!

Congratulations and welcome to CSR!
 
The dinghy is on the platform? Or towing behind? Assuming you mean on the platform?

Yes - would be a great question for The Captain, or current owners! But until then, do you have the boat running relatively level at speed? This pic is directly off Sea Ray's website (probably cruising a little faster than your 17kts., though) and it appears that the platform is plenty high that even with the weight of a dinghy it should be fine. Are you running with the aft end squatting down? Are there any obstructions... rope/seaweed, etc? What happens at a little higher speed or without the dinghy?

Do you physically see a hard spray of water coming up through the platform vents, or is just that you notice the dinghy gets wet (possible station wagon effect)? What was it like on the test ride?

354271_p_t_640x480_image02.jpg
 
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This is pretty common for larger Sea Rays, particularly the later ones that cruise at fairly high speeds. A big boat displaces a lot of water, then going 27-30kts gives the wake some velocity at it seeks to relax back into a flat state. Most owners with dinghys on platforms here just remove the drain plugs to keep them from filling with seawater on trips.
 
There are a few videos on YouTube of 510 Fly's running, and there's a whole lot more spray than what's shown in the pic you posted. I too get spray but only on the starboard side for some reason, and it comes up between the stern and platform. I do just like Frank said and run without my drain plug, but also leave my cover on.

-Tom
 
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My 410 DA does this on my sealift platform. I change the trim attitude slightly and that changes the direction of the spray.
 
There are a few videos on YouTube of 510 Fly's running, and there's a whole lot more spray than what's shown in the pic you posted.
No doubt. That's a photo shoot, so of course it's done in pretty ideal conditions. I thought it was good to show it, just so there was a physical representation to compare to for Darren.
 
The platform and transom on both my SR's (400DA and 52DB) get a bit wet at cruise; this is due to that area being at a slightly negative pressure when the boat cuts through the air and the fine spray mist it creates behind and along the sides of the hull. I think you will find this situation in most all non-displacement boats. The RIB on the back of the 52 stays covered and the transom plug out when we are cruising any distance at all.
 
With the dinghy on my platform I actually get sea water up through the platform deck vents as I'm getting up on plane. Even without the roughly 800 pound dinghy on board I get light sea spray throughout the cockpit and in particular on the sliding glass door when I'm running on plane, likely due to the so called station wagon effect. I agree with everyone that it's best to run with the dinghy bottom plug out, however......I usually unload the dinghy while standing off a marina and have my wife drive it to a dinghy slip as I dock. There was one instance this summer during a very high wind arrival that as I was undoing the dinghy straps and preparing to lower the platform that I was distracted by the boats constant drifting towards the dock. This required me to go up and down from the bridge to the platform to keep the boat a safe distance off the marina. My wife cannot get the hold down straps off by herself. I (not my wife), neglected to install the plug before lowering the dinghy off the platform. I realized that when I went back up to the helm and the plug was on the dash. By then my wife was out of yelling range and she did not have a cell phone or VHF radio with her (I called her on both to no avail). So, I had to dock the boat knowing I could be dealing with a dinghy mess. Fortunately she tied up the dinghy fairly tightly AND the bilge pump operated properly, otherwise I would have had one sunk dinghy. Lesson learned. She now carries a handheld VHF radio and I put the plug in before I release the straps.
 
With the dinghy on my platform I actually get sea water up through the platform deck vents as I'm getting up on plane. Even without the roughly 800 pound dinghy on board I get light sea spray throughout the cockpit and in particular on the sliding glass door when I'm running on plane, likely due to the so called station wagon effect. I agree with everyone that it's best to run with the dinghy bottom plug out, however......I usually unload the dinghy while standing off a marina and have my wife drive it to a dinghy slip as I dock. There was one instance this summer during a very high wind arrival that as I was undoing the dinghy straps and preparing to lower the platform that I was distracted by the boats constant drifting towards the dock. This required me to go up and down from the bridge to the platform to keep the boat a safe distance off the marina. My wife cannot get the hold down straps off by herself. I (not my wife), neglected to install the plug before lowering the dinghy off the platform. I realized that when I went back up to the helm and the plug was on the dash. By then my wife was out of yelling range and she did not have a cell phone or VHF radio with her (I called her on both to no avail). So, I had to dock the boat knowing I could be dealing with a dinghy mess. Fortunately she tied up the dinghy fairly tightly AND the bilge pump operated properly, otherwise I would have had one sunk dinghy. Lesson learned. She now carries a handheld VHF radio and I put the plug in before I release the straps.

Wow, that's quite a story. I've heard a few like that, so I purchased a bright orange lanyard and attach it to the steering wheel anytime I pull the plug. When the plug is in I simply put it in the glovebox on the dinghy.

-Tom
 

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