Preventing spray from swim platform vents?

D

DavidS

New Member
Oct 3, 2006
100
Panama City Florida
Boat Info
Raymarine C120 w/4kw Radome, DSM250
Engines
Twin Honda 200's
Has anyone came up with a way to keep the water from spraying up through the swim platform vents when backing into the wind and waves?
 
I would have to get a bigger wife...the vents aren't that close together.

It may have been another AJ owner who mentioned it a long time ago but when we hold on a fishing spot with stern into the wind it's like a garden hose in the face every few seconds. By the time we're done everything is covered with dried salt.
 
I have the same thing - and it's not just with the stern to the wind. Not very pleasant. I only have one hole though; the 290 has two.

I'm not really sure what to do about it. I guess the holes are to reduce water pressure on the swim platform. Covering them from the bottom would defeat their purpose.
 
I've laid a towel over the vent before, it doesn't stop all of it but it cuts it down quite a bit. You also need to be standing with one foot on either side of the vent so the towel doesn't go flying.
 
I wouldn't want to be standing on the swim platform...we fish reefs where if the BIII"s didn't chew you up something else might.

I was thinking about making a shield above the vents from "starboard" matrerial with spacers an inch or so high to divert the water but it would be a trip hazard.

I also thought about attaching a couple of heavy duty SUV all weather floor matts ( the smaller size like for the rear seating area) over the holes. It would be easy enough to zip tie them on for fishing trips only and remove them when we are finished. I figured the holes for the zip ties may start to tear the matts.
 
OK, maybe I'm an idiot, but why would you hold stern to wind?
 
OK, my bad... didn't think about you being moving. :smt021

Your Idea with the starboard could possibly work if you found a way to attach them to the underside of the platform??? You would have to stand them off of the underside so the air could escape. :huh:
 
If you hold the bow to the wind fishing lines get sucked into the props. Also if you have a marker bouy out (marking you fishing spot) it's easy to back up to it and stay close in the wind and seas. It's almost impossible to see a bouy over the bow.

If you aren't going to anchor, backing up on a spot and holding it there is the best way to fish. Anchoring in 100+ft of water and ending up exactly where you want to be is a pain. Often we don't stay in one place long enough to make it worth while to anchor up.

Getting used to holding a spot with the wind going one way and the current going the other way takes a little practice. Water spraying up like ole' faithful gets old fast. Most fishing boats get splashes but the swim platform on the dual purpose cruise/fish AJ is a bummer for bottom fishing. Awesome trolling boat.
 
Swim Platform Vents

I suspect you'll notice a distinct absence of swim platforms on the Sport Fish "Meat Wagons" in your marina. Why, because they get in the way when the skipper is backing down on a fish and landing the big ones.

The vents on the SR swim platforms are pressure release valves if you to prevent the sea from ripping away the swim platform. These fountains or geysers you're experiencing are a result of the design doing what it is supposed to do, save your platform from being torn off. Sealing these holes can cause damage to the platform.

If you use the boat for fishing so much more than cruising and family events, then removing the swim platform might be a better answer altogether.
 
Re: Swim Platform Vents

Asureyez said:
The vents on the SR swim platforms are pressure release valves if you to prevent the sea from ripping away the swim platform. These fountains or geysers you're experiencing are a result of the design doing what it is supposed to do, save your platform from being torn off. Sealing these holes can cause damage to the platform.
Click to expand...

Poop. That's just POOP. The Sea Ray sales guy here told me that and it's just not believable. If you have ever buried your swim platform under water, you'll find those vents do nothing but get ripped off themselves because they are held on with wood screws and not even thru bolted. I've heard they relieve the "air pressure'. Huh? The area of the holes is probably less than 5% of the swim platform as the inserts themselve fill most of the hole. They sure don't relieve the water pressure and if that platform goes under water, there is pressure/drag and lots of it. Pressure is pressure if it is air or water (pound of lead vs. pound of feathers) and the holes are too small to provide any meaningful flow thru. They are their for one purpose... decorations.... With the Sea Ray logo on them and such, there isn't even much "open area" for water to pass through. Those things are just an easy way to get the logo on the platform and look better than a solid glass platform like Cruiser boats.
 
My dog doesn't like it either. when she eats her hotdog on the platform, 1 out of 2 fall through the hole and I have to listen to her whine for an hour as she stairs at the vent. :grin:
 
Re: Swim Platform Vents

Asureyez said:
"Sealing these holes can cause damage to the platform."


Making a platform above the vents with spacers between the two surfaces, or making a flap of sorts out of rubber SUV matts is not sealing them.

Removal- It actually crossed my mind but she is "For Sale" ($59k) and that would not look very appealing to a potential buyer.
Click to expand...
 
David.... give me free rent in PCB... and I will come lay across your vents when you go fishing..... :smt043 I am a large displacement individual with what should be enough surface area to cover em :lol:
 
I am looking forward to meeting you guys, time is getting close!
You should bring your Porter Cable in case you miss your boat so bad you want to wax something...Like "Amber J" :grin:

I can't believe no one has replied with a cure for Sea Ray's Ole' faithful design ...
 
Since the boat is for sale, removing the platform isn't workable since it would kill the resale value of an otherwise perfect and pristine boat.

I've heard that sales B.S. about venting, but I think the purpose of the vents is to drain off water caught on top of the platform quickly to eliminate a slip and fall hazzard.....and the attendant liability for Sea Ray and for the owner of the boat.

David - If we can come up with enough Starboard to make them and if you can pull one of them out for a pattern, I'll make you a set with smaller holes, perhaps drilled on an angle, to reduce the spray.
 
That sounds like a deal! Jeremy has offered to wax her during the P.C. get together and you can bring your table saw! It will be like an episode of Ship Shape. :grin:
 
Oval patterns on a table saw??? :smt017

I guess if anyone could do it, Frank could.
 
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