Swim Platform Inserts

[THJeff]

I had some work done on my boat at our local Sea Ray dealer this past week and much to my surprise they informed me the four oval inserts with holes in the swim platform are for cosmetic purposes only and are not suitable for tying down an inflatable. Is this everyone else's experience with these inserts? If this is the case, is the only proper way to tie down an inflatable by using the cleats on the transom?

 

[Lazy Daze]

YES - do not tie down to those! They are only held in with a little caulking and small screws. You could install davits (which are meant for this purpose) or even something as simple as flush/pop-up cleats into the platform if tying to your current cleats doesn't work for you.

 

[Greg]

What he said...

I actually had one pop out from a wave hitting it while we were pulling up some crab pots. Luckily they float, so I was able to retrieve it. It was only held in by 4 small screws.

Next time your in the water see if you can look under it, you'll see what we mean.

 

[Henry Boyd]

There has been a great deal of discussion (oddly during the winter months) as to the utility of the swim platform vents. This discussion has centered around the use of the inserts as vents to allow air to escape from under the swim platform and as drain for the deck of the swim platform.

In any event I don't think the starboard Sea Ray inserts themselves, or their attachment to the swim platform is strong enough. The general rule of thumb for securing cargo in vehicles is that lashing material, and each lashing point, should have a strength equal to the weight of the item being secured times 1g. I know the vent on my 280 is glued in (there are screws, but they must only hold the thing in while the glue hardens) and have no reason to see why they would change for other models. So you can see even a motor-less dinghy would be pushing the "capacity" of the vent emblem as a lashing point.

The short answer to your question is you probably should add something.

Henry