transom gate and swim platform
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:51 pm
I posted a few pics on a modification about a transom gate and larger swim platform and several readers asked for some details so I thought I'd start a thread for anyone interested in the topic.
The boat is a 1982 28' Sportsfisherman with twin V6 165 HP Crusaders. It is used for day outings with the family and fishing. I wanted better access to the water and lifting little kids and a yellow lab over the railing got old real fast so I came up with a solution. Cut a gate, add railings and larger swim platform. The swim platform was made by plasTEAK outside Akron, OH. It is made of recycled plastic. I made a cardboard template off the old short platform and simply extended it and sent them the form. It is aprox. 101.5 in. by 34 in. They have different colors to match your boat. https://www.plasteak.com. (I also used their sister company products for the flybridge deck and cabin sole. PlasDECK.com) The cost was $1380.00 and $245 for the under mount stainless ladder. I hired a local welder to remove the old platform and build braces similar to the original structure but with longer angle braces. The ladder and transom gate was added later. First the ladder with a temporary step. I bought the railing and hardware on line and a local machine shop made the bends. It was then just a matter of cutting the railing to length and mounting the hardware. The gate was also rather easy once I made sure all the cuts were aligned correctly. First I cut the inner panel, using a T square to make sure the cuts were vertical. Then again using the right angle guide to make sure the outside cuts were parallel to the inner ones. Drill a hole in the lower corners and I used a battery powered DeWalt Sawzall. I then sealed off the gap with high density 1/2 plastic boarding. Similar to a plastic cutting board, but any material would do. I used some 3/4 inch aluminum angle stock to mount the plastic. I was thinking about replacing the plastic with aluminum to keep with the Marinette theme. I have some of the board left and have some stainless hinges to make a gate but.....now it's boating season and I don't want to work on it with a drink in my hand!
The boat is a 1982 28' Sportsfisherman with twin V6 165 HP Crusaders. It is used for day outings with the family and fishing. I wanted better access to the water and lifting little kids and a yellow lab over the railing got old real fast so I came up with a solution. Cut a gate, add railings and larger swim platform. The swim platform was made by plasTEAK outside Akron, OH. It is made of recycled plastic. I made a cardboard template off the old short platform and simply extended it and sent them the form. It is aprox. 101.5 in. by 34 in. They have different colors to match your boat. https://www.plasteak.com. (I also used their sister company products for the flybridge deck and cabin sole. PlasDECK.com) The cost was $1380.00 and $245 for the under mount stainless ladder. I hired a local welder to remove the old platform and build braces similar to the original structure but with longer angle braces. The ladder and transom gate was added later. First the ladder with a temporary step. I bought the railing and hardware on line and a local machine shop made the bends. It was then just a matter of cutting the railing to length and mounting the hardware. The gate was also rather easy once I made sure all the cuts were aligned correctly. First I cut the inner panel, using a T square to make sure the cuts were vertical. Then again using the right angle guide to make sure the outside cuts were parallel to the inner ones. Drill a hole in the lower corners and I used a battery powered DeWalt Sawzall. I then sealed off the gap with high density 1/2 plastic boarding. Similar to a plastic cutting board, but any material would do. I used some 3/4 inch aluminum angle stock to mount the plastic. I was thinking about replacing the plastic with aluminum to keep with the Marinette theme. I have some of the board left and have some stainless hinges to make a gate but.....now it's boating season and I don't want to work on it with a drink in my hand!