Making a swim platform over the I/O drive

Perpetrate · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 City: Santa Cruz

I just picked up a 1988 Thundercraft that has a I/O drive and a small step and platform on one side. I would like to make a new one that goes all the way across the back of the boat. That way the girls can lay on it when floating and make it easer for more than one person to get in and out of the water at one time. It will be in the way of the tow rope hook so I will put on a Monster Tower and some board racks on in the near future. I was thinking of making an aluminum frame and inserting a wood deck on the frame. It would sit anout 4" higher then the current step so it would always be above the water line. When siting on it your feet would be in the water about 8" below.

As long as it clears the drive when it is in the up position is there anything else I should design around. Will I need 4 down braces or just 2 so it could support about 600lbs? How about side railings to help climb up the ladder? Would 2 ladders to one to many?

What do your steps look like and what works good/bad in your boats.

Craig

Ruune · Posted: Jun 17, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject:

I'd suggest putting it as low as possible, as long as the plat clears the outdrive when trimmed all the way up. The lower it is, the easier it is to climb onto when you're pooped after a long set. If you're worried about the platform dragging, you can round off the edges so that they dont drag in a turn.

As far as the frame, I would have use 4 mounts- distribute the stress over a larger portion of the hull. Also, think about some sort of backing plate that you can put on the inside of the transom, where the bolts will go through. This will dramatically increase the strength of the mount.

Perpetrate · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 City: Santa Cruz

Not worried about it draging just hitting the drive when trimmed all the way up for the tailer. That is the only height restraint, I would like it to be as low as possible like in the water. Most boats I have been on have always had it at the water level but none were I/Os.

Ruune · Posted: Jun 17, 2004 12:47 pm Post subject:

yeah that would make sense... have you thought of making a hump in the middle, to clear the drive? I dont know if that would suit your purposes, but its an idea...

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Perpetrate, go to www.bluewater-boats.com. The boat on the main page has a swim deck with a hinged center. Check it out for ideas.

Perpetrate · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 City: Santa Cruz

I think that would solve all of my problems and work great with 4 down suports. I could get it low to the water, out of the way when towing and Sheryl could still sun tan on a flat service.

Thanks guys.

Should it the same width as the boat or should it be a little narrower?

Should just like this one.
http://www.bluewater-boats.com./models/eagleimages/eagle.jpg

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Perpetrate, narrower for sure.

Perpetrate · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 4 City: Santa Cruz

What type of wood should I make this out of. I need to restain the rest of the trim on the boat anyways so I can get them all to match.

The seats look good just need to be cleaned. I will put 2 10" JLs and a sony deck in there also. Only real problem is that all the screws under the seats have come out and need to be reattached.

wesgardner · Posted: Jun 18, 2004 5:18 am Post subject:

Hey Perpetrate,

There was a thread on here in the last couple of weeks about a swim platform for an I/O having a center section that was hinged so the outdrive would just tilt the section up when neccessary. You may want to consider this as an option. There's also a discussion of wood species in that thread, it basically comes down to TEAK.

Wes

WakePowell · Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 44 City: Littleton

I added an additional fiberglass swim deck to my I/O. The swim deck is at the waterline so no ladder is needed to board the boat.

To prevent the drive from contacting the swim deck when it is trimmed up in the trailer position the dealer adjusted the trim limit switch. Now with the trim in the trailer position it is 1/4" away from contacting the swim deck yet high enough for good trailerablity.

No0ne · Criminal Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 65

Hi,
Here is the finalized version made out of pine (temporary didnt want to make a template out of teak till this winter).
The boat is unloaded except for Shelby (15 lbs.)
The outdrive can move up 75 percent up, which is way more clearence than needed while on trailer or just floating in shallows.
It is also removable with the pull of to safety pins
Hope this helps, Gerrit

lumpy · Criminal Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 99

No One

Do have any pics you can post as to get a good look on how everything is mounted, especially the pull pin set-up? The ability to take it on and off would be great for trailering and keeping the wood in good shape. I have always had teak platforms and it seems no matter how much I clean and oil them they still want to grey when left out in the sun.

I am very interested in doing something like what you have. If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to do?

No0ne · Criminal Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 65

Sorry took so long to reply. Was out of town.
Cost:
$50 for materials for platform

$150 for materials and fabricating of aluminum brackets , both the bracket on the the boat(receiver) and the 2 on the bottom fo the step

6 hrs time ( 3 hours thinking, 3 hours building)

As far as pics, I will work on getting them on here today.
Just an idea make a sun proof cover for yuor boats platform, cant image it being hard to do and just cover it when you cover your boat.

lumpy · Criminal Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 99

Thanks for the info.

My cover is not custom so I manage to have enough extra to cover the platform. It is the times I don't that I notice the fading. I had to get my boat out of storage a little early this year-first of March, I actually took it off, treated and kept it in the garage until the first time out.

3 hours design and 3 hours building is pretty good, I usually have 30 hours of thinking to every 3 hours building. I am building some speaker cans which should wind up in the $75 range before speakers, but my wife laughs and says if I valued the time I spent designing they would cost around $3k.

Did you fab the brackets yourself?
Did you use stainless or aluminum?

Thanks again.

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

NoOne:

I have a Reinell 180 and I really like the look of that platform. Would you mind taking some shots of the bracketing below the platform to give me an idea of what it involves. I would love to have a platform such as yours to make getting in and out of the water a lot easier on the rider as well as my transom. I just had the fuel tank valve knocked off by someone trying to get their board into the water from the engine platform. Any pictures you could PM would be sweet. Thanks and it looks like you did a great job on the platform.

vette74 · Posted: Aug 02, 2004 10:35 am Post subject:

I made a platform just like that only out of cedar it has worked good I just need to brace it some more. I made my brackets out aluminum however I should have made them out of stainless. They flex too much I am going to give it some additional support with stainless. The next time I go to my boat I will take pics.

bjeremi · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 433 City: Owasso

I know this topic is ancient but man I would love to get some pics of something like noones platform. I going to try and build my own and I like the idea of his removable one.

msucoleman · Newbie Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 12 City: Des Moines

Bump for the pics. I'm also looking into making my own platform.

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 26, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject:

that platform looks really good Razz

revelation · Outlaw Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Annapolis

The guy on this link built a pretty sweet platform for his I/O. I want one for mine but I'm not to confident on my carpentry skills. I'm thinking about asking my uncle to help me out since he has a woodshop.

Rich M.

http://www.eurowake.com/index.php?p=64&c=1#comments

wakeboardin2k4 · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 355 City: Wilmington

i know old topic...

How are people able to mount the brackets on their boats? I just done understand how you have access to the rear of your boat like that? Everything seems to be in the way and would make it difficult to achieve a tight mounting bracket? I would love to add a swim platform to my boat but definetly wont go into this without being 110% positive i know what im doing.

Eric

Sinkoumn · Posted: Sep 14, 2006 7:40 pm Post subject:

Aha, I used Pine and coated the shiz out of with with decking sealer. Held up perfectly for the past three years and cost ~$75 to build the entire swim platform. Teak is rediculously expensive, and I couldn't be happier with my swim deck.

wakeboardin2k4 · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 355 City: Wilmington

ya still wondering how people gain access to mount the brackets?

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

Sinkoumn · Posted: Sep 16, 2006 7:45 am Post subject:

Lag bolts are the way to go, I used them too. I welded up four triangular brackets, then attached those to the transom by 2 lag bolts in each. Works like a dream - 1 bracket alone can hold me (~155lbs) no problem.

I'd give you some pics, but I don't have any at the moment. Maybe I'll get a chance to get some when I go back up north.

Bottom line is that it is super easy to do, the scariest part is putting holes in the boat - but well well worth it.

Rhawn · Posted: Sep 17, 2006 8:53 am Post subject:

I need a deck for my I/O bad. Do any of you do it youselfers mind giving a design overview? I am horrible at wood / metalworking. I could make it, but I know it would look like a$$.

Rhawn · Posted: Dec 28, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject:

Bumping this thread as it seems to have the most info for a DIY swim platform.

Sinkoumn, have you had a chance to take any pics?

Sinkoumn · Posted: Dec 28, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject:

Not yet, sorry. I am going up north to install a heater in my nautique within the next month. I will take pics then for sure