Tell me what you think
 

I posted some pics on the do-it yourself forum also. Just completed this project this weekend. I bet it's gonna be loud!

It's gonna sound great!!

I`m sure it will sound nice but it will be loud, I know Mopower was looking for a swim platform like yours.

i'm sure this thread will need revived once summer comes along but i will try to remember to post a sound clip at the dock.

That's cool but, I'm partial to the Silent Thunder platforms. I think they just make a Formula look like a Formula.

Looks nice there 454. :cool-smiley-027:

But from a personal standpoint I agree with ThirdBird and prefer the ST. But thats just my .02.

Yeah I have to be honest i thought a lot about this before i did it. I was looking for more sound. Almost went for the through thunder some of the other guys on here have done. My girlfriend had always complained about our swim ladder and when i saw the one that comes with the extreme platform that was the end of the decision making. I'm sure some of you guys on here know how that is!

what exactly does the silent thunder swim platform do? is it just mufflers...?

make your boat heavy and muffle the sound

454, what did you do with the platform? Don't let someone steal that from you, you should be able to get a pretty penny for it if its in good shape.

I am going to hang on to it for now seeing as a friend of mine has a 357 and we could both use a good platform down the road at some point.

Perlmudder all the platform does is muffle the sound using some baffles and water. That is why i was thinking of getting rid of it. Just think of all the water that thing holds at WOT. It has to weigh a ton!, and my boat is already stern heavy.

There should be drain holes with plugs (1/2" dia) that will allow the water to drain when the plugs are out and up on plane. The ST should not hold water underway. There are several different mods that can be done to gain more sound, drain the water and maintain the original look of the ST.

I think the platform will hold water underway due to the height of the outlets and the angle of the "chambers". I know mine drains through those small holes while on the trailer AND blows through the outlets.

Just cutting the baffles makes a huge difference. More sound but nothing at all obnoxious. Add a set of 1" holes on the bottom of the platform near the exhaust outlets and I don't think it'll hold water.

How about some 3-1/2" holes?

looks great I hope to do the same this spring

How was the install??

How many holes were left when the ST was removed and what did you do to the holes??


I think it updates the boat

thanks

I agree with Treads and Handfuls, the platform does not hold any appreciable amount of water while underway. Forward motion and the blow of the exhaust basically eliminates any stored water.

Installation was easy 88formula. My dad and i held it up to the back of the boat and marked the holes to be drilled. After a little squaring up we had the platform mounted by the two top holes in the platform brackets. There are six mounting holes total. I only used the top 4 for now with ss thru bolts and backing plates, all of which came with the platform. I left the existing holes for the silent thunder in case i ever wanted to put it back to original. I will probably just use thru bolts to seal them off for now.

It'll sound nice, but it's only a matter of time before that platform costs anotrher 2000.00. when you have to get mufflers. I pulled the box off of my 336, I had 5 inch holes in the bottom of the box and the sound difference was huge.

Coupled with the fact that my tail pipes run through the transom and mix at the end of the pipe I ended up putting mufflers on. Otherwise it's a matter of time until the fun police start to write you tickets.

I think cutting the holes in the silent thunder platform is a good idea for more sound, but you should make the holes the right size so you can install a small screw in type inspection cover, if you need to seal it back up.

I just kept the plugs that I cut out so they could be glassed back in later if need be. Easy fix and would look like it was never done.

While it was louder, it was not too loud. We have quite a few other boats in my marina that were quite a bit louder. Sounded great when you would open it up. :cool-smiley-027:

When I had the box on the holes were cut to fit screw in access covers that you could pick up at west marine. Closing them up was just a matter of screwing the cover back in.

Yeah, thats what I'm talkin' about !!!:cheer:

What was the cost?

I don't remember, I took the box off 3 yrs ago, but it is'nt much, maybe 40 or 50 dollars for all four

I am sorry I ment to ask what the cost of the aluminum platform he had made.

$3k with optional ladder($300) and other options

Three Thousand Dollars?????????????:eek:

That's insane. Just another reason I like my stock Silent Thunder Platform!!!!

Stock sucks! But i'm still young and dumb.....

If i ever sell the boat the silent thunder will go back on and i will peddle the aluminum platform. I knew there would be good and bad input when i started this thread, but that's why i like OSO! As far as the cost i think if you are interested in buying one they go on sale around november for $2k.

The important thing is that you like it, personally I think "stock is hot"

You like Silent Thunder because it was free ya cheap azz bastage :angry-smiley-038:

i drilled extra 1/2 holes so i could plug back up and cut out the baffles so wife didn't know on my 242 sounded a lot better

Not so my quick-witted friend. If my Silent Thunder platform were trashed, I'd spend whatever, in excess of 3k if needed, to get it right. I really do like the looks of it and it functions nicely.

454captiva, I sense you thought I was passing judgement on your platform. Didn't mean to send that message, it's cool, just not for me. I am old.:(

:throw: Sure was and for quite some time:( Got my problem solve now though. Made the center exhaust pod shorter than the outside to clear the steering rams.


And ALL the baffles went away:evilb:

I was thinking through bolts to seal them off but wasn't sure, thanks for the response it looks good

454, Thirdbird,

I like the ST box personally, adds to the lines of the boat. 454, what you have done is cool.:cool-smiley-011:, and as always, beauty is in the eyes of the bedolder. Keep up the mods on thses older Birds.:cool-smiley-027:

Treads .... I agree with you ..... I too like the lines of the ST box but there is alot to said of being different as well.


Jeff

Thanks for all the feedback guys, i'll have to get some better pictures when it warms up here in the frozen tundra! Now if i can just get up enough energy to redo the rubrail, i think that's gonna be a lot bigger job!:ernaehrung004:

How are you planning on that one 454? Clean and paint the existing rail or replacement. I've seen it done both ways. Pros and cons to each as well as $$$. This is one mod that I really wanted to do to the 292 before I sold it.

The cost effective way would be to do exactly as you described (remove, clean, paint), but i really like the looks of the newer formulas with the stainless insert. There's a gentleman down at taco in miami that was pretty helpful when i called. It seems like all the suppliers have no clue what i need. They also want to gig you on shipping if you can't pick it up at one of their outlet stores. Sounds to me like paint is the way to go for now!

There is a much easier and more cost effctive way .....
Last spring my friend and I buffed out all the nicks and scrapes along the rub rail with a high speed orbital grinder/buffer. Sounds crazy but the material the rub rail is made out of was very easy to fix once you started then I painted all the screws heads black so it looked seemless so to speak. I like the stainless look as well but ...... I have a friend with that and it magnifies every little ding scratch etc. That is why I decided to try the buff out method and it worked awesome.

Jeff