Finally some progress again!

After checking prices on flat aluminum tube and finding out how high it is, we decided to cut the deck of the platform out of a piece of aluminum. It took a bit to get the design, but we decided and really liked this one......she just came out of the laser tonight.

Next we will bend 2” aluminum round tube for the perimeter and then weld her all up. Hopefully we will get to starting that this weekend, then test fit with supports, finish weld and we will paint the same blue as the boat.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e33d98815.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c0fd78d55.jpeg

Planning on doing sea deck or Anything? Or are you leaving as aluminum? Might be a good template as is to have the gator step or sea deck put on.

You may have a market for this platform. Just saying.

Really nice work!

Our plan was to paint the navy blue like the boat.....with non skid on the deck. I’m open to suggestions or pics or ideas if you have them, but I pictured the blue in my mind when it was first determined to go with an aluminum platform.

TomZ, I know you have your silent thunder removed. Did you have the platform made for yours? I wondering what degree exactly we should have the brackets off the transom. We cut the brackets out, but we have room to trim them. When we measured the first time I went off how the flat part of the silent Thunder platform sat with the boat......from a pic of her on the trailer. Real precise!

AlumMetalFab made mine.

My 311 might be a little different but I can get the angle of the platform compared to the transom. Shouldn’t take Much to get at all. I do know that it kicks up a little so that the platform is more level at the water compared to the boat’s attitude in the water.

Also, I would consider powder coating versus paint. The finish will last a lot longer.

If you wouldn’t mind, that would be great. Although my boat isn’t as heavy in the stern as yours, I did notice in some pics of my boat in water that the platform looked pretty level.....not in line with the rub rail or boat as you mentioned.

I was worried more of the powder coat wanting to chip or flake off.....and I figured paint would be easier to touch up if needed. I’m assuming yours is powder coat and you don’t have any problems with it? I‘m still debating what to do with that.....I appreciate the input and advice!

I did scratch the coating on a crappy piling but I touched it up with paint and it’s been okay. It was scratched in a place you can’t see so no big deal. The coating has been durable.

Measurement…

On the trailer the transom angle is 16 degrees and the rub rail is at 6 degrees. The platform side tubing is 4 degrees indicating a 2 degree kick-up. Hope this helps.