Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

I have my Silent Thunder off doin some stuff and I am thinking of removing the Ladder ....I think it would look cleaner ...I use the top of the outdrive and can pop right up .....any thoughts ?

Formula Outlaw is Exempt from this thread ....... :D

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

I agree - dump it, easier to climb up drive or tab. if it isn't resting against the drive its useless anyways.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

I exempt myself from this exemption.

"Gusman" got the starboard motor pulled, got the broken bolts out, and motor back in and realigned the drive. Everything back together ready to bolt up new manifolds. Now I gotta get those 3 inch spacers. It never stops.

Anybody got 4 EMI Thunder aluminum spacers???????????

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Haaaa, you kill me Outlaw!!!! :D :D

I do agree with the ladder thing. What in hell was Formula thinking putting the ladder directly over the drive. Heaven forbid you forget the ladder after several hop and barley beverages. Clunk clunk clunk, there goes that nicely polished, labbed and balanced piece of stainless that costs way too much, not to mention the pretzel-shaped ladder you now have.

Wait, sounds like I'm speaking from experience here. I f^&&$#ng am speaking from experience.

How much engineering rigor would it have taken to design the ladder into the middle of the board?!?!?!? :mad:

While I'm at it,,,,,,,,,,,, a couple of other piss-offs:
Step pads????? Hello, there is no good way to board my 311.
Cabin door latch?????? What the frick is that thing?
Anchor locker???? Please! Who is going to drag an anchor thru the cabin.
Gage lights?????? You've got to be nocturnal to see those things!!
Head compartment????? Yeah, maybe for pigmies (or the Porter family, I understand they're a pretty short bunch)
Sliding side compartment doors????? Those things are like guillitines. If you stick your finger in the hole it gets lopped off when you close it.

OK, I'm done with my morning tirade. I've just put myself in a great mood to foster teamwork with my colleagues. :D

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

What are you planning to do to cover the bolt holes? The platform has a pattern in it, so you would have to match that as well as the color.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

To add to Third:

The only time my guage lights work are when the engines are not running. Go figure.....Why would I want to see the guages when the engines are running. Another wonderful idea. Must be a ground backwards or something. Just another item on the endless list.

I'm also going to yank my fridge out. Never used it, door doesn't close properly, the seal sucks. I just use a cooler.

Is everybody elses engine hatch cover as friggin heavy as mine is? I couldn't believe that sucker when Scott and I yanked it off yesterday morning.

Mike: I am leaving the windshield on. You can breath now:D :D

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

I have a glass guy doin some minor repairs underneath but was thinking just stainless round head bolts to cover the holes ..for now ...

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Outlaw
Those engine hatches are more than meets the eye. A real athletic event to get those suckers wrestled off. My 357 with new material still took three of us to safely get off the boat. And I these gauges have lights?? Huh, who would have guessed!!

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Why are they sooooo heavy? I was thinking mine might have absorbed some water into the seat foam, but if everyones is the same, maybe they're made out of cast iron?

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

My hatch weighs a ton too. I have to get in perfect position and brace myself to manually open it.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

The only way to remove by yourself is to take each pad off individually and the f/glass tray is light.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Have fun not dropping screws down into the bilge! There's only about a hundred.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Have fun not dropping screws down into the bilge! There's only about a hundred.

BTW - my ladder had hit the prop (by the previous owner), and was pretty screwed. I replaced it with another Formula ladder, but shortened it so if it swung down it can't hit the drive.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

CMG - just got the boat down here this week, haven't even had time to open the canvas and look inside. All the work is done, but I haven't had time to really test it out due to the move. Looking forward to many warm winter days of boating :D

Talked to Gordon this week - I guess he needs neck / back surgery and was out of work a while - possibly why he didn't shrink wrap your boat???

Forget that shrinky-dink crap anyways. I just used a couple of sawhorses and tarps (industrial quality, not the blue crap) to cover my boat. I would use 2 2x4's for the center beam (one for the bow, one for the rear), and screw them together at an v-angle, right above the windshield - that way the snow (ha, ha! ) can roll of the bow and the stern without piling up. Also built a foot to go from the floor up to the center beam for extra support. Use bungy cords to hold the tarps down to the trailer - then you can get in there in the winter to work if need be, also allows for give for cold windy blustery days :). All these materials should cost probably around $100 bucks, and can be re-used every year. No recurring costs, and no waiting in line at a marina.

Good luck preparing your 311 for a cold winter's nap :) Mine's just waking up!

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Thanks jaybird, too bad for Gordon though he could have returned one of my five vocie mails. thanks for the advice with the saw horses, I went to H/D, they only had the blue tarps (hate blue, looks like a shanty town) do you rememebr wher you got the better quality tarp around here?

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

CMG - I think I bought the tarps at Amesbury Industrial supply. The tarps had green on one side and black on the other, and was at least twice as thick. Plus green looked better in the back yard than a huge blue blob. I think they could order a larger size too. I had this setup from a previous smaller boat. Give them a call over there, and see what they can get.

You probably could find tarps online somewhere and order one as well. Good luck.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

"Jay" I noticed your posting at four am. And I thought I had a problem being addicted to OSO....:drink: :drink: :D :D

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Mike,

Removed the ladder off my 311 years ago. Never used it anyway. It used to rattle pretty bad with the engines running. Much quieter and also a cleaner look.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Exactly! My 311 hatch was really heavy, too. When I took it apart to repanel a few worn out sections, both the foam and plywood were soaked.

The "new" Formulas have a foam that actually repels water away, and instead of plywood, they use a new fiber material that is stronger and lighter. I dried out the plywood sections before reassembly, and had them open up all the panels and restuff them with the new water resistant foam, too.

The "new" hatch was MUCH lighter. I was even able to lift it up onto the boat and reinstall it by myself.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Oh boy, another project.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Russ,

Always glad I can help! Look at it this way ... you would probably gain another m.p.h. or two! :D

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Probably more like .001 mph. But Hey, that's an increase....:D :D

I'll get this sucker up to 75/76 yet.

Next year, barrring any more financial nightmare (i.e. kidney stone ordeal), am going to repower.

Then again, the way this exhaust swapout is going, it might be repowered before it ever hits the water. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Mike, you need an extra silent thunder box?????

You could run those Gills out through both of them.

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Mike, you coming to Palatka?

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Dont look good on the boat ...close ..we might get done Friday but a 90 mile trip on a new motor ....I was thinking of maybe driving down ... where yall stayin ? ....

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

I'll take it ....:) ... get this ....was looking at your rectangle outlets ....I am thinking on redoin them to have round 4" tips with stainless internal Flappers .....

I do need the two stainless "L" Brackets that are on the bottom of the platform in the center .... you got yours ?

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Outlaw - Needed to do kill time until the Advil kicked in on the backache that woke me up!

Re: Remove Ladder on Platform ?
 

Now THAT sounds like a reasonable idea. If your outlets are round I won't make fun of them. :drink: :drink: :D :D

PM me your address and the brackets are on their way. Glad you can use them. Russ