Extended Lowerable swim platform ?
 

Im looking for ideas on fabricating a swim platform of some type that can stow under the original platform, and extend while lowering to the waterline. I think this would be a safer alternative for kids swimming and boarding the boat than using the swim ladder.

Has anyone done anything like this ? or have ideas on how to do it? any pics ?

i currently have an integrated platform. here is a pic on the stern of the boat.

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/j...mdensonic4.jpg

Saw a hyd'ly lowerable swimplatform on a Cobalt open bow last yr. Way cool, but I recall the price option being a holy ch*t pucker factor.

Its possible but it would be all custom and quite expensive.

I have access to a full machine shop with cnc mills and waterjets. I can fab anything, but just trying to figure out the logistics of it all.

fixx
 

check this out,,only thing i would worrie about id the 2 center exhaust ports..

http://www.sealiftusa.com/

wow......thats gettin it done. $6260 option.

I don't need all that. I'm thinking a two positon hinge of some type that extends while lowering. It only needs to be up or down.

thanks for the link.

I looked at Cobalts website a bit more and found this. Although it flips down from the top, its a good place to start....

I'm not sure what supports it though ?

http://www.cobaltboats.com/v12/why_c...wimstep-v3.jpg

That could be a trip to the ER if you stepped on that and a part broke and your foot or leg hit those props.

I think drunk/uncoordinated adults are more of a risk. :drink:

I had a similar issue and I ended up rigging up a ladder that boards from the side of the boat.

I'll bet it's free if you're over 65 and on Medicare. Just ask Wilfred Grimley.

:party-smiley-004:

Mom looks good in the photo. Cobalt should hire Vanity Fair to airbrush her mommy pouch.

:eekdrop:

Depending on how you want it to look, this really is nothing more that an extra wide, single step, retractable ladder.

I beleive it has a safety switch so the boat can not be started when it is lowered.

The extending portion is where the cost will skyrocket. A fixed mount tubular style platform with integrated boarding ladder(s) would be the best option I think. Once parts start becoming in motion, and then need to extend and lock in multiple positions, the complexity and expense will go hand in hand. An option might be a platform with the boarding ladders facing directly pt/stbd underneath the platform. This would force people to board on the sides and never get near the props. Ladders like this for example:
http://www.armstrongnautical.com/pdf...dder_flyer.pdf

I seem to recall Nortech adding tubular swim platforms to a few of their cats.

Found a sample idea on a vee.

One could use that design and improve on it if they want it to lower. Be as simple as making the supports hinge underneath with a trim ram on each side to raise/lower the exrtention. Just have to make the platform keep level while moving, done by linkages
Care would be required to keep from hitting the drives, and of course a safety switch for a no start condition when lowered.
Piece of cake!

My take, cheapest easiest way go over to an rv store buy a step for a motor home reverse engineer it out of marine friendly materials and boom you're done. I'm sure you've seen em on the side doors of an rv the bottom step pulls out from under the rv and articulates down to an appropriate step level. I bet if you built a nice one you could sell them

thanks for all the ideas. if and when I have time to fabricate something i'll post pics.

My boys have been climbing up and down into my boat with no problem since they were old enough to want jump off the swim platform. I have extension boxes and no ladder. My props are also labbed, but not any sharper than stock props.

My buddy has a ladder built on the underside of the swim platform, 2 pieces of 1" channel aluminum with plastic sliders that hide a two step folding ladder that slides out all anodized. I think it came stock on his super hawaii 34. Even with staggered engines & the drives close together the ladder doesnt touch the drives. just a thought sorry I dont have any pics but it is really simple to operate & just a short strap to keep it closed. Randy