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Glenn \(s/v Seawing\)[_29_]

"Mark Borgerson" wrote in message
.net...
In article ,
says...
On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:06:51 GMT, "Glenn \(s/v Seawing\)"
wrote:

Hi! Looking to pick your brains a little. I am making some major
changes
to my boat this year. Some of you think I'm nuts & that alot of these
changes are not necessary. I remind you that my wife is eager to go
back
cruising for a year or two at a time and lots of your wives are not.
:-).

One of the additions we are looking for is the addition of a swim
platform.
Our boat is a Gulfstar 41' Auxillary (the sailboat hull & not the
trawler
hull). This vessel is a centre cockpit. We are looking to build a swim
platform on the stern as well as a fairly substantial boarding ladder
from
the platform to deck level. I'd like the platform to be fairly sturdy.

Please post your advise, observations & experience. I need to have some
ideas on design, construction methods & pitfalls I've not yet imagined.

Thanks all!

Glenn.
s/v Seawing.

I see a substantial number of sailing boats with swim platforms and
substantial boarding ladders - usually on boats that have cruised a
lot.

I suppose that if you are using a wind vane steerer the platform would
have to accommodate the vane but other then that I don't see a
problem.

One possible point - many marinas use overall length to calculate the
fees and a folding platform might save a bit of money in that case,

A swim platform seems like a handy addition in inland waters. However,
if you plan on any long offshore cruises, you should consider the
interaction with breaking waves from astern. You might either lose
the platform, or have the stern pulled down enough to increase the
chances of flooding the cockpit. (Probably not so big an issue
with a center-cockpit boat, though.)

Mark Borgerson

Thanks Mark. Yes, I'd thought some about this. You're right, flooring the
cockpit from this is really not a concern with our vessel; it's centre
cockpit & quite high off the water.

The larger concern, though, is having the platform ripped off & in the
process ripping holes in the stern. Possibly a folding platform might solve
this. Something to think through, any ideas appreciated.

Thanks again.

Glenn.
s/v Seawing.