Dragging their feet on the cool water under sail was no problem on the
35s5, even when heeled. Suzanne and her friend were able to sit
together and never felt like they would fall off even as the light air
picked up some. I expect that if we were beating in 20 knots, it might
be different but otherwise it's a good sized area and the backstay
offers some security as well as the big step/handle and the easily
grasped edges.
Is it worth it to lose 10-15 inches of interior room for such a
feature? Well, if you spend more time on deck than below, like to swim,
have kids or pretty ladies to use it....you're damn right it is! As
usual unlike most of the losers on these boards who "guess" and make up
crap about boats they've never sailed...I post PHOTOS to back up what I
teach. The 1st pic shows a 35s5 platform.

http://members.aol.com/bobsprit/images/spfun.jpg

I'm sorry, but being a healthy heterosexual male, I really like swim
platforms....

http://members.aol.com/bobsprit/images/aaape.jpg

RB
35s5
NY