Swim Platform Installation

[TADTOOMUCH]

I am installing a new teak swim platform on my F-32 and am curious as to the distance most owners have theirs above the water line. I will have a under mounted ladder that I want to make sure does not sit under water once installed. Can anyone measure the distance from the underside of the rub rail to the top of their platform and give me a reference point.

[randyp]

Check out the swim platform position on my F-26. The ladder is top mounted so you could mount the platform a bit higher to accomodate that clearance. Now that I think about it you'd need more clearance than me for when you are burying the stern at mid-range speed or coming off a plane.

[TADTOOMUCH]

Yea the more I think about it, I have to get the platform above the exhausts so with that position, the underneath ladder will definitely be out of the water at any operating speed or at rest.

[Stripermann2]

Tad, I looked into this. All the ones I have seen have the top of the platform even with the top boot stripe. That's well above the exhaust.

Where'd you get the platform...got another one for me???

[TADTOOMUCH]

Got the platform from Butler Marine Products. They are located in PA and they made a lot of the OEM platforms for Trojan when they were being built. Not cheap but it comes with all the mounting hardware, bolts, screws, stainless supports and bracketry. Mine is made to match the curve of the transom as they already have the pattern on file. Very nice to deal with and shipped via UPS freight to my door. Very good quality. Instructions are pretty good for installation. I ordered the ladder from PlasTeak as they had the one I wanted that had three rungs that telescope from under the platform.

[Stripermann2]

Here's my friend's F36 with the platform. Notice the boot stripe/platform relationship.

[yorklyn]

Tadtoomuch,
What type and size backing plates did the recommend? I replaced my wood ones a few years back with 1/4 stainless plate but was thinking about beefing them up some
Thanks

[TADTOOMUCH]

They did not recommend any specific type of backing plate other than they said you should have one. I think 1/4" stainless is plenty. I've seen 1/2" marine plywood epoxied in place as well on some Trojans.

[Lookout]

Mine has marine ply and about 5 inch square 1/4 inch stainless backing plates. the ply plates are around a foot square.

[mr elevman]

ok question why is it called a boot stripe

[yorklyn]

Because after you have your wife paint the entire bottom you have to give her the "Boot" to paint the Stripe?!?
Just kidding, Thank God she only thinks I use the computer for porn, not talking about her with you guys!!!
Just Kidding again! SORRY HONEY, LUV YA!

Thanks Tadtoomuch, never made my own backing plates for a swimplatform before, just wanted to confirm it's safe.

[AndyF32]

1985 F32 platform is 22 1/4 from the underside of the rubrail and 30 1/2 from the lowest part of the vee bottom. Hope this helps.

[TADTOOMUCH]

Thanks everyone for your help with placement of my swim platform. Looks like it will end up so that the platform lines up with the hull ID number. That will allow it to clear the exhaust and trim tab hydraulic lines. Now comes the fun part. Drilling holes in the transom and installing backer plates back in the transom. I'm sure that will be easy to reach like everything else in the bilge. Any suggestions on how to adhere the backer plates? Epoxy? 3M 5200?

[Lookout]

If your making backing plates out of marine ply, I would glass them first, then either glass them to the transom or 5200 but I always glass or at the least coat in resin, anything wood I put down below.

[TADTOOMUCH]

I was thinking that 1/2" Star Board might work as a backer plate with stainless plate as it is waterproof, easy to cut to fit and then I wouldn't have to glass it in to protect it. What do you think?